FC’S Lane gutted to drop out of the Knights squad
JORDAN Lane has revealed he dropped out of the England Knights reckoning through injury at the end of the Super League season.
Lane was rewarded for his impressive form in a Hull FC shirt with his first call-up to Paul Anderson’s squad earlier this year.
However, the 23-year-old was a notable absentee when the squad was announced for last Friday’s clash with Jamaica at Wheldon Road, a game the Knights won 56-4, after pulling out of contention in the weeks that followed the conclusion of the Black and Whites’ season.
Although he played the final two games of the campaign, Lane was struggling with a knee injury that prevented him from training.
As such, after consulting with the club’s medical staff and Brett Hodgson, he reluctantly put his hopes of representing the Knights on ice.
“Towards the back end of the season I started struggling with my knee,” Lane told the Mail when asked about his absence from the Knights squad.
“It was flaring up and I had to miss a full week of training after the second to last game just to play the last match.
“It was a personal decision, I had a talk with the physios and Hodge, we all sat down and went through if I should go or not.
“I personally thought that I needed to get my knee right for preseason next year because we have a big year coming. I had a lot of load this year and it took its toll on it.
“It’s still a bit of an issue at the minute so I’m trying to get that right.
“I think a couple of boys pulled out through injury. They’re very understanding because we have just played a full season and players are busted, so they are really understanding and they respect your decision.”
Speaking after the game in Castleford, Anderson discussed his hope for more Knights games being scheduled for next year.
Lane is understandably keen to be involved in the Knights set-up once more next season, but right now he’s focusing on FC’S pre-season campaign, which gets underway at the start of November.
“Obviously I’d love to get back in,” Lane added.
“I was a bit gutted to drop out but it is what it was, it’s a long-term goal next year to try and get back where I was and into that squad but at the minute my concern is FC and trying to get my knee right.
“I should be ready [to start training], I’ve just got rehab stuff to get my knee strong and all the muscles in my quad strong to support my knee and then we just go from there.
“I’m taking it week by week with rehab and we’ll see where we go from there.”
Hull KR head coach Tony Smith believes England pair Jordan Abdull and Mikey Lewis are both still some way off hitting their ceiling as players. Lewis was called up by the Knights after finishing the Super League season with a flourish and subsequently starred in last week’s thumping win over Jamaica.
Abdull was named in Shaun Wane’s senior squad on Sunday on the back of an outstanding campaign in KR colours and is poised to make his international debut in Saturday’s Test match against France in Perpignan.
It is only the start for both players, according to Smith.
“It’s great experience and a great confidence builder for both of them,” Smith told the Mail.
“I’m really pleased for them and proud for both those boys. It’s nice for our club as well to have a couple of players who were recognised for their contributions to the team.
“They’re the type of characters that want to continue no matter how well they’re doing.
“That’s a sign of quality. They won’t get complacent about what they’re doing.
“As all of us do along the way, they’ll continue to make mistakes here and there but they see that as part of the process of getting better.
“It’s good for both of them. They’re both going to keep going in the right direction. I’ve got every bit of faith in them, knowing their characters so well.”
Abdull gets his opportunity three years on from leaving Hull FC in search of regular first-team action.
The playmaker came of age during a one-year spell with London Broncos and has found another level at Craven Park.
Smith feels Abdull is in the perfect place to grasp his England opportunity.
“It’s going to be great for him,” said Smith.
“It’s a great opportunity and a nice reward for some good form throughout the year.
“Any time to represent your country is a great time but he’s developed a maturity about himself and understands himself a whole lot better.
“He understands what he’s able to do with fellow players and the influence he can have on the team around him.
“He has got to that stage of his life and career where he’s understanding that really well now.
“The challenge is to continue on with doing that consistently. He’s found some of that this year but is still learning to do that to the best of his ability.”
Half-back partner Lewis - five years Abdull’s junior - is putting his feet up at the end of a breakthrough season that ended with a sparkling showing for England Knights as he showcased his dangerous running game.
“That’s what he is at the moment - a terrific running player,” said Smith.
“There’s other aspects of his game that he needs to keep developing but he’s exciting.
“When he runs that ball he’s a handful for any team, as he showed this year at club level.”
SMITH ON KR’S LATEST ENGLAND