Friday Interview - Jordan Turner: Character revealed as he rises to challenge

Those two have since accelerated at a rate few could have envisaged, their progress so rapid that they linked up for England's senior side in last season's Four Nations final, against Australian legends Darren Lockyer and Jonathan Thurston.

Tomorrow evening, Tomkins, 21, will orchestrate England's attacking game plan against France in Leigh and Eastmond, undoubtedly, would have been alongside him were it not for injury.

But what of Turner? The skinny teenager who once proved the driving force wants to arrive at the same destination and re-kindle those combinations on the grandest stage but is taking a more prosaic route.

Turner was on Salford's books when he emerged as one of the game's brightest talents and joined Hull for the start of this season in order to advance his development.

However, it has not been an easy transition. The versatile player could not break into the 17-man squad for the Airlie Birds' opening three games and when he finally secured a spot, in his favoured stand-off role, his form was erratic, not what coach Richard Agar required in such a crucial position as he looked to eradicate the East Yorkshire club's inconsistencies of the previous two years.

Turner's nadir unfortunately came on his first return to Salford in March when an error-strewn display saw him hauled off by Agar during a shock 27-20 defeat.

The chastening experience, in front of the television cameras, could have broken weaker characters but he has responded positively and – ahead of Salford's return at Hull tonight – has discovered both form and a regular place in the East Yorkshire club's line-up.

"What happened at Salford was a bit embarrassing," he recalled. "I took a bit of stick off the crowd and it really hurt.

"It wasn't the best. I never like coming off but I've learned since then and feel like I'm a better player. It doesn't matter which team you play against, losing is always painful, and we're looking to get one back against Salford on Friday.

"We owe them for what they did to us at their place and I'm looking forward to it."

Turner, 21, will approach his second game against his former employers in a far more positive mindset.

With captain Sean Long back from injury, Turner's stand-off experiment has passed and he has established himself at centre.

In the three games since his switch, Hull have secured victories against Catalans, Castleford and last week's memorably last-gasp success over St Helens.

Trailing 26-6 with little more than half-hour to go, Turner's try triggered an astonishing fightback which culminated with Danny Tickle's drop-goal securing a 27-26 victory which has taken them to within two points of third-placed St Helens.

"It was one of the best results I've ever experienced and one of the finest comebacks I've ever seen," he said. "We're all buzzing after that but we're looking to push on and get higher than fourth now ready for the play-offs.

"We won't underestimate Salford as they've had a few close calls recently. They pushed Warrington close and we know we have a big game on our hands but the rewards will put us even closer to Saints if they slip up (against Huddersfield) on Friday."

Like so many players who can operate in a variety of positions, Turner's versatility looked like it could eventually cost him in the first season of his three-year deal at KC Stadium.

With Australian Test veteran Craig Fitzgibbon so dominant at loose forward and Danny Washbrook and Richard Horne competing for the half-back role alongside Long, he is now accepting that centre, where he has usurped Craig Hall, could be his best chance of sustained action.

"My form was patchy at the start," said Oldham-born Turner. "I'd have a couple of good games followed by a couple of bad but I feel confident with what I've done in the last few weeks. Now it's time to push even further.

"I'm concentrating on centre at the moment and really enjoying it. I've got good players inside and outside. Richard Whiting is really helping me a lot from the wing and it's a position I feel I can now make my own. I just need to keep my form up every week."

Hull will be without their other winger Tom Briscoe tonight as the 20-year-old is playing against France.

But that, allied to the achievements of Tomkins and Eastmond, leaves Turner with the belief he can eventually make the step up, too.

"I've known Kyle and Sam since being real young back in our amateur days," he said, having also been Eastmond's schoolmate.

"You could see they were always going to reach the top – just maybe not as quick as they have done being England's first choice half-back pairing.

"But Tom has set the benchmark, too. He's proved it doesn't matter how old you are, if you 're good enough you'll get picked.

"There's a lot of competition in the centre. Hopefully with a bit more hard work I can be pushing towards that but I'm only really concentrating on Hull."

However, Turner is being magnanimous with his appraisal of England's centre strength, which has been strained for a number of years.

More of the same from him, starting with a powerful display against Willie Talau tonight, and England could have found their solution.