The first test at Wembley can only be categorised as a humiliating
disaster for England after Australia put them to the sword in ruthless fashion
in recording a 26-6 win over Sean Wane’s selections, the sides now moving on to
the Everton Stadium for a crucial second game.

Wane made five changes to his seventeen in the hope of
salvaging some pride and levelling the series with Brimson, Smith, Watkins, and
McMeeken all coming into the starting line-up as Mikey Lewis was dropped to
from the starting thirteen to the bench.

This was the most important game for England in close to a
decade, the win would take the series into a deciding game at Headingley next
week, a loss would be further embarrassment and a stark reminder of the
absolute dominance of the Australians.

Inside the first two minutes the game erupted with Jez Litten
and Harry Grant getting into it after the Australian hooker released the pass,
the referee sin-binning Dom Young and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Nathan Cleary kicking
the resulting penalty to edge his side into a two-point lead.

England levelled the scores on eight minutes through the
boot of Harry Smith, kicking the penalty goal from close to the sticks.

Dom Young went so close for England on thirteen, but great Australian
defence escorted him out of play but the corner flag, Gehamat Shibasaki doing
the damage, but England given a penalty for a high tackle. The ball was lost in
the next set, but England had made a much better start than last week.

With a quarter of the game passed England made it over the
try line, Reece Walsh knocking on a grubber kick close to his own sticks before
Morgan Knowles picked up the loose ball and grounded, the referee and video official
concurring that Knowles also knocked on as he picked up the ball. NO TRY was
the decision, England had a scrum ten out.

Two minutes later Young won an impossible looking race to
get his hand on a Herbie Farnworth grubber, but he was unable to control the
ball and ground.

After being ‘backs against the wall’ for ten minutes,
Australia marched into the England half and after a set restart they were
awarded a penalty under the sticks for a cannonball tackle, Cleary kicking a
second goal for a 4-2 lead.

As the clock ticked toward the forty-mark England added
their second penalty of the afternoon from twenty metres out, Smith finding the
target to send the sides in at the interval all square, England having
controlled much of the half but neither side able to cross the whitewash.

On forty-eight England were finally breached when Cameron
Munster dropped the shoulder, went through a gap on the England ten metre line,
and slid over the line under the tackle. Cleary hit the cross-bar with the
conversion attempt from wide, the Aussies four points ahead with thirty minutes
remaining.

Three minutes later a Cleary kick was knocked back by Staggs
hand and collected by Hudson Young to run the angle and ground for a simple
try. Cleary managed to sneak his conversion inside the near post for a ten-point
lead, England needed the next score.

A kick to the corner on sixty-five saw Young fouled in goal
as he chased the ball, Reece Walsh the guilty man who was sat down for ten by
the referee.

Despite the extra man England were unable to capitalise and
the game fizzled out to another disappointing loss with the home side unable to
cross the Aussie line. The series is lost with next Saturday now just a chance
of some consolation. The Australians came and got the job done, without ever
really needing to get out of the low gears. England doesn’t have the depth or
strength of players to complete with the finest rugby league team on the globe
and despite a better showing this time out they were still not up to the task.

England: Brimson, Young (SB on 2), Farnworth, Wardle,
Johnstone, Williams, Smith (G 2/2), McMeeken, Litten, Lees, Pearce-Paul,
Watkins, Knowles. Subs: Lewis, Walmsley, Smithies, Oledzki. 18^th
Man: Trout. 

Australia: Walsh (SB on 65, Nawaqanitawase, Staggs,
Shibasaki, Addo-Carr, Munster (T), Cleary (G 3/3), Collins, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui
(SB on 2), Crichton, Young (T), Carrigan. Subs: Deardon, Smith, Cotter,
Kilomatangi. 18^th Man: .

Half-Time: 4-4.

Full-Time: 4-14.  

Score Progression: (SB), (SB), 0-2, 2-2, 2-4, 4-4 : HT: 4-8,
4-12, 4-14, (SB) :FT.

Lead Exchanges: Australia – Square – Australia – Square - Australia.

Referee: Grant Atkins.

Attendance: 52,156.