Kangaroos squad pose for snaps with Liverpool players as they prepare for second Rugby League Ashes Test

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The Kangaroos have travelled north to Liverpool ahead of the second Rugby League Ashes Test against England.

After their dominant 26-6 victory at Wembley on Saturday, the side have taken some time to check out the sights of the famous Merseyside city before they do battle at Everton’s sparkling new Hilldickinson Stadium situated on the banks of the River Mersey.

The stars, who had been sharing a hotel with the South African rugby union side just off Hyde Park in London last week, hopped on the train and travelled two hours north on Wednesday.

The team were in good spirits off the back of their huge win in the opening Test, with Reuben Cotter, Lindsay Collins, Tom Dearden pictured on Harry Grant’s Instagram.

It comes as the Melbourne Storm hooker has been given the nod to lead the Kangaroos out on Saturday in place of skipper Isaah Yeo, who will miss the game due to a concussion.

Meanwhile, Lindsay Smith will step into the front row in place of Yeo, with Pat Carrigan moving to lock while Lindsay Collins will also come into the starting line-up.

The Australian Rugby League squad took a trip to watch Liverpool on Wednesday night to watch the Reds take on Crystal Palace in the League Cup (Pictured: Angus Crichton, left, Curtis Jones, right) 

Liverpool suffered a 3-0 defeat with the Kangaroos watch the match from inside a box at Anfield

Crighton (left) also posed for a snap with Liverpool star Cody Gakpo (right) after the game

Since arriving in Liverpool, the side have made the most of their downtime, with some stars getting their rest and recovery in at an outdoor spa, while others took a trip to watch Liverpool suffer a 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

The squad were hosted in a box by adidas and Liverpool, with Angus Crichton documenting the evening out on his Instagram.

The squad posed for snaps with several players, including Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones, before stopping to pose for a photo outside the Kop.

Meanwhile, Reece Walsh and Carrigan spent some time exploring Liverpool One and managed to catch up with former Brisbane Broncos player Tristan Sailor.

Sailor who played for the Queensland outfit between 2023 and 2024, joined St Helens at the start of the season and has enjoyed a prolific season with the club, scoring 18 tries across 32 games.

Walsh posted a picture of the trio together in Liverpool One on his Instagram, adding the caption: ‘Good to see the brother.’

Later the group published snaps of themselves at the Wyld Sauna outdoor spa in the Albert Dock.

Carrigan, Walsh and Josh Addo-Carr all took a plunge in the cold ice baths at the spa, which interestingly is the first floating spa in Great Britain.

Cameron Munster (right) was seen being presented with a Liverpool home jersey at the match

The squad took the train up to Liverpool, with Harry Grant showing he Reuben Cotter, Lindsay Collins and Tommy Dearden passed the time away by playing cards

Meanwhile, Patrick Carrigan (left) and Reece Walsh (right) both caught up with former Broncos player Tristan Sailor (centre) who is currently playing for St Helens 

The spa is situated on a jetty on the Albert Dock and visitors can also cool off by taking a dip in the River Mersey.

It comes as Shaun Wayne has announced his England side to take on the Kangaroos this weekend.

Queensland-born star AJ Brimson looks sure to make his debut for England at fullback as the hosts desperately seek a way back into the Ashes rugby league series.

The Gold Coast Titans star, who surprisingly left out of the side last Saturday, has been brought into the matchday squad for the second Test, with the Wembley fullback Jack Welsby dropped from the 19.

Wane had promised to make changes after England's lacklustre start to the first series in 22 years, and he was true to his word as he also brought in Canberra forward Morgan Smithies, Wigan half-back Harry Smith and the versatile Kallum Watkins, who had brief NRL experience with the Titans five years ago.

But North Queensland's John Bateman, who hs been reported to be struggling with illness, and Ethan Harvard have both been axed alongside Welsby.

'I needed to make some changes to the side that lost last week at Wembley and I have done that,' Wane said.

Brimson, who's previously represented Australia in the Nines World Cup, changed his allegiance earlier this year to the country where his mum, a Londoner, was born.

Walsh was also scoping out where he could get a haircut in Liverpool 

The pair were also seen taking a plunge in a ice bath at the Wylde Sauna, Great Britain's first floating spa, which is situated on the Albert Dock

The 27-year-old had been firmly expected to be part of the first-Test push after being named Gold Coast's player of the season, and Wane had received some criticism for not including him first up.

'The beauty of having such a strong squad is that we are bringing some really talented players into the side ahead of this weekend's game, but the fact remains we simply need to be better this time around,' said Wane.

'I want us to show the very best of us, play at the level I know we can and ultimately level this Ashes Series.

'We are heading to a sold-out Hill Dickinson Stadium at Everton and I have no doubt the English supporters will get behind the team and be that 18th man for us on Saturday afternoon.'

A key figure for England could be Smith, who after featuring in the previous six England matches before the Australia series, had been omitted from the squad for the first Test.

Wane had plumped for Mikey Lewis to partner captain George Williams as the half-back pairing, but may now revert to his tried-and-trusted Smith-Williams axis.

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