MATT'S GOT TO HURT

Pain of England snub will provide fuel for Nicholson

- DAVE CRAVEN

WARRINGTON ace Matty Nicholson was “surprised” by his England snub but it’s only going to drive him on.

The talented second-row, 21, is rated one of Super League’s top young players and moves to Canberra at the end of the season.

But yesterday Shaun Wane (inset) left him out of the 31-man England squad for the two-Test series with Samoa.

Nicholson, who started and scored in June’s 40-8 romp against France having made his Test debut 12 months earlier, said: “Waney rang me and told me I wasn’t going to be in.

“I was a bit surprised but it is what it is. He said there’s a few things I needed to work on and improve so fair enough.”