England’s impressive strength in depth at hooker in recent years means there are some good players unable to force their way into the national setup. The likes of James Roby, Josh Hodgson and Daryl Clark have kept the door firmly closed on any new faces but a change of coach for the national side following Steve McNamara’s departure could provide a clean slate for those on the outside looking in.
That window of opportunity is clear for Wigan’s Michael McIlorum. He has not represented his country since the 2013 World Cup and, widely regarded as one of the unluckiest players to regularly miss out on England honours, McIlorum is now eyeing an opportunity to impress the new England coach, Wayne Bennett, in the coming weeks.
Bennett’s Brisbane Broncos side will face McIlorum’s Wigan in the World Club Series next weekend, and after scoring twice during their 12-6 win against Catalans in the opening round of the season last weekend, the 28-year-old is hoping to continue his good form against Huddersfield on Friday night to remind Bennett of his international credentials.
“It wouldn’t do any harm to play well during the time that he’s over here so that I can show him what I’m capable of,” McIlorum said. “It would be nice and obviously ideal to put in a good showing while he’s over here with Brisbane and playing against us but it’s a long old season and one good game doesn’t make a campaign. My aim is to play well all year and have a big season, including on Friday against a tough Huddersfield side.”
It is not necessarily poor form that has prevented McIlorum from getting a stab at international duty in the past two years, however. “I definitely still have the ambition to represent my country again but I’ve had a bit of bad luck with injuries at the end of the year,” McIlorum said. “I missed the Grand Final in 2014 because I fractured an eye socket, and if I’d played in that game I could have gone blind, so I had to miss that.
“I had a bone graft at the end of last season so I have been unfortunate to miss out, so hopefully I can stay injury-free this year and force the new coach’s hand, and hopefully my form will get me called up.”
McIlorum had an extended break in the off-season to ensure he is fit for the whole campaign, and he will play a key role on Friday as Wigan look to extend their winning start to the season against a Huddersfield side who, although they lost their opening fixture to St Helens, McIlorum is not taking lightly.
He said: “They’re a quality team who we’ve had plenty of big battles with over the years and I’m expecting a big response from them after losing last weekend. They’re littered with quality players and it’ll be a really tough contest for us.”
Notoriously slow starters in recent years, McIlorum is also hopeful victory last weekend will be the springboard to a strong opening to 2016 for Wigan before that Brisbane clash. “It was a really good effort from the boys against Catalans and a really good way to start the season last week,” he said. “In the last few years we haven’t started superbly. We’ve always been slow starters yet we’re always up there at the end of the year – so just think what we can achieve if we start well and win again on Friday.”
