🔗 Share this article

As stated by skipper the England captain, the national team were delivered a brutal "sobering lesson" as Australia clinched the Rugby League Ashes.

Australia's 14-4 victory at the stadium in Liverpool on the weekend gave them a unassailable 2-0 advantage, making next week's Headingley encounter a meaningless fixture.

Shaun Wane's side had entered the series holding aspirations of sending the Kangaroos to their maiden Ashes setback since the 1970s.

Over the last 24 months, they had enjoyed a 3-0 series win over Tonga and a success over Samoa. But as the prestigious competition returned after a two-decade hiatus, England were unable to take the next step against the world champions.

"We're not making excuses. There were enough sessions to execute properly on the pitch, and I don't think we've managed that," the captain stated.

"Australia deserve praise. They were excellent in defense. But we've got loads to address. It seems not as good as we thought we were entering this series.

"This serves as a good lesson for us, and we have plenty to enhance."

The Kangaroos 'Show Up and Are Clinical'

Having been soundly beaten in an mistake-ridden performance at the national stadium, England's were markedly enhanced on Saturday back in the rugby league heartlands of northern England.

During an energetic opening period, England elicited errors from the Australians and had dominant territory and possession, but crucially did not make it count on the scoreboard.

Notably, the English team have now managed just one score over two full matches, with player Daryl Clark powering through late on in the setback in London.

In contrast, the Kangaroos have racked up half a dozen across the series - and when mistakes began to creep into the England's play just after the break, it was a case of certainty, they were going to be made to pay.

First Cameron Munster went over, and then so too did Hudson Young. From being tied at 4-4, the home side were trailing by 10.

"Satisfied for the majority of the game. I thought for most of the match we were solid," said the coach.

"The lapse for a brief period after half-time cost us immensely. The first try was avoidable and should never happen in a Test match.

"We're heartbroken. So proud the squad had a go but so disappointed with that second-half lapse, which proved costly dearly."

While the next World Cup in the Southern Hemisphere is just under next year, England's short-term goal will be on trying to regain respect, avoiding a series whitewash and addressing the mistakes that annoyed Wane.

"I wanted to see greater effort thrown at Australia. I wanted us to maintain momentum in the game - we didn't do that last week," added the 61-year-old.

"We did this week. It's just a lack of precision in our attack where we could have applied under increased strain. We need to defend both [tries] with greater resolve.

"Fair play to Australia - that is no slight to them. They perform and are clinical when they get a chance, and we failed to be, but in defense we can and should do enhance.

"They will be focused to win all three Tests and we need to be obsessed to make it a competitive series. I've said that to the players. It has to be our main aim. It will be a difficult week but whoever desires it the greatest will emerge victorious next week."

Intensity Needs to Elevate in Super League

England have participated in a similar number of international fixtures to the Kangaroos since the last World Cup in recent years.

However the coach argues that the strength of the NRL - and standard of the domestic rivalry matches between New South Wales and Queensland - provide a more effective foundation for competing at the highest level of the international game than what is available in the northern hemisphere.

Wane added that the hectic Super League fixture schedule left little opportunity for him to coach his players during the campaign, which will only pose more issues around how the national team can bridge the gap to the Kangaroos before travelling to Oceania in the next World Cup.

"The Australians play a lot of internationals in their competition," Wane added.

"England play ten to fifteen a year. We need highly competitive games to boost the domestic league and improve our prospects of succeeding in these sorts of games.

"I couldn't even practice with the players. There was no chance to trained together in the campaign and despite having the full backing of everyone in Super League.

"I have also been in the boots of the club managers that must to win games. The league is that congested. It's unfortunate but that's not the reason we were defeated today."