England RL star Mike McMeeken eyes success in a very different environment
MIKE McMeeken hopes you can soon start putting your house on England being successful – ideally one of his.
The prop looks set to form part of a pack hell bent on making it a 2-0 whitewash in the series against Samoa.
Off the field, he is looking at building a career of his own in the property game.
Moving to Catalans Dragons put those ambitions largely on hold but now he is back in this country after joining Super League new boys Wakefield, that charge can start again at his current ‘club.’
“It’s something that intrigues me,” said McMeeken about his venture. “I enjoy seeing the improvements that can be made to houses.
“It’s something for the future as well – not just for myself but for my family too – and I’m going to train to become a joiner or some sort of tradesman in the next few years.
“I can buy a house, renovate it then sell it on or rent it out. Things like that excite me, it’s an interest outside of rugby.
“It was put on hold for a while because of being in France – interest rates there for investing over here weren’t ideal – but I’m keen to look to invest in the future.
“Now there are a few players who are into their property and know what they’re talking about, so I’m keen to learn from them.
“But the camaraderie England has as a group feels like a club. Sometimes when you bring players together, there can sometimes be a bit of a divide or a few groups.
“However, we’re all one. Everyone’s doing things together on days off. Club rivalries are on the field and we’re competitors but as soon as you come off it, you can be mates again.”
McMeeken, not the only southerner in Shaun Wane’s squad, reached two Super League Grand Finals with Catalans – and life in the south of France had its appeals.
But he and wife Lauren are back in Yorkshire as Wakefield look to prosper following their elevation back to the top flight.
And some French lessons can translate on to the field after a gamble – agreeing the move when Trinity was a Championship club – paid off and can pay off at Headingley.
The 30-year-old added: “The experiences I picked up in France over four years were awesome, not just for me but for my family as well.
“Moving to Catalans when I did was because I wanted a new challenge and to get out of my comfort zone – you pick up experience from being outside it. You always get better from doing stuff like that.
“In elements, Test rugby takes you out of that. It goes up to another level of intensity when it’s country v country. There’s no knocking off at any point as you’ll be found out.
“But I felt the time was right to go to a different adventure and a new challenge with Wakefield.
“Agreeing the move was definitely a bit of a gamble but they were extremely confident they’d be back and I bought into the project there. It really excited me.”
