I’D love to say things can only get better.

But having reflected on the opening Ashes Test at Wembley, unfortunately from an England point of view, I can only see them getting worse.

There are two main reasons for that:

1. Australia are going to get stronger still as they settle in and adapt further to the conditions over here and their combinations start to click even more.

2. It’s going to be an Australian, Grant Atkins, refereeing at Everton’s new stadium after our own Liam Moore was the man in the middle in London.

There is clearly improvement to be had from England after that 26-6 loss, and the lack of a warm-up match hardly helped, but the worrying thing is, there is also improvement to come from the Kangaroos – and they looked decent enough on Saturday.

At times, it almost seemed like they were taking the Michael, although they are far too professional and ruthless not to stay focused on the job at hand.

However, it was almost so easy for Reece Walsh, Cameron Munster, Nathan Cleary and Harry Grant that you wondered whether they needed to take a shower afterwards.

Australia weren’t sufficiently tested or asked to come up with any ultra-special plays, and overall, a touring team packed with talent and big-match experience didn’t really have to display any Origin mentality, Origin physicality or Origin quality to get a first Ashes win for Kevin Walters.

It was all too straightforward for them, and had they not lost Isaah Yeo, the best loose-forward in the world, to the first-half head knock which will keep him out of the second Test, they could have had more than their four tries by the time Daryl Clark claimed England’s late consolation.

Australia hardly had to get out of first gear, and as I said earlier, it’s difficult to believe they won’t improve, especially with Atkins in control.

That’s nothing to do with his nationality, I hasten to add, but everything to do with the NRL rather than Super League-style of officiating he is likely to bring to proceedings, with the ruck speed a particular area of interest.

It will surely be quicker, and with England less able to slow things down, the Australians, with Harry Grant to the fore, will surely be in their element and take advantage, with the hosts having to be extra vigilant defensively as a result.

It’s hard to see our visitors being kept at bay, and we are going to have to score far more than six points to win the match.

I thought the two wingers Dom Young and Tom Johnstone were among England’s better players at Wembley, being used as battering rams and making decent yardage.

But overall, England lacked creativity, and were effectively restricted to just a handful of half-breaks and a handful of opportunities, of which obviously just that one was taken. At this level, chances must be turned into points more often, because they don’t come around easily.

George Williams came in for a bit of stick from some, but for me, he did okay, but didn’t have an especially complementary partner in Mikey Lewis.

Mikey is a creative player, but not a particularly good organiser who could take some of the pressure off George and allow him to do what he is good at, such as providing quick service.

Compare that to the way Munster and Cleary work in tandem, and if they are able to work off a faster ruck at Everton, it could be a long and tough afternoon.

It’s easy to see just how much Shaun Wane wants to beat Australia, but as I have said in previous columns, patriotism and passion aren’t enough.

Playing the way England did on Saturday is meat and drink to the Kangaroos, and he has to come up with a different plan, one which knocks them out of their stride and comfort zone and involves moving the ball quicker and making it do the work.

It’s pointless trying to play them at their own game, because they are used to doing it week in, week out and with greater intensity than us.

England have to frustrate Australia and make them lose their way, otherwise we are looking at them racking up 30 or 40 points this time.

In terms of the England line-up, it’s going to be really interesting to see which way Waney goes – ring the changes or hope those who struggled to pose a threat first time around have learnt something from that match?

Jack Welsby is a worry. He came into the series on the back of a less-than-convincing campaign at club level, and just doesn’t look the player he was a few years ago. His performance on Saturday was disappointing. 

He certainly seems to be struggling confidence-wise, and long-term, I think he needs to get back to basics, focus on playing fullback and doing the things we know he can do and which made him such a good player previously.

It will be interesting to see how new St Helens coach Paul Rowley handles him.

In the short term, I’d have him on the bench on Saturday, because he provides a backs option, but bring AJ Brimson into the starting side.

Young, Johnstone and Herbie Farnworth are certainly worth another go, as are Williams and Lewis in the halves, but I’d include Harry Newman for Jake Wardle in the centres.

Alex Walmsley and Mike McMeeken would be my starting props with Clark as hooker – although I liked the way Jez Litten approached the game from the bench – and I’d retain the back row of John Bateman, Kai Pearce-Paul and Morgan Knowles, with Litten, Matty Lees, Ethan Havard and Welsby the replacements.

I’m really looking forward to being at the Hill Dickinson Stadium as a guest of Andrew Thirkill and my old club Hull FC, and it would be fantastic to witness an England victory.

However, I can’t see it, and I’m going 42-10 to Australia.