Rugby League Ashes: Why Herbie Farnworth who could illuminate series for England

Having made the journey from Blacko in Lancashire to the bright lights of Brisbane, England’s Herbie Farnworth has emerged as an NRL star in Australia.

As arguably the best centre in the world, he is also the “cheat code” England hope can help deliver a first Ashes series victory over the Kangaroos since 1970.

Farnworth is one of six men in Shaun Wane’s England squad who play in Australia’s premier competition.

And his abilities cannot be underestimated, even as former Australia forward Aaron Woods and other pundits from outside the UK have provided fuel for Wane’s squad with withering comments about their quality.

A key member of the side who reached the World Cup semi-final in 2022, Farnworth was named as one of the two Dally M centres of the year in both 2023 and 2024 and was instrumental in England’s 2-0 win over Samoa 12 months ago – scoring three tries and emerging as the series’ top metre maker.

During 2025, Farnworth exhibited his class for the Dolphins, as he crossed for 12 tries in 19 appearances until a hamstring injury ended his season in early August and affected the Queensland side’s push for the finals.

Wane has repeatedly referred to him as “one of the best centres in the world”, a view endorsed by England captain George Williams, who looks set to be a club-mate of Farnworth’s in the near future.

“Herbie is unbelievable,” said the England stand-off. “He is one of the best players in the world at the minute. He is a cheat code playing in the NRL so we welcome him into our team with open arms.

“He creates something from nothing. He’s a good lad too, who I have known for a long time. He kills it in the NRL.

“In the last series we played against Samoa, it was like he was playing a different game to anyone else. He was just running through like he was playing under-sevens.”

Gold Coast Titans back AJ Brimson, who is a newcomer to Wane’s squad added: “In my opinion, he was the best centre [in the NRL] this year.

“He has been the Dally M centre the last two years and missed out this year by a smidge and I thought this was his best year at centre. He’s in fine form and is someone I am looking forward to playing with.”