Mike McMeeken targets England World Cup spot

The 22-year-old Basingstoke-born forward was the bolter in the 31-strong elite performance squad chosen by England coach Wayne Bennett to prepare for the mid-season Test against Samoa and the end-of-year World Cup.

Those fit enough took part in the first of six scheduled training sessions under England assistant coaches Paul Anderson and Paul Sculthorpe at Hopwood Hall College near Manchester on Monday morning.

"It was a good and enjoyable first session," McMeeken said. "It gets a bit of familiarity with the players, everybody is seeing each other's faces and getting their combinations right."

McMeeken, who has found himself among some familiar faces in the England set-up alongside Castleford team-mates Michael Shenton, Luke Gale and Zak Hardaker, admits he is "probably twice the player" he was when he joined the Tigers from London Broncos just over two years ago but insists his selection came as a shock.

"I was delighted when I got the call-up," he said. "I didn't anticipate it happening for a few years. 

"I've obviously got a lot more to continue working on and I plan on doing that this year."

Bennett and company are spoilt for choice when it comes to the back row, with players of the calibre of Liam Farrell, Brett Ferres, Stevie Ward, Ben Currie and John Bateman, in addition to former captain Sean O'Loughlin and NRL-based duo Sam Burgess and Elliott Whitehead.

The EPS was reduced to 30 by the withdrawal of Joe Greenwood, who left St Helens at the weekend to take up a three-year contract in the NRL but is expected to push for an England spot with Gold Coast Titans.

"No position in the England squad is going to be easy to get into but back row is hard in particular," McMeeken admitted. 

"I've got six, seven eight top-quality back rowers in front of me at the moment."

Although he speaks with a southern accent and played rugby union until he was 15, the London Broncos academy product has rugby league in his genes, thanks largely to his grandfather Peter McMeeken, who played for St Helens reserves and was a big Saints fan.

"I'm proud of where I came from," added McMeeken, whose parents usually face an eight-hour round trip for their son's matches.

"Dan Sarginson has done it before me and you've had Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook and Tony Clubb before that. It's a real honour being part of the England squad and being from the south it is real good."

Meanwhile, McMeeken believes Castleford are ideally placed to win their first silverware of the Super League era under coach Daryl Powell.

The Tigers have been impressive in winning both their opening Betfred Super League matches and are expected to maintain their 100 per cent record when 2015 champions Leeds visit the Mend-a-Hose Jungle on Thursday.

"It's a local derby, it's always a tasty encounter with them," McMeeken said."Potentially I think we have the ability to win some silverware this year. It's down to us to keep that consistency week in, week out."