Jack Sinfield named in Lancashire squad for Academy Origin

Leeds half-back Jack Sinfield headlines the Lancashire squad for the first of their three-match Academy Origin series against rivals Yorkshire.

Jack Sinfield, the son of rugby league legend Kevin, is the only player outside of Wigan, St Helens and Warrington to have been called up to the Lancashire squad, that will be coached by Shane Eccles.

The 18-year-old has made five appearances for the Rhinos first team since making his debut last year.

Wigan’s Lukas Mason, son of former Super League and NRL prop Keith, has been selected for Lancashire.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire’s Jacob Bateman has first team experience with Championship outfit Bradford. Lucas Green, who made his Warrington debut last week, has been named the Yorkshire in the squad.

Lancashire enjoyed a clean sweep in last year’s series under Eccles, who is a long-serving member of Wigan’s academy and scholarship systems. Eccles will be assisted by Tyrone McCarthy and Ryan O’Brien.

Rob Nickolay, who is the head of youth at Castleford, will lead the Yorkshire team, assisted by Huddersfield veteran Leroy Cudjoe.

The first of this year’s three-match series takes place at Castleford’s Mend-A-Hose Jungle on Friday, April 28 (7pm kick-off).

Lancashire squad

Joe Bajer (Warrington Wolves)

Harvey Braddish (St Helens)

Ryan Brown (Wigan Warriors)

Leon Cowen (St Helens)

Owen Dagnall (St Helens)

Jack  Farrimond (Wigan Warriors)

Ben Hartill (Warrington Wolves)

Taylor Kerr (Wigan Warriors

Nathan Lowe (Wigan Warriors)

Thomas McKinney (Warrington Wolves)

Lukas Mason (Wigan Warriors)

Ciaran Nolan (St Helens)

Tom Ratchford (Wigan Warriors)

Will Roberts (St Helens)

Harry Robertson (St Helens)

Dayon Sambou (St Helens)

Jack Sinfield (Leeds Rhinos)

Ewan Smith (Warrington Wolves)

Noah Stephens (St Helens)

Nolan Tupea (Warrington Wolves)

Jon Vaughan (St Helens)

Yorkshire squad

Kye Armstrong (Hull FC)

Jacob Bateman (Bradford Bulls)

Jack Billington (Huddersfield Giants)

Noah Booth (Warrington Wolves)

Jack Charles (Hull FC)

Lennie Ellis (Hull KR)

Lucas Green (Warrington Wolves)

Matt Hanley (Huddersfield Giants)

Bobby Hartley (Leeds Rhinos)

Jeylan Hodgson (Hull FC)

Jack Hudson (Huddersfield Giants)

Will Hutchinson (Hull FC)

Maddox Jeffery (Wigan Warriors)

Ben Littlewood (Leeds Rhinos)

Sullivan Medforth (Hull FC)

Max Merta (Huddersfield Giants)

Oliver Pratt (Wakefield Trinity)

Joe Ritho (Huddersfield Giants)

Cai Taylor Wray (Warrington Wolves)

Cobie Wainhouse (Hull FC)

Ethan Wood (Wakefield Trinity)

Paul Anderson excited for Academy Origin

Paul Anderson, Head of England Pathways, said: “Everybody involved in Academy Rugby League – players, coaches, clubs – is really excited about this year’s Origin series.

“For heads of youth at individual clubs, the focus is very much on developing talent. Academy Origin takes those players to the next level, where the emphasis is on performance.

“This is where we identify and develop the players who have the potential to become elite performers on the domestic and international stage.

“This year we play France in the first England Academy international since 2019 and then we’re building towards Rugby League’s Youth World Cup in 2025. There’s everything for these lads to play for.

“I’ve worked closely with clubs to identify the 42 players chosen this time around and they will all received one-to-one feedback on their performance. Last year we eventually used close on 70 players over the three matches, so squads will evolve as the season unfolds.”

Hull KR will host the second Origin game on Saturday, May 27, with the final game taking place at St Helens on Friday, August 18.

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