Wakefield Trinity v Leeds Rhinos: England axe helps Ferres refocus his Leeds future

Brett Ferres's England career has been put on hold.

LEEDS RHINOS forward Brett Ferres says he has no complaints about being dropped from England's elite performance squad.

A groin problem kept the 31-year-old, who was forced to withdraw from last year’s Four Nations due to injury, but had been included in the year’s first elite performance group, out of Rhinos’ opening five matches of 2017.

After just three appearances he was sidelined again by a six-match ban and admitted he has not played enough to justify an England place.

“They rang me and said I’ve not been playing,” he said. “I said ‘I’m not being funny, but I didn’t expect to get picked’. You shouldn’t be getting picked for something like that if you’re not playing.

“I don’t mind it. It is one of those things, the door’s not closed and it’s up to me to stake a claim to be back in there. The main thing is getting some consistency for Leeds now. I think I’ve been all right in a few games, but I’m probably not where I want to be yet.

“That’s the goal and if I play well for Leeds it’ll give me a shot at getting in the World Cup squad.”

Ferres is set to make his sixth successive appearance when Rhinos visit Wakefield Trinity on Saturday.

“I feel a lot better,” he said. “I am getting some decent minutes under my belt.