Three Lions legend Stuart Pearce joins up with England Rugby League World Cup team before Greece game

Like his international team-mates, St Helens second row forward Joe Batchelor is hoping to benefit from a pep talk given by a 78-capped England football legend.

England Rugby League World Cup boss Shaun Wane brought former Nottingham Forest left back and one-time Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce on board to give his players an extra shot-of-adrenaline ahead of their final group game against minnows Greece at Bramall Lane - the home of Sheffield United - on Saturday, kick-off 2.30pm.

Pearce - a self-confessed Warrington Wolves fan - gave the squad an insight into challenges which lay ahead as he addressed the squad on Wednesday and no one appreciated it more than Batchelor, who is set to make his first-ever World Cup appearance.

The Wakefield-born Huddersfield Town supporter, said: "It was great to get someone of Stuart’s calibre and experience to address us. He has got knowledge of representing his country at the top level and provided a valuable morning for the players. Stuart is a leader - and that was what he was all about - and he also lived up to his ‘psycho’ nickname."

England boss Wane said: "Stuart is an impressive Englishman who is very passionate and we’ve learned a lot from him. He spoke very highly about the camp and how we went about our session.

“We’re going to have other people coming in. It’s important for players’ experience that there are other ways of learning to make us better at Rugby League, listening to legends like him was very important."

Wane also revealed he had spoken to England manager Gareth Southgate.

“I spoke to him this morning over text and invited him to the games and we’ve got other people who are going to come in and present jerseys.”