Ash’s pain is a spur

ASH HANDLEY is being driven on by a powerful combination of sweet and sour memories.

The positive incentive is the joy of winning his first silverware with Leeds Rhinos last year, giving him a thirst for more.

Super League’s top try scorer said: “Hopefully winning the Challenge Cup can be a snowball effect and we can go on and challenge again.”

The more bitter taste in his mouth stems from the amazing snub by Great Britain boss Wayne Bennett 15 months ago.

Uncapped Handley (above) was given an emergency callup, because of injuries, ahead of the last game of the Lions tour but was then overlooked by Bennett.

The maverick coach didn’t even know Handley’s name, despite his epic journey to get to Papua New Guinea in time. Handley, 24, said: “We had a team meeting and he said, ‘Thanks Josh for coming but you are not playing’.

“I thought, what’s going on? I’d flown from the other side of the world and thought I was going out to play.

“I felt like an idiot. I was obviously gutted but it motivated me to go again and prove him wrong.”

Bennett has since been replaced as national boss by Shaun Wane.

Now Handley is desperate to be an obvious choice for his World Cup squad at the end of this season.

He said: “The Lions thing has been and gone and there’s nothing I can do about it.

“I was gutted I didn’t play but hopefully I can play well enough this year to be in the World Cup team.

“This time I don’t want to be second guessing if I’m playing or not.

“I want to be playing so well that it’s an easy decision to be made.”