Watkins shines for England in massive mis-match

However, when England coach Steve McNamara assesses their opening autumn international game this morning there will surely be no escaping his delight at the rich display of Leeds Rhinos centre Kallum Watkins.

Admittedly, of all the seven England debutants on show in Saturday’s graphic mis-match at Wrexham, others will secure more headlines, not least the four-try Wigan Warriors winger Josh Charnley and Leeds’ full-back Zak Hardaker, who scored twice to mark his own arrival.

Yet, while Charnley showed all the finishing prowess that saw him end the campaign as Super League’s top try-scorer, he remains under intense pressure from Hull FC’s Tom Briscoe for that right-wing berth.

Super League Young Player of the Year Hardaker, of course, knows a certain Sam Tomkins may also be fit again to replace him at the back in Saturday’s game against France at Hull KR.

However, all things being equal, Watkins will be lining up once more this weekend and again in almost exactly 12 months time when the 2013 World Cup is underway.

The elegant centre is what this international side has been crying out for ever since Paul Newlove’s star began to wane shortly before the last World Cup staged here at the turn of the Millennium.

It was with effortless ease that he continually bemused Welsh defenders, whether through use of his delicate footwork, sharp acceleration or soft handling, meaning it wasn’t surprising his wing partner Charnley profited so handsomely.

As opponents, Australia and New Zealand will be a different matter entirely next year but there was a real sense the 21-year-old had plenty more gears to go through and, if RLWC2013 organisers want someone to attract in the floating supporter, he could be just as much a crowd-puller as the mesmeric Tomkins.

Watkins latched on to Sean O’Loughlin’s grubber to score himself in the first period having already seen one chalked off due to a forward pass from second-row Gareth Ellis, the new Hull FC signing back from Australia who helped form an attractive right-side unit.

“He’s a great player and proved that in the NRL,” said Watkins.

“I managed to play with him in my first year full-time at Leeds so know what Gareth’s about.

“We managed to do a couple of combo’ plays we’d been working on at training.

“Some came off, some didn’t but that’s all part and parcel of the game. He’s certainly a world-class player.”

Watkins’ task now is to attain the same title himself, by developing the same high level of consistency and performance that Ellis has demonstrated for so long.

Of his own display, the Grand Final winner said: “I really enjoyed it.

“It’s an honour to play for your country and a dream as well so I’m really happy I’ve got that game over with and been able to play pretty well.

“It was a great moment (scoring). I’m very pleased making all my family proud being out there and really happy to get over for the try as well but most importantly getting the win.

“Now I just want to keep proving why I’m here and, absolutely, that World Cup is the goal.”

Leeds colleague Kevin Sinfield helped himself to 12 goals in his first appearance as England captain while Headingley colleague Ryan Hall and Huddersfield Giants centre Leroy Cudjoe both scored twice as the visitors fell just short of their 2009 record 74-0 win over Wales in Bridgend.

Fellow Rhinos Rob Burrow and Jamie Jones-Buchanan crossed too along with Wigan second-row Gareth Hock who produced a couple of trademark powerful busts but similarly got himself drawn into a needless fight late on, the sort of ill-discipline McNamara will be desperate to avoid come the main business in 2013.

He is likely to make plenty of changes for Saturday’s game, with France also now confirmed as the opponents in the final of this lacklustre triangular tournament at Salford a week Sunday.

Wales, who did score either side of the break through Christiaan Roets and Castleford Tigers youngster Dan Flemming, may have realised they were in for a hiding after the pre-match build-up went embarrassingly awry in front of the BBC cameras.

The match announcer failed to inform the 4,014 people in the Wrexham crowd that a minute’s silence was being observed and then the choir continued singing the Welsh national anthem while the players had already dispersed in readiness for kick-off.

Such shambles will need to be eradicated before they host a quarter-final next year if the Rugby League World Cup really is going to be “the global sporting event of 2013” but, on the pitch, Wales coach Iestyn Harris clearly has a bigger task on his hands if he truly wants to reach his target of making his side the world’s third best team by 2016.

Wales: Moss; Kear, Channing, Roets, James; Jones, Seamark; James, Budworth, Kopczak, Lloyd, Evans, Flower. Substitutes: Dudson, Flemming, Burke, Parry.

England: Hardaker; Charnley, Watkins, Cudjoe, Hall; Sinfield, Myler; Morley, McIlorum, Hill, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, O’Loughlin. Substitutes: Burrow, Hock, Ablett, Mossop.

Referee: T Alibert (France).

ENGLAND Knights lifted the Alitalia European Cup after a 62-24 win over Scotland at Meggetland, Edinburgh, yesterday.

England’s second string side ran in 11 tries – nine of them converted by Jordan Turner – to back up last week’s 10 try success in Ireland.

England head coach Steve McNamara described it as a “good job” and he hailed the “efficient” way the Knights dispatched opposition who included just three Super League players.

“It was a difficult task coming in as hot favourites,” said McNamara. “It was a good chance to see how our young players dealt with that. For the majority of the game they dealt with it well.”

Chris Clarkson was one of two Leeds Rhinos players in the Knights’ startling line-up, alongside Ben Jones-Bishop. Castleford Tigers’ Daryl Clark was a second half substitute.

“It was tougher than the scoreline suggests,” Clarkson said. “We had to tough it out, but it was good to get the win to finish off the season.”

The Knights were 28-12 ahead at half-time, which represented a brave effort by Scotland considering it was 18-6 after 13 minutes.

The Scots took a shock early lead through Mitchell Stringer before Dan Sarginson, George Burgess and Jodie Broughton touched down to give the Knights a commanding lead.

The second quarter was evenly-contested with Lee Paterson scoring a deserved try for the hosts either side of touchdowns by Sarginson and Turner.

England added six touchdowns in the second period, again without hitting top gear.

Rhys Evans and Broughton went over before Paterson booted a 40-20 and Brett Phillips powered over from the resulting scrum.

Evans added his second, Scott Taylor crossed twice in as many minutes and Dixon completed his brace, but the Scots had the final say when Craig Borthwick got on the end of a Henderson grubber and David Scott landed his fourth goal.