JACK Hughes is hoping being given the captaincy of England Knights will spur him on to showcase his talents longer term as well as against Papua New Guinea on Saturday, writes Nathan Okell.

The Warrington Wolves back rower knows that an impressive Knights campaign will do no harm to his chances of being called up into the elite squad for next year’s internationals, with Wayne Bennett casting a watchful eye on how the squad gets on Down Under.

“Paul Anderson gave me a call the day after the squad had been announced and asked me if I fancied leading the side, and obviously I snatched his hand off,” said the 26-year-old.

“It’s something I’m hoping to thrive off. And something I want to build on in my career is a leadership role.

“It’s good to get some experience in such a hostile place, and there is probably no tougher place to go and test yourself than Papua New Guinea.”

Apart from winning their two games over there, Hughes is hoping the tour will help him develop his skills as a leader, and being captain of the Knights will be different to when he has been called on to perform the role in his time at Warrington.

“Tony Smith put me as captain in a home game last year, and I was made joint captain with Daz Clark against Wigan this year when we rested a few of the senior boys," he said.

“I think I’ve got a bit more responsibility this time though, and more so off the field than on it.

“I’ve got a role policing the boys, making sure they’re behaving themselves and living by the standards we’ve set for the tour as a group, but on the field, it’s just leading through my actions.

“It’s something that has come a bit naturally to me, and I’m glad for this shot - I’ve got to make the most of this experience leading the boys.”

On the Knights' chances of going to PNG and securing a series victory, the Wigan-born forward believes that his fellow players are determined to perform, and also praised the members of the squad who he believes have bright futures ahead of them.

“Ultimately, this is a pathway to the elite squad, and everyone in this group should want to be there,” he said.

“There are some players who have done really well in here and some young lads who have got some great careers ahead of them.

“You get your reward by being here and you get the opportunity to showcase yourself, because you’re in Wayne Bennett’s spotlight.

“He’ll be watching the games I’m sure and watching closely to find out who the next one to come through is, and who he could potentially pick out to move up next year.”

The Kumuls are known for their physicality and the hostile atmosphere their fans produce, but despite this, Hughes is confident that Knights can give as good as they get when they take on the natives.

“We spoke about how physical it’s going to be and how it’s going to be on another level to what most people in this group have played before, but we’ve got some big, physical players ourselves and we’ll be ready to take it to them and enjoy that battle," he said.

“There’s going to be some tough times when they’ll be taking your head off and running over you, but you’ve got to get back up and go again.

“On the back of that, you’re fatigued and it’s hot, so we’re expecting that aggression, physicality and a really tough test of character.

“Hopefully as a leader I’ll keep getting back up and leading the group through my actions.”

Hughes is also looking forward to what he describes as ‘an experience of a lifetime’ visiting Papua New Guinea.

“I’ve been to Australia before, and been to Scotland and Ireland with the Knights in the past, but Papua New Guinea is something else. I’ve heard stories – some good and some not so good,” he said.

“You see the videos of the Aussie boys driving through on the bus and hundreds of kids are in the street chasing after them.

“It’s going to be a big test playing there in that sort of environment but it’s one I’m looking forward to personally, and hopefully I’ll thrive off it and show what I’m about.

“It will be an experience of a lifetime and something I might never get the chance to do again, so I’m going to make the most of it.”