Rugby League Match Report | England 6 - 26 Australia

This was almost like a routine win for Australia

They resumed their long-running dominance of the Rugby League Ashes with an assured display.

Author | Michael Haldsworth 

Stadium | Wembley

Back in 2003, the Kangaroos swept the series 3-0, grinding out three tight victories, each decided by no more than six points, and each featuring a moment when Great Britain held a lead they could not preserve.

Early indications suggest the 2025 series may not be cut from quite the same cloth. England met the challenge with spirit and resilience, yet Australia carried greater precision in the decisive moments, shifting smoothly through the gears after the interval to claim a comfortable win.

The hosts were disciplined in defence, often relying on weight of numbers to keep the visitors at bay. Australia, by contrast, operated with the fluency of a side well drilled and brimming with attacking ideas.

READ MORE | St Helens appoint Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley

READ MORE | Sporting stories from SuperNewsAffiliate 

A flamboyant finish from the outstanding Reece Walsh, whose acrobatic dive brought the first try of the series, provided a burst of brilliance that underlined the gulf between the sides on the night.

Shaun Wane’s team battled to the end, though the balance of power remains firmly with Australia.

A setback for the visitors came when captain Isaah Yeo was withdrawn in the first half after failing a head injury assessment following a collision with Young. He will be absent again for the second Test on Saturday at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.

England will return to the familiar task of chasing a first victory over Australia in thirty years, while keeping alive faint hopes of securing a first Ashes series success in 55 years.

Torture for England

It speaks volumes when a head coach labels an international outing as torture. Shaun Wane cut a pained figure after seeing his side brushed aside. 

It might easily have been a more sobering scoreline. Australia took time to fully find their stride and led by just eight points at the interval, yet once they clicked after the break the gap widened quickly. England, by contrast, squandered openings and invited pressure through unforced errors.

Australia now stand one win from retaining the Ashes when the sides meet at Liverpool’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next weekend. On this evidence, they still have more to giv