Ashes in from the wilderness as England take on Australia / Photo: Izhar KHAN - AFP/File
Ashes in from the wilderness as England take on Australia
England take on world champions Australia in the first Test of the long-awaited best-of-three Rugby League Ashes series in Wembley on Saturday keen to banish a repeat of agonising late defeats.
It will be the first Ashes series since 2003, and the first time the two sides play each other since the 2017 Rugby League World Cup final, which Australia won 6-0 in Brisbane.
After Wembley, the second Test is scheduled at Everton's new Hill-Dickinson Stadium on November 1 before the third and final match in Headingley, Leeds, a week later -- both are already sold out.
Recent results favour Australia, the Kangaroos having notched up a record 13 consecutive Ashes series between 1973 and 2003. The 22 years it has taken to stage another Ashes series is the longest gap between series in its history.
This series will also see the Australians take on England for the first time in the Ashes, having previously competed against a Great Britain side.
The last Ashes in 2003 saw Australia win 3-0, although each game had no more than six points in them.
"I have talked with the players" about late defeats, England coach Shaun Wane said.
"No matter how close we come is irrelevant. I have spoken to the players about scenarios, and the importance of switching on for 80 minutes.
"We will show Australia respect, and make sure we are switched on right to the very end."
Wane was under no illusion about the prospect of facing Australia.
"We need 17 players to have their best game, that is the level of quality in the Australian team," he said.
"We have players who can do that. They know how good they must be. It will take an almighty performance, but we are doing everything we can."
- Generational chance -
Australia coach Kevin Walters, who played in their 1992 Ashes series win over Great Britain, expressed his delight at the renewed international action.
The last time England played Australia at home ended in a 36-18 defeat in November 2016, with the planned Ashes series in 2020 cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We have really skipped a generation of English and Australian players in these sorts of games and series," Walters said.
"It could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for these players and staff. It is a unique experience, and if you are in the world of rugby league, this is where you want to be."
Walters' match-day squad contains three international debutants in NRL Grand Final man-of-the-match Reece Walsh, Gehamat Shibasaki and cross-code winger Mark Nawaqanitawase, who played for the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby Union World Cup.
A fourth, Keaon Koloamatangi, is on the bench after switching allegiance from Tonga.
England, with five of their 19-player squad regulars in the NRL, are captained by George Williams.
"We looked at the Australia squad and respect the quality within it, we know they are full of great players," Williams said.
"We can match it with anyone. I think the Kangaroos respect us now because of our previous form and results."
O.Krause--BVZ
