England lost 2-0 in the Ashes and head coach Shaun Wane believes Super League needs more high-intensity matches like the NRL if his team is to one day win this series.
England were a huge improvement from their 26-6 record at Wembley, but two successive tries from Cameron Munster and Hudson Young shortly after half-time proved the difference as the green and gold won 14-4 and secured a 2-0 lead for what would be the final game of the series.
This means England will be left waiting for another win in this iconic series, which Australia have defended 13 times in a row.
Australia wins again to win Ashes series
Wayne’s side join the generations before them who failed to beat the Kangaroos, and the Englishman believes Super League needs more “Test-level” games if it is to achieve that goal in the future.
The NRL is like a State of Origin game with next-level intensity.
And Wayne said: “So we have to give Australia a lot of credit because they’re playing Test matches in the competition – they’re playing a lot of Test matches – and we’re playing 10, 15 matches a year. They’re playing more intense matches.”
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Queensland was in a celebratory mood after defeating New South Wales in the deciding match to celebrate this year’s state championship.
“I’m proud that I was able to last for 70 minutes today, but the main emotion for me is still the disappointment of not being able to complete the task.
“Obviously, I hope that happens. That’s what we need. We need some really competitive games. That’s going to improve the competition and increase our chances of winning these types of games.”
“For me as an international coach, at the moment the more intense Test match games we play, the better for all the players in the comp.”
It was a fierce match that resulted in 3 yellow cards.
Now, England will be focused on avoiding a 3-0 disaster when they finish the series at Leeds’ Headingley Stadium next week.
Wayne said he is now “obsessed” with his team finishing the series with a win.
“That’s really important. They’re going to be obsessed with winning 3-0 and we’ve got to be obsessed with making it 2-1. I just said that to the players,” Wayne added.
“So that’s our obsession and we need to start tonight and work on the review tomorrow. It’s going to be a tough week, but if that’s what we want most, we’ll get it next week.”
Rugby League Ashes 2025
First Test: England 6 – 26 Australia
Second Test: England 4 – 14 Australia
Third Test: Saturday 8th November, Headingley Stadium, Leeds
