Steve Price backs Blake Austin’s England call-up

Warrington coach Steve Price has backed Blake Austin’s call-up to the England squad and says he really cares about the game over here.

Austin, 28, was the high profile call-up to the England Elite Performance Squad recently, though there are no internationals slated for this year due to the Great Britain tour.

The Parramatta-born half-back, who played once for City Origin in 2015 and has also played internationally for Portugal, could yet be a contender for selection in Wayne Bennett’s GB squad.

Price said: “I’m really pleased for him. He’s had a really good season. His heritage shows he can get through his grandmother and there’s no reason why he can’t be picked.

“He’s been the form player in the competition and he really cares about the game over here, so I’ve got no issues with it whatsoever.”

Austin will join a host of Warrington stars not only in the England squad, but playing at international level and Price says that can only be a good thing for the club.

He added: “The more players you have in the international game, you’d like to think they can learn from that experience by playing with really good players and getting good coaching.”

Austin led the Super League Man of Steel voting before it went private in Round 22, and is likely to be there or thereabouts when the gong is awarded in October.

He made more than 100 appearances in the NRL for Penrith, Wests and Canberra before joining the Wolves ahead of the 2019 campaign, where he was immediately installed as player of the year favourite.