England fans no doubt are haunted by a moment that happened five years ago when Kallum Watkins broke through the Australian defence headed for a try that could have tied up the final but for an ankle tap that denied Watkins and his England teammate.
There was just one try in that historic clash in 2017 and England fans could do without that heartache in 2022 and Catalans Dragons coach Steve McNamara believes one of the members of the current squad could have saved England from that heartache in the first place.
The player in question is Sam Tomkins of the Catalans Dragons and McNamara believes he could be the difference this time around.
He said on BBC: “I think I said it at the last World Cup, if Sam Tomkins had played in the last World Cup Final England might have won by a few points rather than lose by a few points.
“He’s gotten a bit older, but he’s wiser and he’s got some really fit people around him as well. They have a really good spine ready to take it to the next level.”
The former England boss believes England have a strong spine and that he doesn’t know who Shaun Wane will name in his spine: “I don’t know what halves Shaun will pick, regardless, Sam Tomkins, Jack Welsby, George Williams and Michael McIlorum, they have a strong spine, if everyone does their jobs around that spine they’ll have a good shot.”