KALLUM Watkins thought doing a podcast will be the closest he would get to avenging his Aussie ankle tap agony.
Little did he know he would get the chance for real.
The last time England met the Aussies in 2017’s World Cup final, the Leeds star thought he had broken the Kangaroos’ line
But Josh Dugan’s fingertips were enough to haul him down and Wayne Bennett’s side lost 6-0.
Eight years on, he is in Shaun Wane’s squad for the first Ashes series in 22 years.
Earlier this year, though, Watkins was under the impression reviewing that moment would he the closest he would get to another crack – he was resigned to 2022’s World Cup semi-final heartbreak against Samoa being his last international action.
He said: “A few months back, we did a podcast talking about the games back then.
“Had I not been ankle tapped, I had Elliott Whitehead on the inside to pass to, so hopefully Gareth Widdop would’ve kicked the goal and we would have been level. So, who knows?
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“It would’ve given us the best opportunity to do something special.
“It’s just about moments – that’s international rugby, isn’t it?
“At that time, I thought that would be as close as I got to them.
“That’s the last time we played the Aussies. It’s been that long. It’s mad when you think about it, isn’t it?
“This is long overdue and I think we’ve got to make it really, really special.
“Shaun called me about a month ago, and I went to the last England meeting before he was picking the team. I knew I was in with a chance, but it’s something that I didn’t think would happen.”
Watkins was a centre then but more a back rower now and his comeback is more remarkable given how his season started.
Caught up in the mess at Salford, his priority was just getting paid, not facing the Aussies.
But moving back to Leeds has left him with just his rugby to concentrate on – and his skill shone through.
The 34-year-old added: “It was a difficult situation at Salford. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody to go through that.
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“But I wanted to take the chance of going back to Leeds with both hands.
“That’s helped me progress as a player, and it’s got me to a position where I’m back in the England squad.”
