After being named Great Britain’s number one with a start against Kristian Woolf's Tonga on the horizon on Saturday, Saints full back Lachlan Coote insists it is one of the greatest achievements in his career.
Coote, who qualifies for selection because of his Scottish grandmother, has had a fine debut season at Saints helping the Red V win the Grand Final recently and being named in the Super League Dream team.
He will join Luke Thompson who looks also set to start at prop with Jonny Lomax and Alex Walmsley named as number 16 and 17 in Wayne Bennett’s squad for the tour opener against Saints incoming Head Coach, Kristian Woolf’s Tonga Invitational XIII.
And on his selection for the opening game which will be aired live on BBC two on Saturday morning, Coote said: “I am over the moon. I did not really expect it with the first test, but I was really excited to hear my name announced last night and I can’t wait to get out there with the boys.
“It has been great with a great bunch of blokes and I have felt welcome from day one – I am really excited to take the field with them. It is probably the biggest achievement in my career and I am not going to take it lightly. It is a great privilege to be part of the team with such an iconic jersey.
I am looking forward to making history and these tours don’t come around too often and I feel fortunate to be involved. It is going to be a great test.”
Coote is well aware the test that Woolf’s Tonga will pose and is looking forward to the atmosphere before catching up with his new boss after hopefully completing the job in a Great Britain shirt.
“The crowd is going to be there and I have seen the atmosphere they can create so I am really looking forward to being a part of it.
“There’s no doubt that they are going to come out firing. It will be good to catch up with Kristian Woolf afterwards, but we have a job to do – and hopefully we get that done on Saturday.”
Four Saints in GB Lions squad for clash with Woolf’s Tonga XIII
