FORMER Bulls star John Bateman hailed the finest moment of his fledgling career after marking his England debut with a man-of-the-match display against France.

The Bradford-born star, sold to Wigan by his hometown club two years ago, scored two of England’s 15 tries in Saturday's 84-4 massacre, including a stunning long-range effort.

England coach Steve McNamara, who was in charge at Odsal when Bateman signed for Bradford as a teenager, picked the former England academy captain at left-centre against the French.

The 22-year-old now looks certain to be involved in the opening Test match against New Zealand at Hull on Sunday.

Bateman said: “It felt good to score that first try and was probably one of the best feelings I've ever had.

“You try and not show your emotion but obviously I was really happy to get the call-up and then with how the game went as well as that try.”

Bateman made his name at Bradford as a left-sided second-rower but Wigan boss Shaun Wane has deployed him at right-centre for much of the 2015 campaign.

Bateman said: “Waney pulled me aside and said he wanted me to be able to play different positions and obviously it's helped me in the long run now, so it has been good.

“I’ve still got a few more things to learn and looking at people like Kallum (Watkins), watching and seeing what he does, is really good for me.

“I probably prefer being in the middle but I'll play wherever I get put.

“I'll try my best and that's what I'm doing at the moment.

“It's paying off as I'm just on the end of the good stuff that the middles and half-backs are producing.”

Bateman is expected to emerge as Wigan captain Sean O’Loughlin’s long-term successor at loose forward but is happy to continue to prove versatile.

He explained: “Steve Mac just said through the week to run at centre and that's what I've done.

“Obviously I know Steve well. He signed me at Bradford and I speak to him about stuff so it's great.

“I started the season at Wigan on the right but I played left side for Bradford so I’m not really bothered.

“I’d never really played in the centres before this season.

“I probably had a bit more weight on when I was younger and slimmed down a bit when I came to Wigan!

“After that, I played a few games at centre to see how it goes and it's been going pretty well.”

Bateman took the field on Saturday alongside former Bradford team-mates Thomas Burgess and Elliott Whitehead, while Luke Gale is also in the squad for the New Zealand series.

Bateman is now hoping to keep his spot against the Kiwis, adding: “If you play well it helps for the next game and that's the same at any level - amateur or international.

“It was my debut for England on Saturday and I just wanted to get my head down and play well.

“We really need to kick on now, work on things and take it into this week against the Kiwis.

“They've got the likes of Isaac Luke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Dean Whare, who are obviously world-class players.

“We need to keep an eye on them but you want to test yourself against the best and obviously Whare is one of the best. Hopefully I get the nod.”

Bateman’s daughter Millie turned six earlier this month and he added: “She enjoyed watching on Saturday and I gave her my man-of-the-match trophy after the game.”