SAINTS prop Alex Walmsley is a glass half full person – and that may explain why he says last May’s experience of flying 10,500 miles to Sydney and then not playing has spurred him on.

The big prop and Saints teammate Mark Percival both made the trip for the mid season test against Samoa, but had to watch from the sidelines.

However, Walmsley believes he is better for that experience - not purely from a bonding point of view - but also see how he measured up in arguably the most competitive of positions from an England point of view.

Walmsley said: “I am better for going out there last time, not simply because I met all the boys, but it also meant I could see what is expected of me as an international payer.

“As a nation we are very fortunate to have such a strong pack in particular, and we have had a number of players out in Australia for a few years now.

“Players over here like Chris Hill and Sean O’Loughlin have those shirts for a reason.

“It is going to be tough breaking into that 17 but that is clearly what I am aiming to do.”

Wayne Bennett will have to look at each of the front rowers in his 24-man squad to see how he can assemble a unit that complements each other.

But Walmsley, Super League’s top metre maker, may be the sort of tackle-breaking forward that could offer something different.

“I am not your stereotypical 60 minute forward,” he said.

“I do play a different type of game to most forwards, maybe that is why I have not been selected in the past.”

England kick off the tournament against hosts and holders Australia in Melbourne and follow that up with group games against Lebanon and France.

But with the island nations looking powerful this year, it is going to be a tough competition to progress in - with nothing being taken for granted.

Walmsley is looking forward to the event as a whole - particularly that first match.

He said: “It will be a great spectacle with millions of people watching.

“It does not get any tougher than Australia on their home patch but we are starting tough.

“If we get a result there that will be the start of a good campaign.

“In the past England could have almost been forgiven for expecting to coast through to the quarter and semi final, but you only have to look at the Tonga squad, then see the names in the Samoa and and even French side, and even Italy and Scotland and you see teams with Super League and NRL experience.

“It is as tough as competition as it has ever been.

“We are not here to make up numbers, we want a successful campaign – get to the finally and hopefully win the World Cup.

“That is what we are aiming for as a nation and a group of players.”

Walmsley will be one of 11 Saints players on World Cup duty - a figure that will make a big dent in the club’s pre-season preparations.

But Walmsley views it as a major positive, believing the younger players in particular will kick on from the experience of playing on the biggest of stages.

“I really do believe players can only come back better for playing World Cups, whether that is for England, Ireland, Wales or Scotland.

“If you are plying your trade against the best in the world it can only be a good thing, and as a benchmark to have so many representatives shows the health of the club.”

Walmsley singled out young Welsh trio Morgan Knowles, Ben Morris and Regan Grace in particular as players who will kick on from this tournament.

He said: “Morgan has been playing at such a high level for the past two years now in such a difficult position.

“To now to be part of a Welsh World Cup squad will continue that push through the levels.

“He has grown as a player and this World Cup is an opportunity for him to showcase his game

“We have seen what Regan can do. And although he will be the first to admit he’s not the finished article, he is going to grow off the back of this experience, as will Ben Morris who will get some valuable game time.”

There is another plus for those Saints players on World Cup duty....it allows them to get on the paddock to erase once and for all those bitter memories of the way their domestic season ended.

Walmsley was not alone in thinking that the team was on its way to Old Trafford before the late drama at the Jungle unfolded.

He explained: "It was a tough few days after the Cas game and it was probably the lowest I have felt after a game.

"We’d lost it, won it and then lost it again.

"Cas had been head and shoulders the best team all year and it would have been an injustice had they not got to Old Trafford.

"I am a glass half full kind of guy, there are always positives to take out.

"We went to the best team in the league and scored five tries to three and were 30 seconds away from a Grand Final.

"It was nevertheless exciting and bodes well for next year.

"Justin has come in and done what he has done and we are playing a brand of rugby that works and what we have enjoyed playing as well.

"We have got so many kids in our team that we will build on this – lads like Regan and Morgan, and even Percy is still a bairn.

"We will be better for it."

Walmsley should play in Friday’s warm up game against Australia’s Affiliated States in Perth, with England coach Wayne Bennett having full use of his 24-man squad.