Opportunity arrives for Ferres to try and show he is worth World Cup spot

The in-form Huddersfield Giants second-row is the only player outside of the England elite training squad to make the 19-man group that has trained to face the Exiles.

He now hopes to force himself in from the periphery to make the final cut and told the Yorkshire Post: “If I do get a shot, there will probably be a little bit more pressure on me.

“I’ll be expected to justify my inclusion whereas some of the other players are obviously a lot more established.

“I know I have to grab it with both hands now if that chance comes. With all the competition, I must make sure Steve has to select me again.”

Ferres, 27, added: “I played for England back in 2006 but that was the Federation Shield when Great Britain was still going.

“There were a couple of guys back then who are in this England squad now: Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Eorl Crabtree.

“But I’ve waited a long time since to get another chance and if I do, you could say this would be my proper England debut.”

It is interesting to recollect who else featured in that England side – ostensibly a Great Britain second-string outfit – which defeated France to win the inaugural Federation Shield final almost seven years ago.

There were seven Leeds players involved – current Salford City Reds duo Ashley Gibson and Danny Williams plus Jones-Buchanan, Nick Scruton, Matt Diskin, Lee Smith and Ryan Bailey – while a certain young Wigan winger called Chris Ashton was on the bench.

Hull FC’s Rich Whiting played centre with club colleagues Ewan Dowes and Lee Radford in the pack while Wakefield Trinity’s Jamie Rooney and Ferres’s then Bradford Bulls colleague Matt Cook were also there.

Four of the 17 went on to represent England in the World Cup two years later – Harlequins’ Rob Purdham, Mark Calderwood, Smith and Jones-Buchanan.

It is a select group whose numbers the aspiring Ferres will belatedly look to extend himself into come the autumn.