Wigan Warriors winger Josh Charnley is raring to go ahead of England’s World Cup warm-up game against the Exiles at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones stadium tonight.
The 21-year-old bagged four tries on his international debut last October, an 80-12 demolition of Wales at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground.
And despite the competition for places, Charnley will be using the occasion to try and stake a claim for a starting place in Steve McNamara’s squad.
“I just can’t wait to get stuck in with the boys and hopefully get a win against these Aussies,” he told MM.
“It’s good to see plenty of English players coming through – it’s going to be really exciting.
“There’s a lot of competition between me, Tom Briscoe, Ryan Hall and Bennie Cockayne so I’ve got to be on the ball all the time and hopefully get the nod.”
The Exiles, coached by Brian McClennan alongside former Salford City Reds boss Phil Veivers, are a representative side made up of Super League-based Australasian players.
Last season’s Super League top try-scorer and current joint leader, alongside teammate Sam Tomkins, Charnley has touched down 11 times in his last six appearances.
The former Hull KR loanee scored 12 points as the Warriors saw off Widnes Vikings in dramatic fashion last Friday, equalling a club record 11-match Super League unbeaten run.
Charnley, who turns 22 next week, was delighted with the efforts shown by his young teammates including try-scoring debutante Lewis Tierney, son of club-legend Jason Robinson.
“It was the record for the youngest squad that’s ever played for Wigan, so we won with a lot of young lads showing a lot of talent,” he added.
“Sam Powell really shone. He ran us round the yard and picked up the Man of the Match.
“Lewis Tierney also stood out at fullback. It’s a big role to take up Sam Tomkins’ spot but he did a good job, as did Ryan Hampshire who also came in and made his debut at halfback.
“They impressed me on Friday so hopefully they’ve done enough to impress Waney [head coach Shaun Wane] and hopefully we’ll see them again this season.”
Image courtesy of Sky Sports, via YouTube, with thanks.
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
