Carvell predicts Headingley battle as England prepare for Exiles

The former Leeds Rhinos and Hull prop claims club loyalties will be forgotten at Headingley Carnegie as he goes up against three of his Warrington Wolves club-mates in the inaugural match against the Exiles, a team drawn from the best Australian and New Zealand players in Engage Super League.

“It’s going to be strange going up against Brett Hodgson, Matt King and Louis Anderson and then maybe playing alongside them for Warrington two days later, but I’m aiming to be the one who rocks up on Sunday morning with the smile on his face,” said Carvell, who still lives in Leeds. Team-mate Hodgson lives in Huddersfield after a winter move from the Giants to Wolves.

“I travel across to Warrington most days with Brett Hodgson and we’ve been giving each other a fair bit of stick in the last few weeks. It’s all good natured but things will be serious on Friday night.

“None of us will be holding anything back – you can’t do that in any game of rugby league – and on Friday there is just so much at stake. This can be a brutal sport at the best of times, but on Friday I think fans may see it taken to a new level.

“Playing for your country is a massive honour and I feel privileged to have been selected to play on Friday.

“Hopefully this is the first of many games against the Exiles, which is a fantastic concept.

“The Exiles are full of internationals and in most cases, the only reason they are not playing representative football back home is that they’re over here in Super League.

“England are a strong side as well and are looking forward to a massive test from them. That’s just what we need. A victory will take us one step closer to where we want to be.”

Facing Carvell tonight is Wolves team-mate, Matt King, who will be hoping to end a memorable week on a high with victory.

The Exiles centre was stunned to receive a call in the early hours of yesterday morning to say his wife, Kirsten, had gone into labour. After a mad dash back across the Pennines, a few hours later he had become the proud father of his new baby daughter, Charlie June.

“It has been unbelievable last 12 hours,” said King. “My wife came down to the family dinner last night.

“She felt a little different and I didn’t think six hours later I’d be sitting in a hospital watching my baby daughter arriving into the big world. The whole experience is mind blowing.

“Thankfully it wasn’t tomorrow otherwise that could have been tricky.

“I’m going to spend some time with the family and I will drive back over for the game tomorrow afternoon and hopefully be ready to beat the pommies.”