HIS try column may have only just moved off zero for the year, but the stats tell just how impressive Toby King has been for Warrington Wolves.
He leads the competition in offloads with 26 and his eight assists thus far is the most for a non-half back – only Jackson Hastings, Jonny Lomax, Danny Richardson, Josh Drinkwater, Aidan Sezer and Luke Gale have more.
King’s 48 tackle busts is also only bettered by two players across the league and it all adds up to making him one of the competition’s form centres, although he did an admirable job in the second row against Hull FC last week.
With that in mind, is he dreaming of an England call-up?
“There’s a lot of centres on form at the moment but I want to be the best centre in the comp,” the 24-year-old said.
“Pricey (Wire head coach Steve Price) marks me pretty hard at training and he always tells me I should mark myself harder in everything I do.
“Shaun Wane (England head coach) has picked a few centres in front of me so I want to use this season to impress him and put myself in his mind for the England squad.”
Toby King's only try of the season so far, in the win over Wakefield earlier this month. Picture by Mike Boden
The majority of his assists have been to set up winger Tom Lineham outside of him and with seven tries, the former Hull man is just two shy of being the league’s top scorer.
King has also been quick to flaunt his success to his colleagues in The Wire’s creative department.
“It will be a good little goal to get among the top assists, but of course its usually half-backs,” he said.
“I’ve got a little thing going on with Blake (Austin) as I’ve got double the amount of assists he’s got at the moment.
“He’s getting a little upset at training by it but its all good!
“It’s better for Tommy because he’s always getting into me about how he wants to be top tryscorer.
“Obviously, he’s getting all the tries at the moment but we’ve had a little pact to get him to be top tryscorer.
“It’ll keep him happy and as long as we’re winning, I’m not bothered about not scoring.”
Alongside Gareth Widdop and Ben Currie, King and Lineham form part of a left edge that seems to be flourishing.
With Widdop directing traffic, it has ensured King’s move over from the right side has been fruitful.
“The combinations are building nicely,” he said.
“Gaz is obviously new and I’ve moved over from the right edge, but its getting better and better.
“We’ve been working hard on our link-up and plays in training. Hopefully in these next few weeks we can start showing off our attack.”
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