BEN Currie and Kevin Brown are ready for a big Warrington reunion on the other side of the world.
And England back-rower Currie knows France’s Ben Jullien will pose a test, as he did a fantastic job filling in for him while he was
injured!
The Wolves trio, along with Stefan Ratchford and Chris Hill, will all be on the same pitch when Wayne Bennett’s side takes on the French in its final group game.
Normally, clashes between the countries on both sides of the channel are fiery affairs.
But this one could be more like a meeting of friends, although stories of Jullien living in a student flat at the University of Chester campus where Warrington train are now off.
“We’ll be up against each other and it’ll be a good little battle,” said Currie, who will be England’s left-sided second-rower while
Jullien has been moved to centre.
“Ben’s a bit quiet, the language barrier doesn’t help, but he got a lot better throughout the year.
“I’m sure he’ll show even more at Warrington next year.
“He doesn’t live at Padgate any more as the assistant coach had a house, so he lived with him for a bit and he lived with Ben Pomeroy when he came over too.
“He had a really good year at Warrington, with me being injured he had a really good chance to impress and he showed a lot of people what he can do.
“A few people filled in in my position, they moved a few people around in the year then when Ben got his chance, he took it.”
Currie, 23, has kept his place but stand-off Brown is one of four changes for the game against France, which means all 24 of Bennett’s squad will have played.
Now he is determined to pile the pressure on Gareth Widdop, who has been first choice number six and revealed the role he, Scott Taylor, Mike McMeeken and Mark Percival have all played.
Brown, 33, said: “It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve had a game so I’m excited.
“It’s the pinnacle of my career playing for my country so whatever chance I get to play in a Test I’m buzzing.
“To play in a World Cup it makes it that extra bit special. It’s something I haven’t done so I’m absolutely buzzing about it.
“Obviously it’s been frustrating wanting to play but I understand we’ve got a fantastic squad and I had to wait for my chance. I expected it.
“We’ve got the current Man of Steel and the winner of Australia’s Dally M Award for number six of the year, so I expected to have to out some work in.
“Hopefully I can take my chance now and put some pressure on Wayne when he picks the side for the quarter-finals.
“The reaction of the lads who aren’t playing is something that I’ve always expected from my team-mates at club level, so you can’t preach something you don’t do yourself.
“I sort of expected it so it wasn’t a big surprise. I’m fortunate enough – I’m 33 and involved in such a big competition with my country, it’s a dream come true.
“If you want to play and want to play well you’ve got to do the stuff behind the scenes so that’s what I’ve been doing.”
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