With the 2025 Ashes Series fast approaching, here's a look back at five of the greatest players to compete in this fierce rivalry dating back to 1908.
Reg Gasnier (Australia) - 1959, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967
One of the most gifted centres to ever play the 13-man code of the game, Reg Gasnier has to make the list for the greatest Ashes players of all time.
Simply a nightmare to defend against due to his speed and elusive running, the St George Dragons star featured in three Ashes-winning tours.
Famously, Gasnier scored a hat-trick in the 1963 "Swinton Massacre" Test in Sydney in a match that was a changing of the guard and was the platform for decades of Australian dominance in the Ashes.
Gasnier captained the Kangaroos and finished his career as one of rugby league's most complete attacking players and his efforts also saw him become a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.
Mal Reilly (Great Britain) - 1970, 1974, 1978
One of the toughest forwards ever to pull on a Great Britain jersey, Castleford legend Mal Reilly embodied the spirit of Ashes rugby league.
Having enjoyed a spell playing club rugby for Manly-Warringah, the Yorkshireman knew exactly the important of the Ashes Series for both GB and Australia.
Fearless in the defence and unstoppable at times with the ball in hand, the loose forward helped the Lions to their last series win in 1970.
Reilly has gone down as one of the great figures of Lions and went on to coach Great Britain over 50 times between 1987 and 1994.
Mal Meninga (Australia) - 1982, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994
A colossus of Test match rugby league, Mal Meninga is regarded as one of the greatest centres and skippers in Ashes history.
The Canberra Raiders legend was a veteran of multiple tours and instrumental in the "Invincibles" and "Unbeatables" Kangaroo teams of the 1980s.
His defining Ashes moment came in 1992 at Elland Road in Leeds, when his calm penalty and field goal secured a 15-14 win in West Yorkshire to clinch the hard-fought series.
Few players have had such standout moments in the green and gold jersey quite like Meninga and he's another Australian who walks into this list of greatest Ashes players.
Andy Farrell (Great Britain) - 1994, 1997, 2001, 2003
Andy Farrell was the talisman of the Great Britain side during the 1990s and early 2000s with his leadership and sheer ability.
A fierce competitor who has passed that down to his son Owen, who has established himself in the 15-man form of the game, Farrell's running, offload and kicking game made him a constant threat to Australia.
As captain, Farrell inspired the Lions' famous 23–12 win over the Kangaroos at McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield in 2001, but GB did go on to lose the Ashes series in the decider in Wigan.
A Wigan legend, his performances across four Ashes campaigns showed his competitiveness and consistency, even during an era that was largely dominated by the Kangaroos.
Farrell's rugby intelligence was evident on the field and is why he has gone on to enjoy great success coaching Ireland's national rugby union side and the British & Irish Lions in the 15-man form of the game.
Wally Lewis (Australia) - 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988
Wally Lewis was the ultimate playmaker and is another star who walks into this list of greats to feature in the Ashes.
Nicknamed "The King", Lewis' leadership and creativity defined Australia's dominance throughout the 1980s.
Lewis loved nothing more than to rise to the big occasion in an Ashes series and his performances inspired those around him in a great time for Australian rugby league in this rivalry.
A player to really set the standard of what an Australian captain should be, the Brisbane Broncos star, who had a brief spell in England with Wakefield Trinity, is a Queensland legend who made his presence known on the Ashes stage.
