KALLUM WATKINS is loving life as a title challenger again with Leeds Rhinos – and has every hope of playing in another World Cup.
The veteran England star is enjoying another superb season after making his return to Headingley from Salford last April after six years away.
He continues to set a leading example in the middle of the park with a series of high-quality performances at loose forward.
Watkins, who turned 35 in March, was part of Shaun Wane’s Test squad for the Ashes last autumn.
And he’s hoping to get the nod again for the World Cup this year when Brian McDermott, with whom he won three Super League titles at Leeds, takes charge of the national side.
Watkins, who has played in the last three World Cups, said: “While I’m still playing, I’ll always put my hand up for England. Of course I would.
“It’s great to see Brian get this opportunity.
“Obviously he hasn’t had a head coach job for a while, but someone that’s got a lot of success in the game and obviously won a lot of trophies while he was here, it’s a big thing for him.
“For me it’s just about continuing to play and playing in a really good team that helps as well. I’m loving it here.”
Watkins was in the England side that agonisingly lost the 2017 World Cup final against Australia just 6-0 in Brisbane.
He hopes to get one last chance to finally end the nation’s long wait for global success – and knows how McDermott will set about doing it.
Watkins added: “He’s already said in one of his interviews that we have to bring something different.
“That’s something that he’s always brought, especially while he was here at Leeds. He’s brought different ways of playing and different ways to defend as well, so we’re going to have to find ways to do that.
“It’s going to be tough, obviously, because we’re not going to have any time together [beforehand].
“But I think he’s going to pick the right people to do the job. If I’m there, I’m there. If I’m not, I’m not. But this group at Leeds is a really good group – and they’re pushing me to be the best I can.”