Myler recall caps rollercoaster year (From Warrington Guardian)

Richie Myler and his Warrington Wolves teammates prepare for England's trip to Wales

9:48am Thursday 25th October 2012 in Wolves news By Christopher Terris Taylor

RICHIE Myler’s return to international top-flight rugby league for the Autumn International Series against France and Wales has ensured his ‘rollercoaster year’ has ended on a high note.

Having been dropped from the England Elite Training Squad to the development ‘Knights’ set-up at the start of the season and having overcome operations for elbow, hernia and abductor injuries, Myler faced a difficult task in gaining promotion to Steve McNamara’s first string.

But after impressing in Wolves’ Challenge Cup success and throughout the latter stages of the Super League season, Myler believes he has come back from both experiences stronger than before.

“It means a lot to be back in the England squad,” said the 22-year-old half back, who is hoping to earn selection for Saturday’s trip to Wales, kick off 2.30pm, after fellow playmaker Rangi Chase pulled out of the training camp this week with a groin injury.

“It has pretty much been a rollercoaster this season, what with being injured to start with, but the back end of the season has turned out pretty well.

“I think getting dropped down to the England Knights squad did me a lot of good to be honest.

“It is all good practice and helpful for my learning curve in international rugby, so to go on to get this reward at the end of the year caps my year off nicely.

“And while it is always bad to see someone pull up with an injury, that obviously improves my chances of playing and fingers crossed I’ll get a chance.”

England take on Wales in Wrexham on Saturday, before hosting France at Craven Park in Hull on November 3, kick off 2.30pm, with Wolves’ Ben Harrison, Chris Hill, Adrian Morley and Stefan Ratchford all bidding for places in the games as the build-up to the 2013 Rugby League World Cup continues.

It is also a return to the higher stage for Knights squadman Harrison, while it’s a first call-up for fellow forward Hill.

Ratchford, who missed this week’s official England photocall due to illness, figured in the England defeat to Exiles in July while Morley has expressed his delight at being back in the running for World Cup selection after missing out on the mid-season internationals.

They could all get to face young full-time professional Ben Evans, the twin brother of Rhys, who impressed in the back row on his Wales debut in the 20-6 loss to France in Lens at the weekend.

He has his first Wales cap before making his Wolves senior debut.