Carney: England have it all to do to avoid Rugby League World Cup exit — SkimNews
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- Brian Carney said England “have it all to do” to avoid a historic group-stage exit, requiring a large Friday win over PNG and a Tonga win over Samoa on Sunday.
- England lost 30-12 to Tonga in the opener before beating France 82-0 on Saturday, yet remain 68 points behind Samoa on points difference entering the final round.
- Tonga would finish above England under the pool’s head-to-head rule after its opening win; Samoa beating Tonga sends England out, while a Tonga win leaves England’s qualification dependent on points difference.
- England Women were outclassed 78-0 by Australia on Saturday, their second heavy defeat to the Jillaroos after a 90-4 loss in Las Vegas in March 2025.
- Samoa faces England Women on Saturday in a winner-takes-all final group-stage match, after England opened the tournament with a 70-6 victory over Wales.
- Brian McDermott acknowledged significant changes are needed across all levels of UK rugby league to close the gap with Australia; Carney contrasted England’s resource-strapped competition with Australia’s highly competitive NRLW.
Why it matters: Australia’s 78-0 victory over England Women, following England’s 90-4 loss in March 2025, left the gap only marginally improved on the scoreline. Carney attributes that gulf to England’s competition struggling to provide competitive games and adequate resources, while McDermott says all levels of UK rugby league need significant change.
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