Johnstone’s dream debut for England
TOM JOHNSTONE marked his England debut with a hat-trick inside 15 first-half minutes, but the real test for Wayne Bennett’s men will come in Hull on Saturday week.
Wakefield winger Johnstone reprised the predatory finishing skills he has displayed all season at club level as France’s pitiful resistance saw England establish a 38-0 interval lead.
Among the 5,144 crowd at the Leigh Sports Village was Wakefield chairman Michael Carter, who saw his star man cap a gruelling journey from the depths of despair to international tryscorer.
Traumatic does not do justice to Johnstone’s plight after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during a Super League game against Catalans in April 2017.
The injury ruled him out for the rest of the year and wrecked his hopes of playing for England in the World Cup. Johnstone struggled to leave his house after being sidelined and only came to terms with the setback after sessions with a therapist.
He has returned to the peak of his powers this year, however, and scored 24 tries for Wakefield to earn a place in the 2018 Super League Dream Team.
His exploits last night marked a continuation of that form and put the 23-year-old firmly in the driving seat to claim a starting role in the series opener against New Zealand at Hull in nine days’ time ahead of the second and third Tests at Anfield and Elland Road.
Bennett was without nine members of his squad due to their involvement in last weekend’s Grand Final
ENGLAND
between Wigan and Warrington.
He was also deprived of the services of key men such as Sam Burgess and Gareth Widdop because of injury.
Bennett handed debuts to Johnstone and Wakefield team-mate Reece Lyne, St Helens prop Luke Thompson and Castleford loose-forward Adam Milner.
Called up from the Knights squad, who shortly embark on a two-match tour of Papua New Guinea, were Hull full-back Jamie Shaul, Castleford second-rower Oliver Holmes, Leeds utility man Liam Sutcliffe and Hull KR prop Robbie Mulhern.
There were still plenty of experienced performers on show in twins Tom and George Burgess, hooker Josh CONNOR: Final try
Hodgson, second-rower Elliott Whitehead and captain James Graham.
The expected procession began inside the opening minute when Tom Burgess barrelled under the posts.
Johnstone then touched down twice in the left corner before completing his treble in the 27th minute with another clinical effort.
Further scores from Richie Myler, Thompson and Whitehead underlined England’s first-half superiority.
A sluggish second half saw Jake Connor claim an eighth home try before France hit back through Theo Fages.
ENGLAND – Tries: FRANCE – Try: Goals: Goal: