Hall backing Dom to beat his try haul
NO SOONER had Ryan Hall added another two tries to his record England tally, than he was tipping his new team-mate to surpass him.
‘If he’s as professional as he has shown so far, I’m sure he could catch it,’ said the 34-year- old. ‘I’m sure you’ll hear his name for years and years to come.’
Hall was referring to Dom Young, who now has four tries from two Tests after a brace of his own on Saturday night against France.
The Hull KR veteran spoke about passing on his expertise to Young, who was just seven years old when Hall scored the first of his 37 England tries in June 2009.
‘There is something that I need to work on with him,’ said Hall, without revealing what that something was. ‘He is just going to get better and better with age. He just needs a bit of fine-tuning in a couple of areas. But he has a very sponge-like brain at the moment. He will absorb everything.’
Young, 21, certainly looks to be a fast learner at this level. The NRL star picked up where he left off last week against Samoa by scoring the final two of England’s seven tries in this thrashing of France.
His second had fans on their feet as he intercepted Eloi Pelissier’s pass on his own tryline and ran the full length of the pitch to finish — demonstrating pace which former England coach Steve McNamara likened to legendary winger Martin Offiah.
‘To even be compared in the same breath to a player like that is pretty special,’ admitted Newcastle Knights winger Young. ‘I am loving it on the right edge. I can hear the fans spurring me on when I get the ball in space as well.
‘That’s why you play the game. You want to give a spectacle for everyone to watch and enjoy.’
Right now, England fans are definitely enjoying watching Young and Shaun Wane’s side, who have registered 17 tries and 102 points in two World Cup games to all but seal their place in the quarter-finals.
Luke Thompson, Elliott Whitehead and Victor Radley were the others to go over against France after Hall — in for the rested Tommy Makinson — touched down twice in the first 11 minutes.
As well as extending his England record, Hall climbed to joint third in the all-time list of international try- scorers. ‘It’s just a stat,’ he insisted. ‘ It’s a by- product of playing in a good team.’
But skipper Sam Tomkins said: ‘I think he is being a bit humble. There’s a reason that Ryan has been probably the most consistent winger in Super League over the last decade or longer.
‘When Ryan comes into the team, he always delivers.’
The free- scoring displays of wingers Young, Hall and Makinson — who grabbed a try and kicked 10 goals against Samoa — has given Wane a selection headache. Three into two does not go but Young is desperate not to be rested for the final group game with Greece at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
‘I’m young, fit and healthy, and every time there’s an opportunity I want to play,’ added Young. Perhaps Hall’s record is already on his mind.
ENGLAND: Tomkins 6.5; Young 8, Watkins 7, Farnworth 7, Hall 8, Sneyd 7, WILLIAMS 8.5; Burgess 7, McIlorum 7, Hill 7.5, Whitehead 7, Bateman 7.5, Radley 8. Interchanges: Welsby 7.5, Oledzki 6.5, Thompson 7.5, Ackers 7.