Widdop ready to step up for England

Gareth Widdop
12 April 2012

Deputising for the world's best full-back will stand Gareth Widdop in good stead when he makes his England debut this weekend.

The 21-year-old from Halifax has been understudy to Melbourne Storm's Billy Slater for over a year but got his big chance to wear the number one jersey when the 2008 Golden Boot winner was injured for the recent game against Canterbury Bulldogs.

Widdop reckons running out for England against France at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday will be nothing compared to that nerve-wracking experience, and said: "Obviously it's going to be tough but I think I was more nervous about playing NRL than I will be playing this match simply because I've got Billy Slater in front of me and there were a lot of expectations on me."

Widdop, who flew into England at the weekend and went into camp in Manchester with Steve McNamara's England on Monday, will make his international debut on the back of just two first-grade appearances but he does not anticipate any difficulties making the step up from reserve grade.

"I feel I'm ready," he said. "I know I've only played a small number of first-grade games but the lower grades in Australia are still very strong. We still get players who have played NRL week in, week out."

Widdop, who was on Halifax's scholarship before emigrating with his family to Australia at the age of 16, travelled over from Australia with Wests Tigers second rower Gareth Ellis and will meet up with another exiled Englishman, South Sydney's Sam Burgess, when he arrives in the country on Wednesday.

The Yorkshireman is looking forward to getting to know his new team-mates but he spotted a couple of familiar faces in the camp in veteran forwards Adrian Morley and Jamie Peacock.

"I used to support the Bulls when Peacock was there so playing alongside him now is a dream come true really," he said. "I used to like the way he played.

"He came and introduced himself, he's a good bloke, a good fella."

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