Toothless England, ruthless Australia, controversial try, and other rugby league Ashes talking points

The rugby league Ashes are back with a bang with the event’s 22-year hiatus ended today at Wembley as England and Australia faced off.

Unfortunately fro England, it went as many had predicted with Australia simply being too good. They soaked up any early pressure, snatched their first chance, and then built on it in the second-half to run out comfortable 26-6 winners.

It wasn’t just the first Ashes Test in over 22 years, it was actually the first time the two nations met since the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Final, a game that Australia won 6-0 on home soil.

Two players who played in that game, John Bateman and Alex Walmsley, were selected today by Shaun Wane with his major call being to leave Harry Smith out and for Daryl Clark to start at hooker, with Jez Litten named on the bench.

England legend James Graham, one of the few rugby league players to earn a golden cap for playing in 50-plus internationals, set the tone pre-match on punditry by encouraging England to get into Australia with some “lawful violence” but in truth, they were fairly timid.

Shaun Wane’s side competed with Australia for the first 20 minutes but after going behind to a Reece Walsh try, England faded away especially in the second-half when second-rower Angus Crichton scored a brace. Walsh would score his second before Daryl Clark grabbed a consolation in the 77th minute as he darted over from dummy-half to make it 26-6.

First Ashes Test talking points

Controversial first try?

It was an intense opening 20 minutes and you’d argue that England arguably had the better of it but it was Shaun Wane’s side who went behind and ti was debutant Reece Walsh who scored the opener.

Australia shifted the ball to the right and a gap opened up as Mikey Lewis was taken out, something that was not deemed obstruction by video referee Jack Smith. That gap was then exploited with Josh Addo-Carr released.

The winger offloaded back inside to Kotoni Staggs for what seemed a blatant forward pass but it wasn’t called on field and that’s not something that the video referee can review.

Staggs was then supported by Reece Walsh who swan-dived in to score the opener which England would argue could, and maybe should, have been disallowed for either obstruction or a forward pass.

Decision to be made at full-back

After Shaun Wane’s call to leave Harry Smith out, it means Jack Welsby is the only England player to play in every game since the 2022 Rugby League World Cup but that could be in danger.

The St Helens man didn’t have his best day and looked off it in both defence and attack. He forced a pass to Dom Young early on and then had a nightmare for the Angus Crichton try, standing stationary two metres off the goal-line as the second-rower rampaged through.

But it was also how easily Australia defended him with Welsby wrapped up so easily and finding himself often stuck in the line as opposed to joining late and adding threat.

With AJ Brimson named 18th man for today’s game, Shaun Wane could face a decision about whether the Gold Coast man gets a start in the second Test.

Toothless England

England will watch this game back and wonder why they ever gave Australia as much respect as they did, something that only started after Reece Walsh’s opening try.

For the first 20 minutes, England went toe to toe with Australia and they could have been ahead if they’d iced opportunities but after Reece Walsh’s opener, England seemed timid.

John Bateman put himself about but nobody really took it to Australia in the way the legends of old such as Adrian Morley, Sam Burgess or James Graham would have.

It was so comfortable for the Kangaroos in terms of the physical battle or being made to feel uncomfortable and you’d expect personnel changes with a player like Morgan Smithies feeling like the perfect man to take the fight into the second Test.

Reece Walsh masterclass

Two tries, two massive defensive reads and a 10/10 debut. Reece Walsh is something special.

There will be questions, as above, if England were too respectful and allowed him to be that brilliant but you can’t take such a performance away from him.

He was always there as the support runner when needed and he defensively stepped up, making two huge defensive reads including one that saved a certain try. He also made 70 metres on the first set of the second-half with that moment seemingly stealing England’s hearts and marking the start of their downfall.

Heads held high

Some England players will know they’ve not played well but there were a handful who had great games with Jez Litten being one of those and he may well have earned a start for next week.

His threat out of dummy half and his kicking game added so much but he wasn’t the only one as England’s backs actually played very well, with Tom Johnstone exceptional under the high ball.

Dom Young carried brilliantly out of yardage, both centres offered threat with Herbie Farnworth the clear x-factor player in the England side. Meanwhile, the questions over John Bateman have been answered with the second-row never backing down and being one of the few forwards who made a dent in Australia’s pack.

Teams

England XIII: Jack Welsby; Dom Young, Jake Wardle, Herbie Farnworth, Tom Johnstone; George Williams, Mikey Lewis; Ethan Havard, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees; John Bateman, Kai Pearce-Paul; Morgan Knowles

England interchanges: Jez Litten, Alex Walmsley, Owen Trout, Mike McMeeken

Australia XIII: Reece Walsh; Mark Nawaqanitawase, Kotoni Staggs, Gehamat Shibasaki, Josh Addo-Carr; Cameron Munster, Nathan Cleary; Patrick Carrigan, Harry Grant, Tino Fa’asuameleaui; Angus Crichton, Hudson Young; Isaah yeo

Interchanges: Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden, Keaon Kolotmatangi

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Defeat in the Opening Test

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— England Rugby League (@England_RL) October 25, 2025