LEWIS MARTIN has every chance of earning a place in the England squad for the World Cup if he can keep up his try-scoring exploits.
So says Harvey Barron, and while it might be a slightly biased view – the pair are Hull FC team-mates, came through the club ranks together and are very good friends – there’s plenty of supporting evidence.
Although Martin became a regular in Hull’s dreadful 2024 season, last year was his true breakthrough, as he notched 32 tries in 30 appearances.
The 21-year-old was top scorer in both the Super League and Challenge Cup competitions, putting Barron – whose tally of 15 wasn’t too shabby – and the rest of the country’s wingers in the shade.
He was named in the Dream Team, but it wasn’t enough to make Shaun Wane’s England squad for the Ashes with the more experienced Tom Johnstone, Dom Young and Joe Burgess preferred.
Wane has mentioned Martin as being in his thoughts for future caps, making this year a big one ahead of the World Cup Down Under.
“He’s always been a try-scorer, but to get top try-scorer is very impressive,” said Barron, a year Martin’s senior.
“What’s next is an England call-up. He probably just missed out on it last year but I think this year, if he has one similar to last, he can’t be far off.”
The sight of two homegrown wingers impressing in Super League is a source of great pride for Hull supporters, and Barron has praised coach John Cartwright and his assistant Andy Last for helping both succeed.
He added: “Lasty coming in really helped me defensively. That was a big thing I really needed to tidy up on, and I got my head around what he needed me to do.
“That made my game a lot easier. I’m doing a lot more off the ball, not just on it.
“Carty coming in as well, with how he wants the wingers to play, suited me to a tee, and I know Lew (Martin) also enjoyed how he wants us to play.
“He wants us to get the ball in our hands and run as hard as we can in a straight line basically. That suited our style and helped us progress massively.”