On Sunday, England defeated Tonga with tries from Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves centre Toby King, Hull KR halfback Mikey Lewis and two from Tom Johnstone.
We have seen what all the English media have made of the game with pundit Jon Wilkin unimpressed by the standard likening it to a league game whilst also criticising the pitch.
But what did the Australian press make of the fixture?
Well remarkably only two outlets covered the game in full with many focussing instead of Dom Young’s condition.
Fox News went with the title: “New-look England outfit down Tonga as star fullback’s moment of brilliance stuns” obviously referencing Jack Welsby.
They went on to say: “Fullback and stand-in captain Jack Welsby delivered a moment of brilliance for Johnstone’s first, with a huge cut-out ball leaving To’a flat-footed.
“The winger was able to burn his opposite man and stun the Tongan side as the scores sat level at 12-all.”
However, they referenced the fact they felt England should have won by more labelling it a ‘narrow’ win.
Likewise, the Canberra Times also seemed unimpressed focusing on Tonga with the headline: “Woolf’s Tonga go down battling in England Test.”
They seemed to feel an undercooked Tonga gave England a scare and could turn the tide in the later tests.
They said: “Tonga’s history-making touring team, full of NRL talent, have given England a scare in the first of three rugby league Tests before falling to a valiant 22-18 defeat in St Helens.
“Kristian Woolf’s tourists, the first tier-two rugby league side to play a full series in Britain, were still forging forward in the dying minutes on Sunday as they tried to record a landmark victory.”
“Jack Welsby, installed as England’s youngest ever captain at 22, was a relieved man after the victory which had been hard-fought after the Tongans had gone in at halftime all square at 12-12.”
“After the brilliant Lewis then weaved inside, brushing off two tackles to score, the teams were level at the break, but England turned the screw after the break with a marvellous cut-out pass from Welsby putting Johnson in on 55 minutes”
