Sean O'Loughlin insists his third-Test heroics will count for nothing when it comes down to selection for the 2008 World Cup.

The Wigan loose forward produced his best performance for Great Britain on the last occasion a Lions jersey will be worn on home soil as Tony Smith's team wrapped up a series whitewash over New Zealand.

O'Loughlin, who won his 11th cap on his home ground at the JJB Stadium, had a hand - or foot - in three of Britain's five tries in their 28-22 victory.

His magnificent all-round display, which followed encouraging performances in the first two Tests, boosted his chances of representing England in Australia next year but he is taking nothing for granted.

He has a host of rivals for the highly-competitive loose forward role in Jon Wilkin, of St Helens, the Leeds pair of Kevin Sinfield and Gareth Ellis, Danny Tickle, of Hull, Huddersfield's Stephen Wild and Jamie Langley of Bradford, and believes he will need to prove himself all over again next year to keep his place in the side.

"It's what you do in the season that determines your place," he said. "If your form is not there coming to the end of the season, then you're very unlikely to get picked.

"There are a lot of players this year you might have had pencilled in that didn't make it. It's good that there is a lot of competition, it keeps everyone on their toes."

The 24-year-old Wigan captain, who is the brother-in-law of former Great Britain skipper Andy Farrell, only started the first Test because Sinfield fell ill but finished an ever-present and emerged as one of the outstanding players of the series.

"I'm really chuffed to get the man of the match but it could have gone to any number of players," he said. "A lot played well and no-one really shone above anyone else.

"It was a solid performance in the end, we had to grind it out. It's good to be involved in a series win and finishing off here at Wigan is a good feeling."

O'Loughlin was involved in the highlight of the match, an 80-metre try by Danny McGuire, who successfully chased a kick by the Wigan forward straight from a scrum heel.

The move was fashioned on the training pitch and almost brought a try for Gareth Raynor in the second Test at Hull.

"I can't claim credit for that one," said O'Loughlin. "Danny had a little whisper in my ear and I just put boot to ball and he pegged after it.

"Tony brought it up in training. We kicked to the opposite corner last week but varied it this week and it paid off."

More news from SportingLife.com