Where Does Ashes Series Defeat Leave England?

Amid nan disappointment and recrimination that comes pinch losing nan first Rugby League Ashes bid for 22 years pinch a crippled to spare, England's players still consciousness they're not that acold distant from nan world champions.

That belief has immoderate basis. England person arguably been nan amended squad successful nan first half of some Tests truthful acold and will look to missed chances and immoderate marginal refereeing calls arsenic Sliding Doors moments.

But erstwhile Australia person gone done nan gears astatine nan commencement of nan 2nd half successful some games – inspired by Reece Walsh astatine Wembley, and pinch a quickfire effort double successful Liverpool – England person had nary response. The Kangaroos won 26-6 successful London, and 14-4 connected Merseyside.

Which begs nan mobility arsenic to wherever this leaves England arsenic they look up to nan World Cup, chiefly to beryllium held successful Australia, 12 months from now.

England coach Shaun Wane feels a deficiency of opportunities to play world games person held his broadside back.

He points to nan crowded English home schedule. Super League teams played 3 much regular convention matches than National Rugby League sides successful 2025, pinch Challenge Cup commitments to adhd to that.

It near nary room for nan accustomed mid-season world match, and location is presently not 1 planned for 2026. It raises nan anticipation of Saturday's last Ashes Test astatine Headingley being England's last lucifer earlier their World Cup opener down under.

"If we want to nail our world calendar, we request to play teams for illustration Australia much connected a level playing field," Wane told a media convention connected Thursday.

Critics of Wane and England will comparison nan existent procreation to nan squad who reached nan 2017 World Cup last against Australia. That agonising 6-0 conclusion is nan closest nan English person travel to winning nan tourney arsenic a solo nation.

But Kallum Watkins, nan only subordinate to characteristic some successful that last and nan existent squad, insists England person not gone backwards.

"I don't deliberation truthful - we person been really close," he told BBC Sport erstwhile asked whether nan spread has grown successful nan past 8 years.

"We person a bully halfway group of players; it is astir giving them nan acquisition of playing successful these games. This Test bid has been a level for that, building up to nan World Cup.

"It's nan mini details. We tin lucifer them physically, we showed that past week, and we person made chances - we conscionable person to execute them."

St Helens prop Matty Lees, meanwhile, points to home results and England's showings successful clean-sweep bid wins complete Tonga and Samoa since nan past World Cup successful 2022.

"At nine level, we hit Penrith successful nan World Club Challenge [in 2023] - it is person than they think," he said.

"But we request to get person internationally; we were going nan correct measurement against Tonga and Samoa, and we person sewage amended each crippled against Australia. It is going nan correct way."

So, if England are a lucifer for Australia, why person they only scored 1 effort successful 2 matches and mislaid nan past 2 games by an aggregate people of 40-10?

Lees points to mediocre tactical decisions successful nan opening Test which near England outnumbered successful midfield and incapable to statement break, resulting successful their champion attacks coming from hopeful kicks while Australia ran nan lucifer pinch shot successful hand.

England were much effective pinch their kicking astatine Hill Dickinson Stadium and matched Australia overmuch amended physically. Ultimately, some games were decided by individual Australian brilliance – Walsh astatine Wembley, Nathan Cleary astatine Everton.

"That first Test didn't deficiency effort, but lacked clarity successful our roles," said Lees. "We fixed that successful nan 2nd match. We were a batch happier and that showed. We were successful location competing. Hopefully we tin build connected that."

"There were a fewer small switch-offs successful Liverpool, a 10-minute spell erstwhile we weren't astatine it and apical teams punish you," added team-mate Jez Litten. "For agelong spells we dominated, request nan points to show for it.

"It feels for illustration they person been much clinical. We person dominated ample parts. Last week was a due Test lucifer and hopefully we get that again this week."

Tactical concerns inevitably lead to nan coach's door. If it was up to nan commenters beneath nan statement connected BBC Sport's articles astir this series, Wane would already beryllium retired connected his ear.

His attraction connected defence and grinding teams down has been criticised, arsenic person been immoderate selections. The return of players successful their thirties, specified arsenic Watkins and Joe Burgess - respective years aft their erstwhile England caps - has been utilized to propose that either Wane is blameworthy of regressive reasoning aliases that he lacks value options.

But speaking to players this week, location was unanimous support for nan boss.

"I emotion Shaun Wane - he is passionate astir his country, and I tin subordinate to that," said Litten. "To travel into campy and correspond who we are arsenic a federation is unreal. The measurement he gets nan boys motivated is unreal, truthful hopefully we tin decorativeness connected a high.

"If you look astatine personification who would do thing for his country, that is personification I want to play under. I'm proud to beryllium portion of this team."

While connected insubstantial nan last Test is simply a dormant rubber, it could still service arsenic a important bellwether for adjacent October – particularly if it is nan past clip England play earlier then.

Australia person picked a beardown team, pinch nan return of skipper Isaah Yeo nan only alteration from past week. Another nonaccomplishment will only ratchet up nan unit connected Wane.

"We don't want an Australian whitewash," said Lees. "That will hopefully put america successful a bully spot for nan World Cup. It has decidedly been a measurement up."