O’Loughlin expects England to be hungrier in 2017

Wigan loose forward Sean O’Loughlin believes that England‘s experience in a disappointing 2016 Four Nations campaign will make them keener to do well at the World Cup.

England struggled in the Four Nations, losing to New Zealand and Australia, and being tested in difficult first half for them by Scotland.

“It was tough, some of the results were tough to watch,” O’Loughlin told Love Rugby League.

“You just feel like you want to be part of it. Whether that’s winning or losing, you want to be on the pitch and trying to contribute something.

“I’m sure the experience the lads will take from that will give them a bit more hunger this year to kick on, especially with it being World Cup year as well.”

One new plan for the England squad under Australian coach Wayne Bennett was to meet for a January training camp in Dubai.

The camp was called off, however, with the initiative coming under fire from several Super League coaches, as well as observers who questioned the expense of the camp at a time when the RFL was sending out redundancy notices and making cutbacks.

“We’ve never really done anything like that in the past, so it would have been a new thing for a lot of us,” O’Loughlin said.

“To get together like that would have been good.

“I understand the clubs’ positions on it – losing players and so on at the start of the season.

“But I think, in the long run, it would have been a good thing.”

The Warriors veteran is also ready to play for England in the midseason Test Match with Samoa, set to take place in Australia.

“Yeah, but obviously my focus is on Wigan and performing well for Wigan,” he said.

“But if my performances warrant being involved in that game, it would be fantastic.”