CURRIE TURNS UP HEAT
RUGBY LEAGUE Comeback king has his sights on World Cup
BEN CURRIE can dream of an end-of-season World Cup debut after only 50 minutes of his long-awaited Super League return.
Out for 10 months with ruptured cruciate knee ligaments, Currie, who turns 23 today, showed what Warrington and England have missed in his absence.
He marked his return with Wire’s winning try in their 16-10 upset of champions Wigan at the DW Stadium on Thursday night.
Impress
That hasn’t gone unnoticed by national boss Wayne Bennett, who named Currie in his high-performance squad throughout the second-row forward’s rehabilitation.
“I have got eight games to try and impress,” said the Warrington favourite. “Being kept in the squad was a great confidence boost.
“But I must get back performing to where I was last year to have any chance of getting selected.”
Currie suffered the worst injury of his career scoring a try against Wigan in the Super 8s last September.
It put him out of Warrington’s failed attempt to win a first Grand Final less than three weeks later, plus England’s underwhelming home Four Nations campaign.
Speaking of his new England chance, Currie said: “I’ve not spoken to Wayne much while I have been out.
“But we have had regular England meetings when I have chatted with Denis Betts and Baloo (Paul Anderson).
“There’s another one on Monday, so that will be interesting now I am back.”
Of his road to recovery, Currie said: “It’s been a roller coaster.
“The first bit wasn’t too hard to take because I have never had a big preseason. I thought I could get something out of it at least.
“But the last month, once I felt fit, it was tough. It’s been hard to watch the boys suffer. We had a poor year in 2015 and this season has been even worse.”
Despite his determination to get back, Currie was on edge after coach Tony Smith confirmed he would play against Wigan.
“I went through a whole range of scenarios in my head,” said Currie, who started on the bench.
“I am a nervous guy before a game anyway and my stomach is always spinning.
“But once I got on the field, got my first carry and my first tackle in, it was like being back to normal. This first game couldn’t have gone any better.”