Huddersfield Giants' super six: England men on the call-ups - in their own words

Oct 7 2010 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A record six players from Huddersfield have been picked for an England tour to Australia. Examiner RL writer Chris Roberts gets the thoughts of the Giants ahead of their trip tomorrow.

Shaun Lunt

IT’S not very often I’m left speechless and completely lost for words.

Last Sunday night at just after eight o’clock was one of those very rare occasions.

That was the moment my phone rang and it was Steve McNamara telling me I was in the England squad for the tour to Australia. It was an unbelievable moment.

I knew I was in the frame to be picked, but to actually hear the news from the England head coach is something I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

It was just the latest part of a dream that just doesn’t seem to be ending.

Last year – my first at Huddersfield following the move from Workington Town – was nothing short of incredible.

I scored a try on my debut at Catalans Dragons in the opening Super League game of the season, was soon playing regularly in the first team and then was part of the side that beat St Helens in the Challenge Cup semi-final and then scored a try in the final at Wembley Stadium.

This year, I’ve again been a regular in the Super League side and in the summer I was called up to the England squad for the first time for the mid-season Test against France.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get picked that day, but it was then I knew I was very much in Macca’s mind for a place in this autumn’s Four Nations squad.

That gave me an added lift for the second half of the season and I’d like to think I finished the season strongly as we came to within 80 minutes of the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.

I did keep wondering during that time whether I’d done enough to keep in the frame, because I have, of course, been playing a different role for the Giants this year, playing primarily in the second row rather than at hooker.

But, fortunately, Macca was still able to see I was playing a key role for the side.

Yet I do see the call as being just the start.

Now I’ve been picked I want to play as many Four Nations games as possible, not just to help England win but also to further my career.

In the short term, I know how much good this tour will do for me in terms of my time at the Giants.

I hope to come back with even more confidence and a better player to help us do even better in 2011.

But I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’d love to play in the Australian NRL at some stage further down the line, and if I can play well in the Four Nations it’ll definitely help show all the clubs over there what I can offer.

Next page, Kevin Brown