Ferres eyes redemption at Wigan

The second-row returns there on Saturday for the first time since last month’s abject 32-8 play-off semi-final defeat denied the aspiring club a much-desired maiden Grand Final appearance.

This time, though, Ferres heads to the DW Stadium with his country, in the colours of England who could be very much likened to his club for their irritating trait of raising hopes so far only to ultimately fail.

Ahead of the third and deciding final Test against New Zealand, with the series delicately balanced following the hosts’ 9-2 defeat in London last weekend, he admitted: “It was disappointing with Huddersfield and we’re in a similar sort of spot now.

“We’ve put ourselves in a great position but obviously fell at the final hurdle there (last time).

“I certainly don’t want to replicate that; I want to finish the season on a high, enjoy my time off and then look back and think it’s been a successful year for myself and England as well.

“It would be a bad one (to lose). It would be gut-wrenching. But we’re not thinking about that.

“We got in a brilliant position that first week and didn’t back it up last Saturday. This is the best opportunity to put that right.”

Ferres has tasted heartache against the Kiwis before, in the last dramatic seconds of the 2013 World Cup semi-final and, again, in a narrow game during last season’s Four Nations.

But, presently, as England seek a first major success since Great Britain won a series versus the Kiwis eight years ago, he points to one marked difference.

“Obviously we’re in a fortunate position now where we don’t have to wait a year to play them again,” he said. “We can roll our sleeves up and go again this week.

“We’re certainly in a confident mood and we proved in week one that we have enough in our arsenal to beat this team so it’s just about replicating that again.”

In that 26-12 opener, when Ferres scored two tries against the world’s No 1 ranked team on the back of a dominant pack display, there was a freedom about England that was missing in the conservative approach in London.

The Kiwis caused their opponents more problems themselves that day with their willingness to offload forcing the hosts to work harder in defence and keep them on the move. It is something Ferres admits has been a reminder for his side come Saturday.

The 29-year-old said: “They seemed to try and play a bit more.

“They passed a little bit more within the forwards and certainly tried to play more offloads.

“We could probably play a little bit more there – we’ve some fantastic offloaders in the side – and we could learn from them.”

Ferres, who had scored a hat-trick in this autumn’s opening international against France, knows there will be much importance on his own game when, if expected, he emerges from the bench again as he has done in all the Tests thus far.

That is because the Kiwis’ biggest strength up to press has been in his position where the fine Melbourne Storm pairing of Tobu Harris and Kevin Proctor – such rugged ball-carriers – have been in devastating form.

“They are very good players aren’t they?” admitted the former Castleford and Bradford star.

“They are both big boys, run very good lines on the edge and play big minutes as well so they have certainly been a threat.

“That’s what you want from your back-rows – running lines, causing threats constantly with the ball. We just weren’t good enough last week.”

He added: “It’s been a frustrating season for me, just so inconsistent – in and out of the side with injuries and a suspension.

“But Steve (McNamara) gave me this opportunity and I want to take it with both hands.”