England face uncertain World Cup preparation after Ashes whitewash

England Face Uncertain World Cup Preparation After Ashes Whitewash

After waiting 22 years for a rugby league Ashes series, England fans hoped home advantage would help challenge Australia. Instead, a series whitewash revealed the wide gap between the two teams.

The series concluded with a 30-8 Australian victory in the final test at Headingley on Saturday, marking England’s first back-to-back Ashes whitewash since 1986. In this match, England again struggled significantly against their opponents.

During the game, England supporters directed chants of “you're getting sacked in the morning” at coach Shaun Wane, with the Rugby League World Cup looming next year.

“I don't believe, I know I am (the right man to lead England into the Rugby League World Cup),” Wane told reporters. “The only people who I want on my side are the players and the staff and I know I've got that. I'll do a report on the series and what my thoughts are and sit down with people at the RFL.

“They want to make it better, they don't like us losing. So we have to and must be better for the World Cup next year.”

Differences in Domestic Rugby League

The rugby league scenes in Australia and England are vastly different. The National Rugby League (NRL) in Australia is extremely popular, boasting record revenues and high TV audiences.

In contrast, England’s Super League is less prominent, overshadowed by other sports and regionalized in interest. Funding for Super League clubs has declined, with the competition’s TV deal dropping from £40 million to about £21 million this year.

Summary

England’s rugby league struggles highlight the challenge ahead as they prepare for the World Cup, facing a strong Australian side and domestic limitations.

Flashscore.com — 2025-11-08