England have named five NRL stars in their side for the first Ashes Test, but it is Dolphins-bound lock Morgan Knowles whom coach Shaun Wane believes is the side's new alpha in the forwards.
The rise in Englishmen playing NRL in recent years means several of the Kangaroos' first Test opponents at Wembley on Saturday will be familiar both to the Australian team and to viewers Down Under.
AJ Brimson has been listed to debut for England on Saturday at Wembley, while Kai Pearce-Paul, Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth and John Bateman have all been named in the 19-man squad.
Knowles is then expected to play lock after being picked ahead of Canberra's Morgan Smithies, after earning high praise from Wane ahead of his move from St Helens to the Dolphins.
Asked to pick one player from his squad who is the "iconic leader, the big dog who steps up as the alpha male, the next Adrian Morley, James Graham or Sam Burgess", Wane unhesitatingly named Morgan Knowles.
"Ever since I've been an England coach, I've always picked him," Wane said.
"Morgan epitomises what we're about as England, about efforts and toughness. We're very proud as a nation to be English and what we're about.
"He's a champion bloke, a great fella. He tells you everything about what we're about."
Morley reached three NRL grand finals with the Sydney Roosters, winning one and earning a reputation as one of the hardest rugby league men of this century.
Burgess and Graham then assumed the mantle, famously clashing in the 2014 grand final when Burgess won the Clive Churchill Medal with a fractured cheekbone.
If Knowles can follow suit and help the Dolphins reach their first grand final, the Queensland outfit will feel it has been a smart piece of recruitment.
"It's different to my era in that we see a lot of Englishmen that come across and do extremely well in the NRL," Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters said.
"It is a different sort of team that we're facing to 20 years ago."
England captain George Williams is expected to follow Knowles to the Dolphins in 2027, returning to the NRL after his stint with Canberra was cut short four years ago.
Williams knocked back any conversation about the move at this week's series launch.
"That's not signed and sealed delivered yet. I'm just concentrating on the Ashes," he said.
But Williams keeps close tabs on the NRL, regularly face-timing his former housemate at Canberra, Hudson Young.
Seeing some of the England stars close up has fostered a healthy respect among the tourists.
"We expect a lot out of England," said the Storm's Harry Grant.
"We know what they bring week in, week out, to their respective teams (in the NRL). Playing at home here in an Ashes match, that's going to spark them up a whole lot."
NRL PLAYERS IN ENGLAND'S FIRST-TEST TEAM
AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)
Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights, joining Wests Tigers in 2026)
Dominic Young (Newcastle Knights)
Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)
John Bateman (North Queensland Cowboys)
Morgan Knowles (joining Dolphins in 2026)
FORMER NRL PLAYERS
George Williams (Canberra Raiders)
