McDermott seeks fix as England fight to save their World Cup
Summary
England lost their opening game of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup to Tonga, with a final score of 30-12. England's coach Brian McDermott acknowledged mistakes but remains confident the team can improve and still qualify by winning the next two games.Key Facts
- Tonga won against England 30-12 in the Rugby League World Cup opener.
- England made several errors, such as handling mistakes and penalties, which helped Tonga control the game.
- This was Brian McDermott’s first match as England coach since being appointed in April.
- England had no warm-up matches and had not won since November 2024.
- Tonga performed well and ended a losing streak against England in their last seven meetings.
- England's central pair, Harry Smith and captain George Williams, struggled during the game.
- Coach McDermott said the team must improve ball possession and reduce errors.
- England will make changes before their next match against France.
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