Hat-trick hero Tom Johnstone says he has put his foot in the England door and is now hoping coach Wayne Bennett will throw it open for him.
The 23-year-old Wakefield winger made a dream debut for his country against France on Wednesday night when he scored three tries in a devastating 24-minute spell in the first half to put them on their way to a 44-6 victory.
The England right wing spot for the three-Test series with New Zealand is tied up by Huddersfield’s Jermaine McGillvary but the number five jersey is up for grabs in the absence through injury of record tryscorer Ryan Hall.
Johnstone got first crack at it but Bennett suggested in the post-match press conference that the shirt is more likely to go to St Helens threequarter Tom Makinson, who made an impressive debut in the mid-season win over the Kiwis in Denver but sat out Wednesday’s game with a minor injury.
Johnstone, who overcame a knee reconstruction to win an England call, admits he could not have done any more to press his case and now faces an anxious wait to see if it is enough.
“I just wanted to get out there and make a claim for that wing spot but for it to go so well, I’m absolutely over the moon,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve done everything I can and put my foot in the door. Hopefully Wayne is happy with what I’ve done and he might give me a chance.
“He gave me a handshake and said ‘well done’. I’m really happy with that.”
Bennett says Johnstone’s display earmarked him as a player for the future and certainly for the 2021 World Cup.
“If he doesn’t make it (this time), he won’t be far off,” he said.
“He’s someone I’ve noticed for the last 12 to 18 months and someone I’ve been waiting to give an opportunity to.
“It’s come along this year and he’s certainly got a future on the wing for England, but it may not be this year, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Johnstone’s Wakefield team-mate Reece Lyne also caught the eye on his debut but, too, is likely to have to bide his time.
“Reece is a project,” Bennett said. “Part of what we’re trying to do now is getting ready for 2021. Reece certainly has some ability on his performance.
“They all can’t play straight up, the point is we’re trying to get to a place in 2021 where we’ll have a very strong squad of players that is capable of playing a high level of Test football.”
Lyne’s place for the first Test against New Zealand at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday week could go to Hull’s utility back Jake Connor, who once more impressed in the halves on Wednesday night, but he and Richie Myler are likely to make way for the return of Jonny Lomax and George Williams.
Myler earned a recall at the age of 28 following the withdrawal of Gareth Widdop and Luke Gale and, like Johnstone, is hoping he has done enough to keep his spot.
“If it was good enough to stay in the team, I’ll build on that. If not, I’ll work as hard as I can for the team,” Myler said.
“There is a lot of quality in that room and we’re all going for the same goal. At this level, there’s a lot of competition and everyone is a quality player, otherwise they wouldn’t be here.”
