LEE back and think of England
MOSSOP RECALL IS MISSION POSSIBLE
LEE MOSSOP has his sights set on a remarkable England comeback.
The Salford prop has been in the international wilderness since winning the last of his seven caps in 2013.
Eight shoulder reconstruction operations – six on the left, two on the right – had threatened to derail his entire career.
But the Red Devils skipper, 32, is convinced he is back to his best and good enough for this year’s World Cup.
He said: “I played in the 2013 World Cup and that was my best season. I’d won the double with Wigan and signed an NRL contract.
“Then I had a pretty swift fall from grace. I had some horrible shoulder injuries and went from the top to the very bottom.”
He only played three times for Parramatta Eels before his shoulder problems kicked in.
He returned to Wigan but further operations and poor form convinced him in 2017 it was time to quit the sport.
His wife persuaded him to play on and then Salford coach Ian Watson offered him a new opening. It’s a move that has seen him play in the Grand Final and the Challenge Cup Final in
3
the past two seasons.
He said: “In the last couple of years I think I have been playing better than I did in 2013.
“I feel like I am getting to the back end of my career and I want nothing more than to get in that international set-up. Hopefully I can push for that this year.”
Salford kick off this year’s Super League campaign on Friday against champions St
Helens and Mossop added: “If you want to get back in that England set-up, you have to start the season well.
“The training squads get named pretty early and I want to get my foot in the door.
“You need to start well and then maintain standards.”
The Headingley clash pits new Salford coach Richard Marshall against his old mentor Kristian Woolf for the first time.
Marshall said: “He was really good to work for. I learnt a great deal from him. Woolfy’s work ethic is second to none. He was always first in and the last one out.”
Marshall was previously head coach of Championship side Halifax and Woolf said: “I thought he had potential straight away. He’s a terrific bloke who brought great energy and different ideas.”
SUPER LEAGUE KICK-OFF DAYS TO GO