STEFAN Ratchford did himself world cup favour with his superb showing for Warrington Wolves against Widnes Vikings.

Head coaches of both teams, Tony Smith and Denis Betts, sang his praises.

Betts is a member of England head coach Wayne Bennett’s staff, alongside Paul Anderson, and therefore it could be considered Ratchford’s display was a timely reminder to selectors of his form in the lower profile Middle 8s series.

Ratchford has been in Bennett’s 32-man squad all year and was handed his first Test start at full-back in the mid-season international against Samoa in Australia when he scored a stunning try in a 30-10 win.

Betts said after Warrington’s 28-14 victory at Widnes: “Stef Ratchford was outstanding.

“You could just see an international class player out there.

“If anything he could have been the point of difference on a number of occasions.”

Warrington Guardian:

Rival coaches Tony Smith and Denis Betts in deep conversation. Picture by Mike Boden

His interventions from the back during attack helped to deliver the second-half try rally that fended off a game Widnes side, while he pulled off several try-saving tackles in the second-half too.

The communication he provides from the back to help with team organisation is also an important feature of his game.

“He did some terrific stuff,” said Smith.

“His injections into the backline at times were terrific. He did really well with some of his footwork.

“The tackles on Stefan Marsh were big for us.

“One was Benjamin Jullien chasing back as well. Stef did enough to slow him down and I think Benji may have pulled him down, but one of those one-on-one tackles from Stef was terrific.

“You don’t know if they’re just try savers or game savers, at the time it could have been a game saver.”