England winger Dom Young has played down comparisons with Martin Offiah after scoring another two tries in the host nation’s 42-18 defeat of France at University of Bolton Stadium.
Young has fast become a fan favourite in England after scoring a brace of tries in each of his first two Test appearances and the crowd at Bolton rose to their feet each time he touched the ball.
Former England coach Steve McNamara, who coaches Catalans and previously worked as an assistant at the Sydney Roosters, said of Young’s 66th minute intercept try: "It was a bit like Martin Offiah back in the day. He was flying".
Dom Young bags long-range double
Former England forward Jamie Jones-Buchanan, who was commentating with McNamara, said: "The whole crowd erupted. It was like the 100m final at an Olympics".
The rookie Knights star was voted man-of-the-match in an England Twitter poll after the game but he shrugged off the comparisons to Offiah, who is considered one of England’s greatest wingers.
“To even be compared in the same breath as a player like that is pretty special,” Young said.
“The crowd definitely gives me a little buzz. I can hear them spurring me on when I get the ball in space as well. It definitely gives me a little boost.
“That’s why you play the game. You want to give a spectacle for everyone to watch and enjoy. I love it.”
Top 10 Fastest - Martin Offiah
The 21-year-old’s rise has been so impressive that England coach Shaun Wane faces a selection dilemma between Young, record tryscorer Ryan Hall and 2018 Golden Boot winner Tommy Makinson for two wing spots.
Hall was the player to miss out in the opening World Cup clash with Samoa, won 60-6 by England, but he scored two tries against France to take his overall tally to 37 in 39 Tests after being recalled in place of Makinson.
Dom Young's first-half double
Young said he enjoyed playing with Hall and Makinson, and was relishing the challenge for spots in the sudden-death matches after England ensured a quarter-final berth with back-to-back wins against Samoa and France.
“Every time you put the jersey on there's pressure to perform,” Young said. “We all have pretty high standards of ourselves, but whatever Waney chooses to do it’s his choice.
“It’s definitely been a good start for me. Hopefully I can continue it as we go further into the tougher games and the finals.”
Wane said Kai Pearce-Paul and Joe Batchelor, who are yet to feature in a World Cup game, would get their chance against Greece in next weekend’s final pool game, while Makinson is also expected to play.
However, Young said he didn’t want a rest and was keen to press his claims against Greece for a place in the quarter-final, which is expected to be against Papua New Guinea in Wigan on November 4.
“I always want to play,” he said. “I’m young, fit and healthy and every time there’s an opportunity I want to play. I'm not sure what Shaun’s going to do but I definitely want to play.”