England suffered a 30-12 defeat to Tonga in their 2026 Rugby League World Cup opener, raising serious questions about their tournament prospects. Despite being the better side early in both halves, a string of handling errors, sloppy penalties, and ill-timed offloads allowed Tonga to seize control. Haumole Olakau'atu's fourth try sealed the win, leaving England needing victories against France and Papua New Guinea to survive.
Coach Brian McDermott, in his first match since replacing Shaun Wane, acknowledged the errors but insisted the team is "heading in the right direction." England lacked preparation with no warm-up matches, and McDermott's tactical and selection choices—particularly the central pairing of Harry Smith and George Williams—were heavily criticized. Captain Williams admitted the team was "erratic" and must improve ball retention. Tonga celebrated their first win in seven meetings, while England's path to the semi-finals now hinges on winning their remaining group games.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing