Walker relishing experiencing ‘crazy’ PNG atmosphere
IT was not long ago Jack Walker was running around at his local amateur club Oulton Raiders.
Yet, on Saturday, the teenage Leeds Rhinos full-back will make his debut for England Knights against Papua New Guinea in the entirely different environment of Port Moresby.
Walker is one of three Leeds players called into Paul Anderson’s squad following a bruising 12-6 first Test win in the remote city of Lae. Knights hope to round off their historic and eye-opening tour – which started with a week’s training camp in Brisbane – by completing a 2-0 series success.
Players have been visiting schools around Papua New Guinea, the only country in the world where rugby league is the national sport, and received a hero’s welcome from the fanatical locals.
Walker, 19, said: “It’s really different from back home especially going out into the streets when all the people are coming up to you and wanting tops and everything.
“It is crazy. I didn’t get to play the first game but watched from the sideline and the whole crowd was obviously massive rugby fans. There was even people jumping over to try and get into the stadium. It’s just rugby-mad over here. I’ve been told this morning I’ll start at full-back so I can’t wait and am really looking forward to experiencing it myself.”
Before departure, Anderson described Lae as making Castleford’s Wheldon Road ground look like Wembley.
Walker admitted: “That’s right! We’re in Port Moresby now, the capital city, and it’s a bit of an upgrade from Lae… it’s actually got buildings here!
“Over in Lae there was huts and stuff like that, and hardly any shops. Over here there’s quite a few stadiums, a few places to eat but the locals are just as great.”
Walker is quickly ticking off major accolades despite his tender years; he became the youngest-ever Super League Grand Final winner when, aged just 18 years and 60 days, he played in Leeds’s victory over Castleford Tigers last October.
Next, he featured in Rhinos’ World Club Challenge in Melbourne in February, going up against the great Billy Slater, and was shortlisted for Super League Young Player of the Year.
Anderson has made six changes, ensuring all his 23-man squad get to play at least once.
Leeds’s Ash Handley and Mikolaj Oledzki join Walker along with Warrington duo Harvey Livett and Danny Walker plus Catalans’ Matt Whitley while Hull FC’s Dean Hadley has travelled home due to illness.