FORMER De la Salle pupil Josh Ganson learned plenty from the England Academy’s tour Down Under despite it ending in a 2-0 series defeat.

The 18-year-old former Blackbrook and Saints junior, who is now hooking for Wigan’s Academy, was proud to lead his country on the three-game, month-long tour.

Ganson, the son of former top Super League ref and now boss of match officials Steve, said being made skipper was like a dream.

He said: “Playing for England is massive enough, but to captain them is brilliant.

“We had been training a week in Narrabeen and then headed over to Penrith for the first game when head coach Andy Kelly pulled me in for a meeting. He said he liked the way I conducted myself before we went and then on the tour and made me skipper.”

England lost both test matches, holding their own early on before falling away to 50-26 and 50-12 defeats.

Ganson said: “It was a lot different playing over there, especially with the weather in the first test in Gold Coast.

“We started the game well, but started making a few mistakes. Against a side as good as them, you can’t really afford the errors in certain parts of the field. It cost us a lot.

“It was a massive learning curve for the whole team – every time we made a mistake they got us.

“The biggest differences between us and them are that they have got a lot bigger bodies than us and are a bit more athletic.

“If you turn the ball over it becomes hard and just burns you.”

Despite the tough losses Ganson enjoyed the experience, particularly seeing how big NRL is in Australia.

The second test was played following the Cronulla v Canberra clash which helped generate an atmosphere.

Ganson was proud to be one of three former Blackbrook Royals juniors on the tour, Saints half Rob Fairclough and Wigan wing Craig Mullen being the others.

“It was great to be with a couple more Blackbrook juniors. Rob (Fairclough) was having a great tour and playing well before he got the injury.

“I have played all the way through my amateur career at Blackbrook with Craig (Mullen). It was great to play with those so far down the line in Australia after playing with them since I was 10,” he said.

Matty Costello was Saints’ second player on the tour and he featured in the first test before picking up an ankle injury.

But Ganson was pleased to meet another face familiar to the Saints — former head coach Royce Simmons.

Ganson said: “Royce got to know my dad when he was at Saints. When I was out there he said he was happy to see me and speak about important parts of a hooker’s game.

“It was good to get the input of someone thought of so highly in Australia. To have him talk to me about my position was really good.

“I have been playing 9 nearly all my career. From being young only position wanted to play and grown up with it,” he said.

With the tour over the Sutton-based teenager was off the plane and back to the bread and butter with Wigan Academy.