How George Delaney learned he was in the England squad during a game of DARTS!
GEORGE Delaney is aiming to be double top in an England shirt – after his call-up disturbed a game of darts.
The St Helens prop was rewarded for his form in a breakthrough season with a place in Shaun Wane’s squad to face France in Toulouse.
But he has revealed finding out put him off another sporting pursuit, getting one over his clubmates at the oche.
“I was on my day off on Friday when I got the call,” said Delaney. “I was actually In a pub in Runcorn playing darts with Jon Bennison and Ben Davies!
“It’s become a thing to do on days off now with a few of the Saints lads.
“I was originally planning a holiday to put my feet up for this international break but Jack Welsby gave me a heads-up and said, ‘I reckon you may be selected.’ I didn’t believe him!
“So getting that call was still a shock. Good job I didn’t book anything, though, or I’d have had a holiday to cancel.
“And with Michael Smith being a St Helens fan, I suppose there’s no option other than darts!”
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Delaney has made an impact since breaking into Saints’ first team as a teenager – on himself as much as opponents.
His fearless style led club boss Paul Wellens to claim, ‘Sometimes, we need to save him from himself because of the way he plays the game.’
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And even though he gives the impression he does not feel the blows, he does and lessons from those who have been there and done it are helping.
Delaney added: “I’ve always played that way – keep turning up with a lot of effort and do a lot of work.
“I’m not one of those who makes an impact for 15 minutes then gets subbed off either. I’ve gone from coming off the bench to starting games, so I’m really happy with the way I’m going.
“And I’ve picked things up from the likes of Alex Walmsley, Morgan Knowles and Matty Lees. Saints have the best middle unit in Super League, so I’ve had them pointing me in the right direction.
“But I don’t feel like a proper Super League prop yet. I still feel like I’m a young lad coming through. I still do even though I’m with England.
“And the NRL’s not really something I’ve considered. I’m too young, I’m only 20 and I can’t think of a place I’d rather be than St Helens.”
Delaney’s inclusion is a further nod to amateur club Halton Farnworth Hornets, where now Test colleagues Brad O’Neill and Harry Smith also learned the game.
And the 20-year-old latest product believes the Widnes-based outfit lays the platform for greatness, telling SunSport: “A lot of lads have come through there. The club’s just set up well and it’s competitive.
“The coach, Eddie Kilgannon, was very competitive and wanted to win everything. It’s the same now at St Helens and I was as competitive at 10-years-old, when I started, as I am now!”