Warrington Wolves’ academy side are enjoying a strong overseas tour in Australia, following on from their Grand Final success this season.
The Wolves youngsters are just over half way through a four-week tour, and have multiple games against top-class opposition lined up.
Following on from their 50-10 victory over Penrith Panthers’ academy, Warrington are now preparing to face a Junior New South Wales Blues team. The young Origin representatives are under the leadership of former England international Chris Heighington, in what is his maiden coaching role.
The Wolves then travel to Queensland for the final part of the tour, going up against the Gold Coast Titans juniors, before jetting back to the UK at the start of November.
Whilst they have been in Australia, though, the Academy Grand Final winners have been mentored by a rugby league great, and someone who knows all about what it’s like to play in Primrose and Blue.
Andrew Johns made the move from the NRL to Warrington in 2005, as headlines were made when one of the game’s greatest ever players turned out in Super League. Johns played three times for Wire that year, before returning to Australia to finish his career.
Now though, the rugby league great is back helping the club, after admitting he wants to do all he can to help the English game grow.
“We need England to be more competitive” – Johns issues plea over future of English rugby league
With the Ashes tour taking place over the next month, Johns, and plenty of other Australians, are worried that the series will be an straightforward 3-0 whitewash for the Kangaroos, which is no benefit to either side of the world.
By him helping his former club develop the next generation, he hopes that future English sides can build and be able to compete against the Aussies, just like New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa have grown to do.
In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, he said: “The game is flying here [Australia], it’s flying in New Zealand, the Pacific nations are just getting bigger, but we need England to be strong.”
“This Ashes series is so important for the game over there. They will be physical, but it will be a matter of whether they have the class to win.
“When you talk about Reece Walsh, Cam Munster, Nathan [Cleary] and Harry [Grant], that’s up there with the best spine Australia has had. But we need England to be more than competitive.”
Johns was also asked whether he’d thought about a coaching role following his involvement, and admitted that whilst he enjoyed the teaching side of the role, he would never take up a job like that full time.
He said: “They asked me if I could help out, and I was only too happy to give them a hand. I went out and did some basic kicks with them, and worked on their posture with ball playing.
“The boys were good, and moved well – they moved a lot better than their teacher. I enjoyed my time, but coaching isn’t for me. I have the best job in the world now, and I don’t need the stress of coaching.
“I wouldn’t do it to myself or my family. There’s no way I’d handle it. I didn’t handle it that well when I was playing. When things are out of your control [on game day], I have no interest.”
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