“It’s good, it’s different. I can’t believe how much press there is and it’s always on the news. All these tweets from news stations, I’m like what the hell’s going on?
Probably no player at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup has endured more of a rollercoaster tournament than England flyer Jermaine McGillvary. The winger bagged a try in the opener against Australia and then followed it up with another against Lebanon. But that second game was marred by a biting allegation made against him by Lebanon skipper Robbie Farah.
McGillvary was eventually clear by the judiciary and then ended a tumultuous week with a two-try haul against France to send England in the quarter-finals. The 29-year-old Yorkshireman is fast making a name for himself for his ability to find the line, bust tackles and carry the ball.
“Two tries is nice, a win is even better,” he told The Sportsman.
“The second half wasn’t too cracking so it’s something we need to look and improve. After something like that [the allegation], you need a response. It could have been easy for me to go into my shell and be a bit timid and stay out on the wing. But I’m tried my best to come in and try to do what I normally do.”
NRL clubs and rugby league fans down under, who were unaware of the Huddersfield outside back’s ability, have been put on notice in the past three weeks. After making his debut for his country at the end of 2015, McGillvary has crossed nine times in just nine appearances.
“It’s nice. Just progressing and improving as a player is more important, and winning, than tries to me.”
McGillvary is relishing the chance to be on the world stage and show his wares.
“I’m loving my time here,” he said.
“This is what I’ve wanted to do since I was 17, 18 years old. I just wanted to be a Super League player. I’m playing for my country now, playing on the biggest stage and a lot of people watching, so it’s nice to go out there and just people where I’ve come from and what I can do.”
The winger admits getting used to the limelight and constant media attention in Australia has taken some adjusting to.
“It’s different for me,” he said.
“I’ve been telling my family it’s like Premier League football over here, it’s ridiculous. Everything just gets blown out of proportion and it’s massive. But it’s good for rugby league though, especially the positive things, not the negative things that went on with me.
“The positive things like the Tongan game, how Papua New Guinea are going, Ireland have been going really well so getting them in the limelight. It’s only good for the international game as well. Hopefully one day it can be like that in England.”
McGillvary has arguably been England’s best performer in the past three games. He will take his place on the wing as a quarter-final against Papua New Guinea beckons. McGillvary knows England will have to lift its game to ensure they reach the semi-finals.
“If we toss up what we did in the second half against France, because it wasn’t very good, if we toss that up against anyone in the next few games it could turn around and bite us on the arse,” he said.
“We need to have a game look at that second half and fix it up. The completion rate was good, throwing stupid passes, and you can’t do that in top-level Test matches because the top teams will turn them into tries.”
