ENGLAND 12 TONGA 30
STEPHEN IBBETSON, HBF Park, Perth, Saturday

NEW coach, new players and a new style – but it was the same old heartache for England, who are already staring at the prospect of a humiliating group-stage exit.

When Brian McDermott took charge promising to do things differently, this is probably not what he had in mind.

There was plenty of evidence of a new England, who rose physically to Tonga in the first half and looked to offload at every opportunity.

But when it came to the crunch in attack, they looked like a side playing for the very first time under a new coach.

That’s a situation for which the RFL, having jettisoned predecessor Shaun Wane (who, it must be noted, whitewashed Tonga in a three-match series in 2023), must take responsibility.

Never before have England, or Great Britain before them, failed to be in the top or final four at a World Cup.

But with only two of six nations qualifying from Groups B and C, Tonga now holding a superior head-to-head record and Samoa already on top form, winning their remaining games against France and Papua New Guinea may not be enough.

England’s start was impressive enough, rising impressively to the physical challenge with some huge hits making their mark.

Kai Pearce-Paul had their best opportunity to score early with a strong attacking line, but Sione Fainu stood up well to keep the back-rower at bay.

In possession, the new-found offloading game was helping England move forward with danger, but stretching Tonga when the tryline beckoned proved more challenging.

Herbie Farnworth came very close to taking in a Harry Smith kick to open the scoring, and although England then received a penalty, Jason Taumalolo’s big shot on Victor Radley turned possession over and from it Tonga took the lead.

Isaiya Katoa’s delicate hands undid the English defence, catching out Pearce-Paul as Stefano Utoikamanu was played into a gap for the try, which Katoa converted.

Katoa also added a penalty-goal following a Smith escort designed to protect winger Zach Eckersley after a couple of early errors under a targeted aerial assault on the debutant.

Farnworth had England’s best chance of a response when he surged inside, held out with the help of Lehi Hopoate’s high tackle, but further attacking pressure couldn’t be converted into a way through a relentless and well-organised Tongan rearguard.

And their inability to cut through was further punished on the stroke of half-time by a second Katoa penalty, with Farnworth this time guilty of impeding, making it 10-0 at the break.

Finally, six minutes into the second half, England opened their World Cup account, and it was two of their heritage players who combined to do so.

Brad O’Neill’s quick play and George Williams’ pass helped set Hugo Savala away, and the debutant had support in fullback AJ Brimson to score his first England try on his third cap.

Savala also added the goal – but their joy proved short-lived as Tonga scored two converted tries in five hugely damaging minutes.

Both came from short kicks, a mishit one from Katoa ricocheting for Haumole Olakau’atu to put down and then the second, far more precise from Tui Lolohea – an early replacement for pec-injury victim Fainu – feeding Koula.

Katoa also struck a third penalty-goal after Ethan Havard’s crusher on Demitric Vaimauga, leaving England requiring three converted tries to draw level.

At which point Young took things into his own hands, quite literally – winning the short restart, then receiving Savala’s assist after a cut-out Williams pass thwarted the scrambling Tongan defence.

But errors continued to plague England and the brilliant Katoa confirmed their defeat by slotting a kick in behind for a second Olakau’atu try.

While Katoa missed his only goal attempt with the conversion, he did slot his seventh overall with a final penalty four minutes from time.

And only the hand of Jojo Fifita straying onto the touchline prevented England from suffering an even bigger margin of defeat.

GAMESTAR: Isaiya Katoa was the calm, classy and clinical act that none of England’s playmakers could be.

GAMEBREAKER: Haumole Olakau’atu’s first try was fortunate but so important.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: AJ Brimson’s try was well created but England failed to build on it.

MATCHFACTS

ENGLAND
1 AJ Brimson
2 Dom Young
3 Hugo Savala
4 Herbie Farnworth
5 Zach Eckersley
6 George Williams
7 Harry Smith
8 Max King
9 Brad O’Neill
15 Luke Thompson
11 Junior Nsemba
12 Kai Pearce-Paul
13 Victor Radley
Subs
14 Jez Litten
16 Ethan Havard
17 Sam Walters
18 Jack Welsby (not used)
19 Matty Ashton (not used)
20 Ben Currie

Tries: Brimson (46), Young (63)
Goals: Savala 2/2

TONGA
1 Lehi Hopoate
2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3 Tolutau Koula
4 Robert Toia
5 Jojo Fifita
6 Latu Fainu
7 Isaiya Katoa
8 Addin Fonua-Blake
14 Salesi Foketi
10 Jason Taumalolo
11 Haumole Olakau’atu
12 Siua Wong
13 Tyson Frizell
Subs
9 Soni Luke (not used)
15 Stefano Utoikamanu
16 Demitric Vaimauga
17 Leka Halasima
18 Tui Lolohea
19 Paul Alamoti (not used)

Tries: Utoikamanu (24), Olakau’atu (53, 69), Koula (56)
Goals: Katoa 7/8

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-8, 0-10; 6-10, 6-16, 6-22, 6-24, 12-24, 12-28, 12-30

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
England: Dom Young; Tonga: Isaiya Katoa

Penalty count: 8-8
Half-time: 0-10
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Attendance: 18,302