England assistant coach Andy Last has stated that Hull FC young guns Lewis Martin, Harvey Barron, and Davy Litten are all on Shaun Wane’s radar for international selection. And while the Ashes series against Australia this autumn may come too soon, the trio are very much in the plans for the future.
All three players have excelled under John Cartwright this year, with Martin ever present all season. He has scored 20 tries in 22 games, with Barron, who has nine tries in 17 games, only missing games through a hamstring injury. Litten has also played all 15 games since coming back into the team following a knee injury, scoring five times.
All products of Hull’s academy, the trio are flying this season, with the two wingers leading the way with their work rates and strong backfield carries and Litten getting better by the week.
Meanwhile, Last, who is on the England setup under Wane, has worked with the trio all season, having returned to the club as assistant coach, and insists that their names have been mentioned for international selection in the future.
Speaking in Hull’s weekly press conference, Last said: “Lewis Martin, Harvey Barron and Davy Litten, their names have been spoken about at that top table, which is credit to them. I think the challenge for those guys, which is the challenge for everyone in the competition, is that you have to play well consistently, week in, week out.
“I think if you play consistently week in, week out in a winning team, you give yourself a really good chance to be in an England selection chat come the end of the season.”
And while Martin and Barron have been talked up for around a year having held Hull’s wing spots, Litten too has risen once more after nailing down a centre position – with the player, as Last told Hull Live back in pre-season, looking at the likes of NRL supremos Herbie Farnworth and Stephen Crichton for inspiration.
“Davy has taken a significant step in the right direction this year, and credit to him,” Last continued. “He was one in the pre-season mithering me for video, saying, ‘I want to look at Herbie Farnworth. Show me what he’s doing and how I can defend like that? Right, show me Stephen Crichton. How can I influence a game more?’
“I think Davy is someone who goes away; he’s diligent, he works hard at his game, and he turns up every day with a great energy and an intent to learn. He’s getting his rewards for it, and he’s playing some consistent rugby in Super League.
“I think the challenge for him is, and he’d be the first to admit it, he probably played the best game of his career at Catalans; he was man of the match, and everyone was patting him on the back. We then play Castleford at home, and he probably had his worst game of the year.
“Consistent players play week in, week out at 8/10. That’s the challenge, and I think Davy has played six weeks now where he’s been consistent and played at a high level. He’s playing well, and credit it to him.”