NEU » aching staff were amazing, the medic

Its been over 30 years since Mal Meninga was tearing up the English rugby league scene but people around the Liverpool area have long memories.Its a region where Liverpool and Everton dominate the sporting conversation, but mention rugby league to one of the regions many loquacious taxi drivers and theyll invariably bring up Meninga.The Kangaroos coach was at the peak of his career when St Helens pulled off the biggest signing in the clubs history by convincing him to join for the 1984-85 season on a big-money contract.He repaid them with a whopping 28 tries in 31 games and still to this day is regarded as one of the greatest imports to play in the English game.I loved my time living and playing at St Helens, Meninga told AAP.I used to come down to Anfield, which is just down the road, quite a lot when I wasnt playing, to watch Liverpool play.Craig Johnston, the Aussie midfielder, was there and carving it up and we became good friends.Liverpool were the top dogs at the time and I became mates with many of the players whod come down and watch our games.Unfortunately I broke my arm and couldnt go back and play for a second season. But its a time I look back fondly upon.Signing Meninga was a far from straightforward process for Saints, who faced fierce competition for his services.Veteran broadcaster Ray French, who despite being the BBCs main rugby league commentator at the time, was also a member of the St Helens board, and thanks to some help from Wayne Bennett managed to get the deal over the line.Saints had said to me theyd signed Mal just before I went out to Australia for the 1984 Great Britain tour, French told AAP.I was staying at the Pacific Hotel in Manly, but when I came down for breakfast I saw Gary Hetherington, the Leeds chairman,He said: Ray, weve just signed Meninga.So I made up an excuse, left the breakfast table and shot straight upstairs to phone Mal.He assured me hed only sign for me and to meet him in Brisbane in three weeks time for the second Test.When I got up to Lang Park I bumped into Wayne Bennett and he said: Ray, Leeds are here, what do you want me to do?So Wayne distracted them by taking them out to the field for a chat.While he was doing that I grabbed Mal and he signed in the clubhouse.French believes he hasnt seen a better and more influential player than Meninga during his 60-year association with the game.He was fantastic for us, there had never been anyone like him before over here and there hasnt been anyone since, he said.There is also a humility to Mal. 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James Haskell has revealed he played through the pain of his debilitating toe injury while producing a man-of-the-series performance in Englands summer Test whitewash in Australia.The 31-year-old hopes to be fit by the end of November, but has ruled out any slim chance of featuring in Englands autumn internationals. The 70-cap back-rower hobbled off in the closing stages of Englands series-clinching 23-7 second Test win in Melbourne on June 18, later being ruled out for up to six months.Haskells stunning performances in Englands two opening victories in Australia in June are now rendered all the more remarkable given the Wasps flanker has admitted he was already suffering his toe problem.Ive written off the November Tests in my mind, just because if I was able to get into a position to do that it would be a massive bonus, Haskell told Press Association Sport. When I heard about that scenario I was clear with myself I wasnt going to be able to do it. I had five minutes of the depths of despair when I found out I could be out for so long.Then I just realised it was a great opportunity to come back better, fitter, more mobile and in better shape. I was pretty badly injured before the second Test in Australia to be honest with you. I was playing with anaesthhetic in my foot for the last five games of the season.ddddddddddddI wasnt doing a lot of training in the week.Eddie [Jones] and his coaching staff were amazing, the medical staff looked after me really well.I knew I would have to get the toe fixed at some point. Then it just got worse and worse and worse, and then I really damaged it in the second Test but it was already not in a great shape.I reconciled in my head that I would need to get it sorted. But I thought Id be back for the autumn internationals, because I didnt realise how bad it would be. Then again you could get injured falling down a step.The surgeon is surprised how well Im doing, and hopefully Ill be out of the compression boot in the next couple of weeks. Then I can start weight-bearing through my foot. If I run too soon I could split the internal stitching.What Im most looking forward to is getting this boot off then running again. Then hopefully everything else will take care of itself. Someone else will come into my shirt and play well for England, thats just a fact of life. The most important thing is for me to get fit and get back playing well for Wasps. ' ' '