Currie for England? The trait that could give Warrington Wolves man the edge
Ben Currie will hope to add to his 10 England caps when Australia arrive this autumn for the Ashes series (Image: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com)
BEN Currie's versatility has been increasingly valuable to Warrington Wolves this season – and Sam Burgess has backed him to provide a similar service to his country.
And with every England-qualified player vying for national team boss Shaun Wane's attention with a historic Ashes series against Australia on the horizon, he feels Currie's adaptability could work in his favour.
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Currie has been a player transformed under Burgess since he moved to loose forward from the back row but this year, he has been pressed into service in several different positions.
At times, he has moved back into the second row and into the centres to cover for injuries, and even did a short stint on the wing during the Challenge Cup win over Widnes Vikings in March.
With George Williams and Marc Sneyd spending time out injured, he has also been required to jump into the halves on several occasions and has captained the team in skipper Williams' absence.
Wane has shown a liking for Currie and has picked him in squads for the last two season-ending series against Samoa and Tonga – although he did not get onto the field in the former – as well as mid-season Tests against France.
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Ben Currie's last England appearance came against France midway through last year (Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com) And it appears he has no bigger advocate than a man who was an England legend in his playing days in Burgess.
'I think he'd be a great addition to the England squad. He'd be so valuable' he said as Currie bids to add to the 10 caps he has won for his country to date.
'He's an asset because this year for us, he's played centre, wing, his preferred position at 13, back row where he's probably spent most of his career, and at six.
'A bloke who's 105 kilos who can play in all of those positions and is such a quality bloke as well is really valuable.
'I'd be a huge supporter of him being in the England squad for sure. That versatility stands players out and gives them an advantage.'
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