Morley excited by World Cup prospect

Correspondent

Warrington prop Adrian Morley would love to involved in the World Cup at the end of the year but is well aware competition for places will be intense.

Morley, 35, appeared in all three tests in the Autumn International Series against France and Wales, having missed the two Exiles tests last season.

An array of talent will be vying for a place in the Steve McNamara’s squad at the end of the year including the Wolves’ front four of Morley, Hill, Gareth Carvell and Paul Wood.

England’s next game comes at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium, against the Exiles, ahead of the World Cup in the autumn.

Morley said: “I would love to be involved, it’s so exciting to have the World Cup on your doorstep at the end of the year. I said to Steve McNamara I would never retire from international Rugby League but I know that first of all my club form has to be good enough to be eligible for selection, but if it got to the point where I’m not good enough I’m man enough to take it on the chin.”

With so many options available all over the pitch, the Wolves prop has said the competition can only be good for English Rugby League.

He added: “If you look at the Great Britain team years ago you knew that if a player was fit he would be picked for a certain position regardless of form but now with so many players vying for the one spot it’s absolutely fantastic and it’s great for the international game. You need a good healthy big squad for international rugby and if everyone if fit come the end of the year that will be fantastic. 

“Gareth Carvell would have been in if he would have been fit for England as well, so there’s great competition there and even in the Warrington team in the front row there is a lot of competition. If you’re playing well enough you’ll be selected it’s as simple as that but it’s up to every player to hold their hand up and say ‘yeah I’m ready to play’.”

Salford-born Morley has also praised the influence Kevin Sinfield has had on the team. Sinfield was appointed as captain following Jamie Peacock’s retirement and has subsequently been named as the Golden Boot winner.

“Kev’s a tremendous captain, I’ve seen him come through at Leeds and played with him internationally and he did a great job in the internationals last year. He’s the right man to lead us definitely. 

“But just because he’s got the ‘C’ next to his name doesn’t mean we all have to follow Kev. There are a lot of leaders in that team, Sean O’Loughlin is Wigan captain, I’m captain of Warrington and so we all play our little roles, but in terms of success as a captain over the years, Kev is by far the most successful and he brought that bit of confidence and a calming influence on the rest of us.”