Published: 15:28, 31 October 2025 | Updated: 15:28, 31 October 2025

'It's do or die and I couldn't dream of a better place to face that challenge.'

Paul Sculthorpe's eyes light up. The former St Helens and England loose forward wishes he was back playing and facing old foes Australia in the second of rugby league's three Ashes clashes on Saturday. Not least because Sculthorpe is a fully-fledged Everton fan.

'For the Ashes to come back, England versus Australia, it’s the biggest game in rugby league,' says Sculthorpe, who won four Super League titles and five Challenge Cups, alongside 30 Test appearances for England, including the last Ashes test here in 2003.

'You look at the stadium and what it means for Everton, and now what it means for Rugby League to be a part of that. It’s going to be special.'

History will be made at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend as, a week after Australia won the opening game of the series 26-6 at Wembley, the £800million venue on Liverpool's iconic waterfront plays host to its first non-football event. 

The...