England women opened their Rugby League World Cup with a 70-4 win over Wales, while England men fell 30-12 to Tonga and now have their tournament out of their own hands. It was a week of highs and lows for both teams.
Both England sides are considered underdogs to reach the semi-finals. The task grew even bigger for the men after they lost to what looks like potentially the strongest Tonga team ever. The women now prepare for Australia, the biggest test they have faced.
So what did we learn from the openers, and what can we expect in week two?
Second phase play brings errors but opportunity
England men had a clear tactic against Tonga: second phase play. They offloaded the ball freely and constantly tried to create space. It worked, and it got them into try-scoring positions.
In the first half in particular, they looked a real attacking threat, until they got within the opposition’s 20 metres. There, their last-play and attacking options let them down.
England made 27 offloads to Tonga’s five and 246 passes to Tonga’s 191. They also made over 70 more tackles than Tonga, yet they put up just five bombs to Tonga’s 12.
They did not pressurize or turn clinical in the moments that mattered. When momentum swung the other way, they had no points to show for their pressure.
At 10-6 down, they conceded one of the luckiest tries you might see from a kick, a ricochet of the flukiest variety.
Brian McDermott admitted his style of play was risky. He said England would try things, and sometimes they would come off and sometimes they would not. In the first half, England made nine errors to Tonga’s three.
There was a spark and a flair to England for 80 metres of the pitch, but in the final 20 the ideas faded.
Strongest Tonga, travel days and missing grunt
The loss needs context. Many England fans will wish this match had closed the pool stage rather than opened it.
After about a week together, with no mid-season internationals, England travelled from Heathrow to Sydney, then Perth, and did what they could in seven days. Far from ideal is putting it lightly.
The forward pack was not what they wanted either. Morgan Smithies was ruled out of the tournament, and another enforcer, Morgan Knowles, was then ruled out of the game. Matty Lees, Caleb Hamlin-Uele and Mike McMeeken were not options either, so the grunt we expect from a traditional England outfit waned.
England also faced arguably the strongest Tonga team ever, and Kristian Woolf has real star talent to pick from.
Robert Toia is up there as one of the best centres in the world alongside Herbie Farnworth. In the other centre spot, Toluta’u Koula played State of Origin this year, as did Addin Fonua-Blake and Stefano Utoikamanu.
Toia, Siua Wong and Salesi Foketi won the Grand Final with the Sydney Roosters in 2026. Haumole Olakau’atu was voted second rower of the year. Youngster Isaiya Katoa is considered a superstar in the making in the halves.
On paper, they were always an exceptional side to take on.
Rowe makes her mark with ball and boot
England women shone against Wales, and player of the match Izzy Rowe justified her selection and then some.
The big talking point before the match was who would be chosen in the halves from Rowe, Woman of Steel Jenna Foubister and NRLW star Georgia Roche. Head coach Stu Barrow opted for Rowe and Roche and started Foubister on the bench.
Rowe showed why, scoring the most points ever by an England player in a match. She excelled with the ball in hand, and her kicking game was exceptional both in play and off the tee. That attribute makes her something of a necessity in the side.
Foubister came on and showed her worth too, pulling off a brilliant assist. It is a welcome problem for England moving forward.
Step up next week: getting over Vegas
England women must box off a strong opening result and focus on an enormous task: facing reigning champions Australia.
The last time these sides met, in 2025, England suffered a sobering 90-4 loss to the Jillaroos in Las Vegas. It was a stark reminder of the gulf between the teams and the journey English rugby league still has to go.
However, only a handful of players from that match remain in this squad. It is a chance for a lot of sensational youngsters to show England have improved, and keeping the game as close as possible will be vital.
Last out, they face Samoa, who were beaten 40-0 by Australia. Points difference could be the key distinguisher in who makes the semi-finals.
Underdog mentality to shine through again
The underdog mentality will have to shine through for both England teams in week two, though in different ways.
England women know they have their toughest task ahead, but they are buoyant and fired up to show the talent in their ranks.
England men know they are up against it. They sit in a complicated combined Group B and Group C. Group B is England, Lebanon and Samoa, while Group C is France, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. After losing to Tonga, England now play France and PNG, because teams face the opposition from the other group, not their own.
If results go as expected, England are effectively hoping Tonga beat Samoa, then face a straight shootout with the Samoans over who finishes with the better results.
Remarkably, at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, England demolished Samoa in the opening game, but Samoa then beat them in the semi-final. This time England have no such breathing room.
What’s next?
England men must regroup before facing France in Perth next Saturday, with kick-off at 7.35am (UK and Ireland time). England women face Australia at 10.05am.