Greece isn't just facing a lightning England right edge on Saturday but a towering one.
At six foot seven inches, the freakishly strong Dom Young has already scared the life out of opponents with four tries in two World Cup appearances. But the imposing right winger now has similarly strapping Kai Pearce-Paul - six foot six - lining up as his centre at Bramall Lane. It’s a sign of the modern game these 21-year-old juggernauts aren’t operating in the pack but ripping up sides out wide.
Pearce-Paul has played plenty of second-row for Wigan. But he’s so naturally talented that England boss Shaun Wane has no hesitation throwing him in the three-quarters for his Test debut. Pearce-Paul admitted: “I guess looking at it, it is a pretty big edge! You could look at it as a menacing one. We know exactly what Dom can do with his speed and physicality.
“I’m in place of Kal (Watkins) who’s a big, tall, physical bloke and big presence, too. It will be interesting matching up with Dom. It’s my first time with him. Hopefully we can bounce off each other and create good combinations.”
Witnessing fellow rookie Young charge onto the scene obliterating everything in his path has made Pearce-Paul hope he can also take the international game by storm as he finally gets his chance. He said: “Every game you watch, you’re so hungry to be the person helping the team. Seeing someone like Dom and how he does it so elegantly running the field, it’s an inspiration. It just goes to show, it doesn’t matter what age you are, if you’re playing at this level, anyone can shine.”
Offloading king Pearce-Paul has enjoyed a remarkable rise. Born in Lewisham in south-east London, he played his amateur rugby league for Croydon Hurricanes. He joined London Broncos academy but - likened to dual-code superstar Sonny Bill-Williams - was signed by Wigan in 2019 without having even played a senior game.
When the World Cup was last staged here in 2013, he was just a wide-eyed 12 year-old watching SBW strutting his stuff. But now he’s a rarity; a Londoner representing England’s rugby league team at the biggest tournament of all. Pearce-Paul, unsurprisingly linked with the NRL and rugby union, said: “It is crazy. As a kid, watching TV and seeing the big boys, you think ‘wow, this is something I want to do.’
“But I didn’t really put it into perspective that it could be something I’d do one day. And now the opportunity’s come, it's still not real to me yet. It’s still just sinking in the level I’ll be playing this weekend and how proud I’ll be. Plenty of my family and friends are coming up. With Croydon, we trained at a local park and got changed on the side of the pitch. It wasn’t like facilities at big rugby union clubs. We just used to turn up and play. But we didn’t mind. It was fun and some of the best days of my life.”
