Jordan Abdull hopes consistency will help him get England World Cup spot
Hull KR half-back Jordan Abdull wants to be more consistent this season as he aims to make it into England coach Shaun Wane’s plans for the World Cup.
The 26-year-old has been a key player for the Robins since making his Hull return in 2020 after a standout season with London Broncos.
Abdull’s impressive performances helped Hull KR reach the Super League semi-finals last season, and he won international honours at the end of the year. He earned his first England cap in their 30-10 win over France in Perpignan.
It has left Abdull hungry to play at the World Cup, but said he knows he is going to have to be more consistent to make Wane’s squad.
He told Love Rugby League: “It is definitely a goal. I got a taste of representing my country at the back end of last year so I would love to do it again.
“I think the main individual goal is to find some consistency within my game. You should always be focusing on your club first. Your country is more like a dream whereas your club is where you are week in, week out.
“I just want to be consistent for myself so I can have a better impact on the team. If the team is performing then you start to get recognised internationally. It is all a cycle, it all starts with focusing on your own things you need to work on within your game.
“As much as it would be nice, it would be more satisfying for me if I could come away at the end of the year knowing that I’d managed to get some consistency within my game.”
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Abdull, who made more than 150 career appearances for Hull FC, London Broncos and Hull KR, revealed he wasn’t expecting his England call-up for the French test last year.
He added: “It was surreal. I didn’t expect it. I’d never spoken to Waney until the season had finished. I was in holiday mode getting ready to go away.
“It was a nice surprise and it is a memory that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
“I’m going to get my shirt and cap framed. It will be good to look at in the years once I’ve retired and recognise the achievement.
“Hopefully it is not the only cap but I know the areas I need to get better at and I kn0w what Waney wants me to improve on and what he wants from an England standard player. There are definitely areas I need to work on to make sure that it wasn’t just one test.”
Jordan Abdull drawing inspiration from Jonny Lomax
Abdull is drawing inspiration from St Helens half-back Jonny Lomax, who he played alongside for England last autumn.
He continued: “The elite players play the same week in, week out. If they have an off day, it is still better than most people’s good games.
“Take Jonny Lomax for example, you never really see him have a bad game. Even in games when he is quiet, he is still significantly better than a lot of the halves in the competition. Consistency is the main thing. That’s the goal and that’s Waney has told me he wants from me so I’m going to do my best.”
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