Liam Farrell reveals his goals for 2021

Farrell played under former coach Wayne Bennett once in 2016 but fell down the pecking order the following year. Shaun Wane offered him a pathway back into the frame, picking him in his provisional squad ahead of a planned World Cup later this year.

And Farrell said: “I’m not going to lie, that is my aim. It was disappointing the Ashes wasn’t on last year, I was hoping to play in that.

“The way I look at it, if my form for Wigan is good enough the rep honours will come off the back of that.”

Farrell was in fine form last season and was shortlisted for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award... but his former Warriors boss Wane still found areas for him to improve when they spoke.

“I had my one-to-one with Waney last week and, before I got on the call, I knew what was coming!” smiled the 30-year-old.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way – I had 10 years of him telling me what I can work on, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

“He was like that at Wigan and I think he’ll step that up even more now he’s got England.

“It would be great to play under him once again, especially with England.”

World Cup organisers are expected to make a decision next month whether to proceed with the event as planned, with bosses quietly confident it will go ahead even with limited crowds.

Wane’s first fixture is likely to be against a revived Exiles side drawn from Super League’s best overseas players in June.

Farrell added: “My first game for England was against the Exiles and I thought it was a good concept. When I think of the players in Super League, you could have an outstanding Exiles team.”