Having fought his way through the professional ranks to avoid a 5am alarm from dad on the building site, Andy Ackers is now ready to realise a lifelong dream.
The Salford Red Devils hooker wins his first England cap on Saturday in a home World Cup against France in Bolton, just a couple of years after playing in Super League for the very first time.
Ackers gets his chance as head coach Shaun Wane puts his faith in the seven members of his squad left out of their stunning opening win against Samoa, a victory that saw England’s World Cup odds slashed dramatically.
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And the 28-year old from Wigan has promised fellow Wiganer Wane that he will not let him down, as he - like the rest of this hungry England squad - thrives off being written off.
“There were a lot of people writing us off before it even kicked off but this is the most confident team I’ve ever been involved in,” Ackers told The Sportsman.
“Every player is really confident, knows what they are capable of and so does Shaun. Whichever team he picks I’m totally confident in it, whether I’m in it or not.”
Ackers was not even on the radar of selection for the national team at the start of the season with Salford. A long-term injury to NRL hooker Josh Hodgson forced Wane to look at other options, and with legend James Roby ruling out an international retirement u-turn, the door opened for any in-form number nine.
And as Paul McShane, Daryl Clarke and Kruise Leeming struggled to convince Wane they were the men to join his trusted ally Michael McIlorum in a World Cup squad, Ackers grabbed his chance.
A blistering run of form and consistent excellence through the summer months fired Paul Rowley’s side to within minutes of a Betfred Super League Grand Final. And suddenly Ackers could go under the radar no more.
“It’s a bit of a story,” he admits with the typical understatement of a self-proclaimed ‘normal lad from Wigan.’
In fact the last time a World Cup was held in the UK in 2013, Ackers’ life could not have been more different.
“I‘d been released by Wigan when I was 18 and then Warrington when I was 19. So I was working full-time then going into training,” he recalls of his attempts to make it as a professional.
“I was 19 and working with my dad labouring on a building site somewhere.
“That definitely wasn’t for me, and it just made me hungrier to get off there.
“Early starts, getting up at half 5, getting there for 7am, finishing at 5pm, getting to training for half 5 then training for 9. It wasn’t for me.
“It’s not been a sweet journey, but I’ve worked my socks off and have never given up.”
Ackers is a fine example of hard work paying off and has never been afraid to do it. Even after marking his surprise call-up with an eye-catching display in England’s warm-up win over Fiji, Ackers was immediately left out of the squad for that much-anticipated opener against Samoa in Newcastle.
“It’s quite new to me having to fight for a place,” he admits.
“At club level I played every game. I took it well which I didn’t think I would, but as soon as I get my opportunity I’m going to take it.
“It’s better to shove it in the critics’ face when it’s all over like we did against Samoa.
We knew what we were capable of and the team knew full well that it would get the job done.”
Ackers says he and the rest of England’s squad benefit from crystal clear black and white communication from their head coach, who ensures each of the 24 knows exactly what is expected for them to earn a place in the side.
As such Ackers knows that if he takes his chance this weekend then he has every chance of keeping the shirt.
“If you do deliver I’m sure you will keep your spot because Shaun is an honest bloke - he’s a Wiganer.
“He gets the best out of his players and is a really competitive bloke, a great coach and a nice fella. He wants the best for his players and cares for us outside of rugby.
“It’s ‘big team, little me’. I want the best for England and am really proud to wear the training gear, never mind the playing jersey.”
England v France, 5pm kick off Saturday at the University of Bolton Stadium
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
