NRL star Herbie Farnworth will at leats be familiar with the surroundings if England go all the way to the Rugby League World Cup final at Old Trafford.
The winger crossed for a debut try on Saturday as Shaun Wane's side got their campaign off to a flier with a big 60-6 win over Samoa in Newcastle. At just 22, the display of the Brisbane Broncos star underlined his credentials as a youngster with huge potential in the game.
But it hasn't always been about the oval ball game for the Burnley born star, who was spotted by Broncos scouts as a teenager and duly moved down under upon finishing school. In fact, his previous association with the famous Manchester stadium came as a footballer.
"When I was really young, I trained with Manchester United," he told Sportsmail. "I was there for a couple of years, but I didn’t really take it too seriously."
However, once he was introduced to the sport that has become his career, there was no turning back: "Then when I was 12, I played my first game of rugby league," he explained. "From then on, rugby league has always been my passion."
Farnworth notched 10 tries in 12 games for Brisbane in the NRL this season before a bicep injury curtailed his season in June, but his display at St James' Park showed why Wane was prepared to gamble on selection. And the star himself lauded the experience: "It was an unreal first game," he added.
"Playing in front of my friends, who probably haven’t seen me play at pro level in person, and my family, who I’ve not seen for about two years, was a really special moment. I think we all showed what it meant to us to play for England."
Farnworth has kept his place in England's 19-man squad for England's clash with France on Saturday, although Wane is set to hand out four new caps, including Wigan's Kai Pearce-Paul. Fellow second-row Joe Batchelor and Salford duo Andy Ackers and Marc Sneyd, also feature, while Mikolaj Oledzki, Ryan Hall and John Bateman all return.
England's clash with the French takes place at the University of Bolton Stadium with a 5pm kick off. Their final group game is with newcomers Greece the following Saturday.
