England head coach Brian McDermott admitted his side's new playing style showed promise but was ultimately too erratic after a 30-12 loss to Tonga in the Rugby League World Cup opener. He praised Tonga's defensive effort and said England had good ball position at times but lacked structure and finishing. McDermott stressed the need for patience and improvement rather than chasing points.
Due to the tournament's unique format, England's progression now depends on results elsewhere: they must beat France and Papua New Guinea and hope Tonga defeats Samoa convincingly to create a points decider. McDermott warned against becoming overly fixated on the scenario, which could lead to self-inflicted errors. He remains confident the team is heading in the right direction and must focus on winning their next two games while fixing their execution.
The coach reiterated that the game plan does not need changing, only better implementation under pressure.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing