Wakefield Trinity v Warrington: Right-edge partnership lines Reece up for England

WAKEFIELD TRINITY centre Reece Lyne feels 'consistency-wise' he is having the best season of his career and hopes that could lead to an England call-up.
Wakefield Trinity's Reece Lyne.Wakefield Trinity's Reece Lyne.
Wakefield Trinity's Reece Lyne.

Lyne has made 15 appearances for Trinity, who are at home to Warrington Wolves tomorrow, this year, scoring four tries.

He has played in both centre positions, but his partnership with Ben Jones-Bishop on the right flank has been particularly effective.

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The 25-year-old’s impressive form has earned him selection for the England Knights training squad and he is now eyeing full Test honours.

Ben Jones-Bishop.Ben Jones-Bishop.
Ben Jones-Bishop.

“I am getting a nice run in that right edge and it’s good with Bish outside me,” he said.

“It’s just about building up combinations. Obviously playing with the same people you build a better combination.

“I think when things are going well off the field that kind of shows on the field.

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“I am really settled off the field and really enjoying my rugby at the minute.”

Of his selection for England Knights, Lyne said: “It is nice to get noticed.

“You don’t really think about it and when I got the phone call it was a nice surprise. Obviously you’re getting talked about so you must be doing something right.

“It all comes from the teamwork at the club, everyone together, working hard for each other. That’s what it’s all about.”

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The revived England Knights will play two matches in the rugby league hothouse of Papua New Guinea at the end of this season.

Despite a dislike of flying, Lyne added: “Hopefully I’ll get the nod to go there. There’s three or four good centres in the squad so I’ll take it week by week, but it’d be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s exciting and hopefully I’ll keep playing and, you never know, I might break into the elite England squad.

“Obviously Kallum Watkins is by far the best centre in the competition, but he’s injured at the moment and that gives somebody a chance. You don’t want to get 10 or 20 England Knight caps, realistically you want to be in the England first team. The door’s open to go in or come out of it, so I will do everything I can to keep performing for the club and that’ll take care of itself.”

Trinity hammered second-placed Wigan Warriors 32-16 last week and a win tomorrow would keep them in the top-four race.

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Lyne said: “We’ve had plenty of time to prepare for Warrington. They are very dangerous and they gave us a good lesson at their place last time we played them.

“We know it’ll be a tough game, but our home form has been good and we’ve got three home games on the bounce.

“Traditionally it is always a hard place to come and we’ve got to pick up the home wins to push into that top-six and look to that top-four.

“We had a good win last week and we’ve got Warrington and Widnes next and we’ll be looking to knock them off.

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“We know it’ll be a tough ask, but we’ve got to make this place a fortress.”

Coach Chris Chester will select from the 17 who beat Wigan, plus Chris Annakin and Mason Caton-Brown, though Justin Horo is in doubt due to injury.

Warrington could also be unchanged, with Dom Crosby and Mitch Brown added to the players who lost to Castleford Tigers last week.

Wakefield Trinity: from Annakin, Arona, Ashurst, Caton-Brown, England, Fifita, Hampshire, Hirst, Horo, Johnstone, Jones-Bishop, Jowitt, Kirmond, Lyne, Miller, Pauli, Randell, Tupou, Wood

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Warrington Wolves: from Akauola, Atkins, K Brown, M Brown, Charnley, Clark, Cooper, Crosby, Goodwin, Hill, Hughes, Lineham, Livett, Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Philbin, Ratchford, Roberts, Westwood

Referee: Chris Kendall (Huddersfield).

Kick-Off: Tomorrow, 3pm.