England v Tonga: Harry Newman 'turned a corner' to earn call-up, says coach Shaun Wane

Shaun Wane named his 24-man squad for the Tonga test series on Tuesday morning

England coach Shaun Wane is convinced Harry Newman has "turned a corner" after calling up the Leeds centre for the Test series against Tonga.

Asked about the possible selection of Newman a month ago, Wane highlighted his perceived on-field petulance as a potential barrier to his inclusion.

But the 23-year-old has made the 24-man squad for the three-match series.

"We have had a few chats, personal chats, and we have been honest with each other," Wane said.

"We know what a talent he is, how he is very competitive, sometimes overcompetitive. Hopefully we we have sorted him out."

Last month, Wane suggest that Newman would have to cut out ill-discipline to be considered for selection.

Newman was involved in a tunnel bust-up with Leeds team-mate Tom Holroyd following a defeat by Salford in May, while he was sin-binned in a 61-0 loss to Catalans Dragons the same week in which Wane said he was not being considered for England.

"I will not entertain that. He's a real talent, Harry, and it's something he needs to improve on," said Wane at the time. "As a talent and a player he's one of the best. But it's something he needs to get out of his game."

Wane has now been convinced enough to bring Newman in for the Test series, which begins in St Helens on Sunday before matches during the following two weekends in Huddersfield and Leeds.

Asked whether it was Newman's performances that had convinced him to select the 23-year-old, Wane told a pre-series media conference on Tuesday: "I got more from our chats to be honest. I'm positive he has turned a corner."

Wane said he had been up until "about 4am this morning" picking his final 24, which includes captain George Williams despite the Warrington Wolves player possibly being unavailable for the majority of the series.

Williams, initially banned for one game for a shoulder charge in Warrington's play-off defeat by St Helens, had that sentence doubled after losing an appeal.

The 28-year-old has appealed again in the hope of having the suspension lifted. That appeal is to be heard on Tuesday evening.

Wane nevertheless is satisfied with the selection, and said: "It has been hectic since the [Super League] Grand Final. Clubs have been great in dealing with us. I am happy with the players we've got."

'It is very historic'

This is the first Test series in which a Pacific Island nation has toured England, and Tonga coach Kristian Woolf said they were proud to be breaking new ground for rugby league.

"It is very historic, to be the first tier-two nation to get this sort of invite," he said. "It's a big deal for us, something we are very excited about. We have been wanting more meaningful games, so looking forward to it.

"It is not just three nations [England, Australia and New Zealand] any more, there are four, five, six competing together, which means we can look to put a schedule together. We want those top five or six teams playing each other."

While Tonga are entering uncharted waters, they do so as the side fifth in the world rankings - just one place below England - and having seen their neighbours Samoa stun the English at Emirates Stadium in the World Cup semi-final last year.

Tonga were beaten by the Samoans in the quarter-finals having reached the last four in 2017, and Woolf said that this is an opportunity to show the wider world what they are capable of.

"We want to see this squad play to potential," said Woolf, who is returning to familiar ground having coached St Helens from 2020 to 2022, winning three Super League titles and the 2021 Challenge Cup.

"If we do that we have a chance in every game. We want to make up for World Cup where we weren't at our best, and show our best over three games."