GUINEA PIGS WILL FLY

England already reaping benefits of historic PNG tour says rising star Atkin

CHRIS ATKIN says England Knights’ ground-breaking tour to Papua New Guinea has yielded major benefits for Paul Anderson’s young squad.

The Knights, effectively an England B team, are on a first tour of the rugby league-mad nation since the 1996 Lions.

Anderson’s team won a bruising first clash 16-12 in Lae on Saturday and face the Kumuls in Port Moresby this weekend looking to return home unbeaten.

Hull KR half-back Atkin (above) said: “It’s been a new experience. We had a really good week to start with in Brisbane, spent a lot of time together and became close because of that. When we came into the first game we got the result, and I think that came down to how close we are, we fought for everything between us.

“Now we know the conditions and what to expect and we know there’s more to come from us.”

Atkin’s Knights selection completes a whirlwind 18 months that has seen him go from part-time Championship player and teacher to an international call-up – and he says he is not finished yet.

He added: “I’ve come a long way from getting an opportunity at Swinton after I got let go by Widnes, and who knows what can happen, I won’t put a limit on it.”