Brian McDermott

It made it really clear for me.

I won't tell you how those players are.

It would be inappropriate, but some players have been really candid and said, you know what, not sure.

I know I'm eligible and I'm not sure.

I know they consider it.

And they're very good players as well.

But even if they're very good players, and we both know this, you know, the player that can play at 10 out of 10 isn't because they've just got 10 out of 10 talent.

It's usually because of the preparation that they go through and the effort they're put in.

You know, I just don't think Reece Walsh walks on the field or Nathan Cleary walks on the field and just thinks, you know, I'm that good.

Watch me.

No, they go through their level of preparation, which is usually elite and it's usually higher than anybody else's.

That's why they are who they are.

So if any player who's talented plays for England, it has to be because they have to have that level of preparation, that level of passion, that level of something in the guts.

I'm certainly not chasing talent.

I'm trying to make it clear that I'm just not chasing talent.

I'm not chasing somebody because they're a good player.

At the moment, I'm bogged down with hotels, flights, squad selection, staff, and they're all important parts, and I've got to get those right.

But at some point, when that's all in place, then you've got to start turning your attention to...

Yeah, I've always been worried of telling stories like this, but I was in the Royal Marines, right, when I was younger.

I spent five years there.