The national side needs to play more often if it is to become a force comparable to Australia when the tournament takes place on home soil in four yearsHistorically in English rugby league there are no shortage of instances of chest‑beating and confidence that brighter times lie ahead following defeat by Australia – but this time, despite losing a World Cup final, it was hard not to feel genuinely encouraged.There is nothing too satisfying in being plucky losers again. But as the players head home from a gruelling six weeks and the end of a season which, for some, began last December, there is a golden opportunity for the game in England to build on a performance which shows the...
Pushing Australia so hard in the World Cup final shows the progress made under Wayne Bennett and should inspire great confidence for the futureIt’s the hope that kills you. If there is one overriding image that will remain with England fans for at least the next four years, it is the sight of Kallum Watkins stumbling and falling with the freedom of Brisbane Stadium laid out in front of him. Related: Australia edge out England 6-0 to win the Rugby League World Cup final – as it happened Related: Australia beat England in closest Rugby League World Cup final in decades Continue reading...
Twenty-two years on from Australia’s Wembley win, those beaten narrowly that day such as Karl Harrison, Phil Clarke and Mick Cassidy have their fingers crossed for Saturday’s finalWhen England take to the field in Brisbane on Saturday for their first World Cup final in 22 years, there will be a group of men 12,000 miles away willing them to take the step they could not manage in 1995. This time it will be Sam Burgess, Sean O’Loughlin and co vying for the first British World Cup win since 1972; then, it was players such as Jason Robinson and Martin Offiah who fell at the final hurdle.As in 1995, Australia are the opposition but the backdrop and circumstances are mightily different....
The 2017 knockout stages could be the most exciting yet but the international game remains undervalued, particularly in the northern hemisphereAs the World Cup enters the knockout stages it is difficult to gauge the mood surrounding what should be the sport’s most important and prestigious tournament.While things have played out largely as expected, it is the feelgood stories that will live longest in the memory. Whether it is the way Papua New Guinea have proved to be such wonderful hosts, playing in front of sellout crowds in Port Moresby, Samoa and Tonga’s spine-tingling pre-game tête-à-tête or the encouraging progress of some smaller nations, there is much to sit back and smile about. Related: Rugby League World Cup has been snubbed...