It’s been quite the two months for Tom Johnstone, who has gone from a first-ever Super League play-off game with Wakefield Trinity, to an Ashes player against Australia, to having to have an operation on a hernia that has ruled him out for the initial part of pre-season.
The winger, who returned to Trinity ahead of this season after a two-year spell with Catalans Dragons, helped his side reach the top six at the first time of asking, as they made the finals for the first time since 2012.
He was then selected to be part of England’s 24-man squad to face the Kangaroos, and was selected in all three matches, playing the full 80 in each, and putting in solid performances at each Test.
It was reported that the 30-year-old was playing through injury in the series, though it was never confirmed by England at the time. However, Johnstone has now confirmed that he was in fact playing whilst not 100%.
In an interview with club media, the winger has described just how hectic the past few weeks have been, as well as giving an injury update and an timeline for return.
“I came out of [England] camp, and had to get the op,” he revealed, with the operation being one to remove a hernia. “It turned out a bit better than expected. We thought we were going to get the adductor fixed, but he said that will be fine. The main thing is the hernias.
“That was in the first week [week after the Ashes had finished], and then the week after, I couldn’t really move much. It’s not a massive injury, it’s just really annoying because it’s right in the middle of your stomach.
“I saw the surgeon… he’s happy to start progressing everything. I’ve come to watch the boys do the hills, the intensity were good. Really enjoyed being back around the lads. I’m in a couple of days next week, and then start again the week after to get full pre-season going.”
England winger reveals Shaun Wane selection conversation
Johnstone was never going to let a minor knock put him on the sidelines for such a historic event. He knew he could perform at a high level, and after revealing the conversation between him and Shaun Wane, his boss put the trust in him to execute, and he believes he did that.
He said: “I was a bit up in the air as to whether I was going to be in the squad or not. Once I did the fall-out sessions over at Sale and sat down with Shaun and spoke to him, he said ‘are you fit? Are you happy?’
“I said ‘Look, I think I’m moving well enough to do a job for you’ and he said ‘If you’re fit, then you’re in. I’ll stand by you because you’ve done well for me before.’
“I feel like I did that for him, and hopefully he sees it the same way and other people see it and see that I did a good job.
Following the opener at Wembley, footage emerged of the Wakefield man’s emotion on full show as the teams sang the national anthem. The clip highlighted just what it meant to him to be part of that experience, and how he hopes the whole series will be something he can learn from, both individually, and as a team.
“Walking out at Wembley was a bit mad. I think, getting selected, was all about being in the squad and getting selected to be around the squad, but then once it actually came to the day, it was playing at Wembley, playing the Aussies for my family, things like that.
“After it had been so up in the air, whether I’d get the opportunity or not, it kind of all hit me at once, as you saw with the emotional side of it, but yeah, it’s probably something I’ll never forget.”
“Regardless of the result, it was a tough series, but I loved it… I managed to take part in every game, didn’t miss a beat. I was playing a bit battered and bruised, but most people are at the end of the year. I was happy that my body was at a level that I could perform.
“It’s something that I’ll look back on in a few years. It’s something that I think is going to make me better because I’ve never played a team so good. They’re the best for a reason and I think I’ve taken a lot of things away from it.”
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