Scott and Josh have work to do to earn England call-ups
ANDY Last says Hull FC duo Scott Taylor and Josh Jones have work to do if they are to earn more international call-ups.
Shaun Wane’s updated England squad was announced on Wednesday with seven changes made as the head coach looked towards players in form.
Josh Griffin was given the nod once more for his fine form for FC, but after playing a combined total of three games since March through injury and illness, Taylor and Jones have been overlooked.
Last, who has been working as Wane’s assistant, has revealed both players have been told to go away, make changes and impress the international coaching set-up.
“When we discussed it as an England staff we spoke about picking players in form and unfortunately for Josh and Tag they haven’t been in a position to see what form they are in because they’ve just not played,” Last told the Mail. “Scott has got some work to do to get back to the levels that he wants to be, which is an England player, and Shaun made him aware of that.
“Scott is an honest kid and understood the reasons and the same can be said of Jonesy. He was sensational for Salford last year and managed to get himself into the Great Britain team and went on tour and played in a Grand Final but it’s not quite happened for him this year.
“His form before lockdown was OK and he probably needed a couple more games to get used to how we wanted him to play and then he suffered COVID and the long term effects of it. He’s not been able to get back on the field and into our thinking due to the form of others. It’s hard for Jonesy to force his way in, but that’s the competition you want and it should bring out excellence.”
Both players have been challenged to find form for FC first and if they can do that, Last believes they could be in the reckoning for the England squad for the World
Cup.
“They can,” Last said when asked if he felt Taylor and Jones could work their way back into Wane’s plans. “But their form has to be significantly better than it’s been, “When you look at the frontrowers in there, Tom Burgess has been really strong, Mike Cooper has been sensational for Warrington playing big minutes with a good balance in his game.
“There’s a challenge on for Scott and he’s capable. We’ll see the best of Scott in the next games play-offwise and the honesty of what Shaun has said and from me will make him better, he’s capable of getting back into the fold but there’s work to do.
“The same can be said for Jonesy, he was very strong last year for Salford, playing big minutes and he was difficult to handle with the ball in hand, he was defending strong and being a game breaker and he’s capable of getting back there.”