England: Liam Farrell would love to make Shaun Wane’s World Cup squad

Wigan forward Liam Farrell says he would “love” to make Shaun Wane’s England squad at the end of the year and play in his second World Cup.

The 31-year-old has won 10 caps for England during his career. Farrell made his England return last June in a game against the Combined Nations All Stars after not featuring since 2016.

And he was named in Wane’s first England squad of 2022. He hopes to be back in the England fold for this year’s tournament.

Speaking to Love Rugby League, Farrell said: “I’d love to play internationally, I always have done.

“My idea of gaining international selection has always been ‘if I’m playing well for Wigan, then that takes care of itself at the end of the year’.

“Waney is probably one of my toughest critics and is hard to please but I’ll just focus on my game week in, week out. I speak to him regularly about how my game can get better and hopefully I can get selection at the end of the year.

“We had a (England) meeting last night and we had one a month ago and they are honest and open. He has his expectations and tells us what he expects from us as England-level players. We are not on about playing for England, we are on about playing well every week for your club.”

Liam Farrell: We need more international rugby league

Farrell, who is approaching the 300-game milestone for hometown club Wigan, is looking forward to the World Cup taking place on English soil this year – whether he makes the England squad or not.

The back-rower is a big fan of international rugby league and wants to see more of it.

He said: “Fans and players have been starved of international rugby because of what has happened over the last few years but the quicker it gets back, the better.

“I think the game has been needing to expand on the international game as it is so to be without it for a few years is disappointing.

“It is going to be a great spectacle. I was part of the last World Cup over here in 2013. It was great to go around the country and see fans in new places.

“We’ve got as good a shot as ever with players available for selection so it is really exciting times and we’ll look forward to that at the end of the year.”

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