IT’S been a rush, but when you have the support of your family then a short-notice trip to Australia and Papua New Guinea is no problem.

Wire half-back Dec Patton found out on Monday morning that his country needed him in camp today ready for a three-week tour that features a preparation week in Brisbane followed by two matches against the Kumuls in Lae and Port Moresby.

His planned family holiday has been changed, visas organised and inoculations taken so that he can be on the Thursday morning flight with Wire teammates Jack Hughes, Tom Lineham, Toby King, Harvey Livett and Joe Philbin and the rest of Paul Anderson’s England Knights squad.

“I’m made up,” said the 23-year-old ahead of his first ever international rugby league involvement.

“I totally wasn’t expecting it, something out of the blue, but I’m looking forward to it."

He explained how his week unfolded, 36 hours after Saturday's agonising title-deciding defeat to Wigan.

He said: “I got a phone call from Paul Anderson on Monday morning, I had a chat with him and tried to get the ball rolling really quickly to sort visas out and stuff. And it all went from there.

“I was going on holiday with my Mrs and little one to Turkey, but we’ve changed that because this is important and I’m really grateful for the opportunity.

"Hopefully I can take it with both hands but I’m still shell-shocked and hopefully now I can kick on and do well.

“The family are happy for me, though it will be tough not seeing them for a couple of weeks.

“I’ve never been to Australia before, never mind Papua New Guinea, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.

“Because the call came so late I’ve not really had time to think about it or for it to sink in, but the family are all over the moon.”

All the logistics had to be sorted very quickly.

“The doctor from Warrington’s been really good and got all my jabs sorted yesterday,” said the former Cardinal Newman High School student.

“Visas got sorted, kit dropped off, and it’s all been really quick. I’ve got another set of jabs when I get over there.

“In terms of clothes I’ve got a few new bits and bobs, but mostly I just took all my washing to my nans and let her sort it out for me. My mum came round this morning and packed my bag for me.

“I’m really grateful for all the support. It’s been an easy ride for me, I’ve just got on with what I’ve been told to do.”

The 2018 season involved Patton taking on the impact hooker role off the bench for the benefit of Steve Price’s Wire team and now he is hoping to see some action in his more accustomed half-back berth.

“Paul’s said he wants me to train hard and give it a go, and we’ll go from there,” said Patton.

“Nobody’s guaranteed a spot, so how hard you train will determine if you’re going to get picked and so I’m going to try to build my way into the team, hopefully playing half.

“I’ve not really played in that position all year and that’s where I want to be playing. So hopefully to get the chance to show what I can do with this bunch of lads is something I’m really looking forward to.”

The tour provides a fresh focus for Patton and the rest of the Wire lads as they continue to try and put behind them the club’s fourth Grand Final defeat in seven years – the 12-4 loss to Wigan at Old Trafford on Saturday.

“It provides a new focus and I can try to forget about it,” he said.

“It’s the second time I’ve been there and second time I’ve lost. It doesn’t get any easier.

“I’ll try and concentrate on this now.”