KEVIN WALTERS insisted England have given Australia a strong challenge after his Kangaroos sealed the Ashes with a game to spare.

Australia followed up their opening Wembley win with a 14-4 victory in the second Test at Liverpool’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The scores were 4-4 at half-time before tries from Cameron Munster and Hudson Young ultimately delivered victory.

“I wasn’t worried, I had a lot of faith in our defence,” said Walters.

“We turned over a fair bit of ball in the first half but they defended right to the end really.

“We expected a very tough series and we got that. Last week it went under radar how tough that game was – players were saw for a few days.

“We got that today from them as well, although it was a bit of a slower game. Defence wins big games and that was the case today.

“I was most pleased because the guys haven’t experienced that sort of game in the NRL – a slow, tough, physical game with not a lot of points.

“I’m happy we could overcome that. We’re used to free-flowing football but we adapted to the conditions well.

“That comes from the connection of the group, defending well for each other. Well done to the guys for that.”