England boss McDermott urges patience in PNG points chase — SkimNews
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- England require a 68-point points-difference swing over rivals Samoa, plus a Samoa loss to Tonga on Sunday, to reach the Rugby League World Cup's last four for the first time ever.
- Brian McDermott urged England not to panic against Papua New Guinea in Wollongong on Friday (09:05 GMT), insisting they stick to the blueprint behind an 82-0 thrashing of France in which they were scoreless for the first 22 minutes — their biggest-ever margin of victory over the French.
- Papua New Guinea led Samoa 14-6 at halfway in their second group match last Saturday before collapsing to a 64-6 defeat, and McDermott called Friday a stiffer test than France: England must beat the Kumuls convincingly, not simply win.
- Brad O'Neill, the recently crowned Super League Man of Steel, was left among the interchanges alongside Zach Eckersley as Jez Litten started at hooker and Matty Ashton retained the left; Kallum Watkins was a late call-up, with Victor Radley and Jack Welsby dropping out and Ben Talty yet to feature.
- Morgan Knowles is set to make his first appearance of the tournament, returning from the calf injury that cost him in England's 30-12 defeat to Tonga on 17 October; his wife welcomed their third child on Wednesday.
- Vicky Whitfield called England women's 78-0 defeat to world champions Australia the "best preparation" for their make-or-break Pool A game against Samoa on Friday (06:45 GMT), with the winner earning a semi-final against New Zealand, winners of Pool B.
- Samoa were not as comprehensively outclassed in their 40-0 opening loss to the Jillaroos on 16 October, face England women in the Pool A decider on Friday, and must beat Tonga on Sunday for England's men to reach the last four.
Why it matters: England's qualification hinges on arithmetic McDermott cannot control: a 68-point swing plus a Samoa loss to Tonga on Sunday. Dropping Super League Man of Steel Brad O'Neill to the bench shows the points chase is already reshaping selection, and PNG's collapse from 14-6 up to a 64-6 loss proves winning narrowly is not the same as winning convincingly.
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