30 April 2023 , 21:17
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Danny Walker says coach Shaun Wane inspires England to do “impossible” things - but still doesn’t know how.
No-nonsense ex- Wigan chief Wane is renowned for his man-management skills and demand for high standards. Warrington hooker Walker, 23, got to experience that first-hand as he made his England debut in Saturday’s resounding 64-0 rout of France. Wane fielded 13 debutants with many of his big stars getting a rest.
But Walker, who scored a debut try on his home ground, hopes to have shown he’s got what it takes to face the far sterner challenge of Tonga in this autumn’s three Test series. He said: “Waney’s always basically said it’s not how we look against Saints or Wigan or even France. It’s how he sees you playing against Tonga. So that’s why you get lads digging in that little bit extra harder. He somehow manages to find a way to make you work that extra step.
“Sometimes you listen to him in video and you think it’s not possible. But you end up finding that little bit of something.”
Walker was promoted from the England Knights set-up with Catalans' World Cup hooker Michael McIlorum, 35, not being considered for the 2025 tournament. He said: “I really enjoyed the whole week. Hopefully we can keep that main core group together and I can get picked for Tonga at the end of the year. I look at the hookers who’ve been around the system for a while and there’s a lot of good ones out there.
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“But the only thing I can control is myself. If I can keep playing well week in week out, hopefully showing Waney what I can do, who knows what can happen in the future?"