England ran riot against Greece with the biggest score of the World Cup so far with a 17-try demolition of their opponents.
It will no doubt put their rivals on notice as the knockouts roll around.
Highlights:
Lees loves a try
Matty Lees scored the opener in the Super League Grand Final and he showed his eye for a try today getting the opening score today hitting a good hole created by the probing Marc Sneyd.
Young’s try scoring spree continues
This was a try that started with Jack Welsby. Though playing at centre, he showed the skills of a halfback to crab across field, produce a long range pass creating the space for John Bateman. Bateman then popped the ball over to Young to score.
Greece hit back
A lovely late ball caught Kai Pearce-Paul out as he lunged for an intercept allowing Siteni Taukamo to squeeze through.
Young at the double yet again
Young made it six tries in three games and he won’t score many as easy as this taking George Williams’ long ball for a walk in.
Kicked to death
A lovely weighted kick from Marc Sneyd early in the tackle count into space as England went wide saw England’s all time leading try scorer chase the ball done and power over the cover for the try.
Burgess barges over
George Williams was pulling the strings for England and a lovely inside ball enabled Tom Burgess to barge over.
🔥 No one is stopping Tom Burgess from there. #RLWC2021 | @England_RL | @BBCSport | #ENGGRE pic.twitter.com/gsmDrfLYhG
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 29, 2022
Young with the impossible finish
After being one short of a hat-trick against Samoa and France, Young got his hat-trick within the first 40 thanks to an impossible finish. It was good hands down the blind side for England and then Young, who seemed out of options surrounded by cover defence, found the strength to power over.
🙌 Unstoppable from England.
The moment Dom Young goes over for his hat-trick! #RLWC2021 | @England_RL | @BBCSport | #ENGGRE pic.twitter.com/5nFVRgTpDI
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 29, 2022
Young gets a fourth
The very next set saw Dom Young make it four tries this afternoon. After a great run by Burgess, Morgan Knowles appeared to be set to do something similar but instead shifted the ball out the back which helped free Kai Pearce-Paul up. He then teed up Young as England broke down field.
Williams with a deserved try
After pulling the strings for most of the first half, Williams was on hand to score England’s eighth try. It started after quick hands gave Jack Welsby the space to crab back inside offloading to release Chris Hill. He then sent Williams away towards the sticks.
Makinson capitalises on mess up
Makinson was on hand to propel England to the half century reacting first to a mess up at the back from Greece.
Williams break leads to Sneyd try.
George Williams took the ball underneath his own sticks, wrong footed the defence and bust out of tackles getting England up to halfway. After that, John Bateman burst through setting up Marc Sneyd.
Burgess brace
Tom Burgess got a second try thanks to a lovely short ball from Marc Sneyd which put him through a gap.
Sublime Sneyd
Sneyd continued to show his brilliance with a lovely cut out pass to put Ryan Hall in for a walk in.
Quick hands saves Batchelor’s blushes
Early in the game Batchelor’s decision to not pass cost England a try but his blushes were spared when he was on hand to score after quick hands from Snyed and co.
Ackers over after threatening all game
After threatening a try from dummy half all game, a darting run from Ackers got him on the scoreboard.
Outstanding đź‘Ź
Andy Ackers finds his way through for his first try of the game. #RLWC2021 | @England_RL | @BBCSport | #ENGGRE pic.twitter.com/BfkFR7bJTA
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 29, 2022
KPP on debut
Again after a lovely passing move which started with an offload, Kai Pearce-Paul had a walk in on debut.
Burgess bust leads to Ackers try
After Burgess continued his brilliant form with another run which broke apart the Greek defence, England went left to Hall down the wing. Offloads from him and Batchelor set Ackers up nicely.
Young sets up McMeeken
A typically brilliant run by Young down the wing coupled with an offload back inside saw McMeeken stroll over.
Talking Points:
Williams at the heart of things
George Williams was at the heart of England’s attack. He produced some lovely passes to carve open Greece and is now back to his best in an England shirt. Those touches will be key in tighter games too.
More options for England
The decision to play Tommy Makinson at fullback and Jack Welsby at centre caught many by surprise but both had some nice touches. It means that should injuries arise in the knockout stages, Wane has more options.
Worry for Knowles
Morgan Knowles is a physical and aggressive player who pushes the boundaries when it comes to aggression in rugby league. He put pressure on the kicker brilliantly but on one occasion he was too late and may worry over a potential ban.
World Class Young
I said this last week but after his performance today it has to be said again that young Dom Young is indeed World Class especially the way he scored his third try. He had no right to get that ball down.
Wane’s tough call
Already spoken about the variety of options today’s game created, but one option we already knew was Marc Sneyd at seven. He has brilliant today with some lovely passes, some brilliant assists, a try himself and a top notch kicking game. He’ll be hard to drop. The same could be said of Salford teammate Andy Ackers.