Gareth Widdop fit for Test series against New Zealand
Wednesday 16 September 2015 10:21, UK
Gareth Widdop is confident of being fit for England's upcoming Test series against New Zealand.
And the Halifax-born stand-off expects St George Illawarra team-mate Mike Cooper to join him in coach Steve McNamara's squad.
Widdop, who has been struggling with a thigh injury, turned out for the Dragons in their elimination play-off against Canterbury Bulldogs at the weekend, although he could not prevent them going down to an extra-time sudden-death 11-10 defeat.
The 26-year-old has started the last four matches for England in the No 6 shirt and now has six weeks to recover from the injury before the opening autumn international against France at Leigh on October 24.
McNamara spoke to Widdop after Saturday's game and said the player "will be fine" for the forthcoming internationals.
Widdop, who missed his first match of the season the week before, spoke to www.dragons.com.au of his determination to defy the thigh injury in a bid to help his club through the play-offs.
"I did everything to get myself right," he said. "It was good enough to get through the game."
The former Melbourne player is now setting his sights on facing the Kiwis in a three-match series starting on November 1 and says prop forward Cooper, who joined the Sydney club from Warrington two years ago, deserves to be called up alongside him.
"I think he'll certainly be there," Widdop said. "He's started every game this year. He's been outstanding and worked hard for it, I'm sure he'll be there."
Cooper was included in McNamara's squad for last year's Four Nations Series but did not take part in any match.
McNamara, who will name his squad on October 11 - the day after the Super League Grand Final - says he is not concerned that South Sydney prop George Burgess will go into the opening Test against New Zealand without having played for two months.
Souths' elimination from the play-offs means that Burgess will have to complete a two-match suspension, imposed for throwing a water bottle at an opponent, when England play France.
