England v Tonga Test Series 2023

[titoelcolombiano]

They have been appallingly bad throughout the series, progressively getting worse. God knows what Woolf did with them in training as they had no moves and never looked like scoring in the 2nd and 3rd tests.

An embarrassing tour that has set them back significantly. When will England play a tier one nation though ?

England will host Australia in 2025

 

[isaiah]

I love how Tonga have Mosese Suli in the centres. Barely first grade in a bottom team.

 

[Mr Angry]

You need a spine, I do not mean courage.

 

[Perth Red]

3-0 clean sweep. Tonga very disappointing. England never looked like losing any of the games. Good to see some new young blood in the England side. Bodes well for the future.

 

[This Year?]

Tonga were disappointing yet again. Their play was too one dimensional. Their edge defence in particular was shocking. I get that tours throw up many challenges, but the Tongans didn't seem to learn anything. Woolf seemed to have got nothing out of his players.

England's defence was great. Always got numbers in tackles which slowed Tonga's rucks and sapped their energy. Linespeed, spacing and a straight line. With the ball always had shape and would for offloads or quickly found their front. Rugby league 101.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Tonga were disappointing yet again. Their play was too one dimensional. Their edge defence in particular was shocking. I get that tours throw up many challenges, but the Tongans didn't seem to learn anything. Woolf seemed to have got nothing out of his players.

England's defence was great. Always got numbers in tackles which slowed Tonga's rucks and sapped their energy. Linespeed, spacing and a straight line. With the ball always had shape and would for offloads or quickly found their front. Rugby league 101.

This is why I'm surprised to hear some people saying Samoa and Tonga have overtaken England. Tonga has beaten GB once and Samoa have beaten England once.

Tonga have also beaten Australia and NZ once each and Fiji has beaten NZ once. These were all great breakthrough wins but Tonga and Samoa are still a little while off beating England consistently. The English side is world class. Most importantly in the spine and have a professional league consistently developing players for them.

The real world ranking is still:

1. Australia
2. New Zealand
3. England
4 & 5 Tonga & Samoa
6 & 7 PNG & Fiji
8 & 9 Lebanon & France
10 Cook Islands

NZ have really closed the gap to Australia. I'm keen to see England v both in the coming years. Last England-Australia game was 6-0 to Australia at the 2017 WC final. Last time England played NZ the series went to England 2-1 in 2018 and NZ beat GB 2-0 in the 2019 series.

 

[Coastbloke]

The crowds and the Tongan performance is a moot point given Hamilton’s crowd and final score line..

 

[blue bags]

England are number 1 now
They are the best in the world
Tonga
New Zealand
Australia
Can't compete

 

[taste2taste]

This is why I'm surprised to hear some people saying Samoa and Tonga have overtaken England. Tonga has beaten GB once and Samoa have beaten England once.

Tonga have also beaten Australia and NZ once each and Fiji has beaten NZ once. These were all great breakthrough wins but Tonga and Samoa are still a little while off beating England consistently. The English side is world class. Most importantly in the spine and have a professional league consistently developing players for them.

The real world ranking is still:

1. Australia
2. New Zealand
3. England
4 & 5 Tonga & Samoa
6 & 7 PNG & Fiji
8 & 9 Lebanon & France
10 Cook Islands

NZ have really closed the gap to Australia. I'm keen to see England v both in the coming years. Last England-Australia game was 6-0 to Australia at the 2017 WC final. Last time England played NZ the series went to England 2-1 in 2018 and NZ beat GB 2-0 in the 2019 series.

Since Eng and Aus last played 6 years ago I'd say England has a stronger team and Aus a weaker team ( due to loosing players to the islands )

The game could come down to home field advantage, England are very hard to beat on thier wet and soggy grounds.

 

[Perth Red]

Congrats to elliot whitehead as he hangs up the boots on a great int career.

 

[taste2taste]

Congrats to elliot whitehead as he hangs up the boots on a great int career.

View attachment 81573

He's tough AF, will be hard to replace.

It seems England are getting stronger in the spine and outside backs but over the past few years have lost some forwards that will be hard to replace.

 

[Wb1234]

This is how far the game has regressed in England

 

[Wb1234]

 

[NRLMad]

This is how far the game has regressed in England

I think the issue is the cost of staging the events. The ESL is on a shoe string budget, the nrl is sort of like India in cricket. They are the superpower and they have the money, so I wouldn’t worry - the nrl needs to take ownership of the global game and this might mean buying out the ESL. Having 2 worthy comps is better than 1

 

[Wb1234]

I think the issue is the cost of staging the events. The ESL is on a shoe string budget, the nrl is sort of like India in cricket. They are the superpower and they have the money, so I wouldn’t worry - the nrl needs to take ownership of the global game and this might mean buying out the ESL. Having 2 worthy comps is better than 1

Reality is nrl needs to be dominant in Australia nz and the pacific first before worrying about England

that’s a good ten years away

New Zealand is the big growth area super rugby is dieing

 

[titoelcolombiano]

He's tough AF, will be hard to replace.

It seems England are getting stronger in the spine and outside backs but over the past few years have lost some forwards that will be hard to replace.

It's a good point. England/GB traditionally have had some of the best forward packs in international RL. Will be interesting to see how they handle the Kiwi and Kangaroo packs moving forward

 

[Perth Red]

This is how far the game has regressed in England

Whilst conveniently forgetting the 43k turned out in Newcastle or the 40k who turned up in London to watch them play Samoa last year? Australia's reluctance to tour has sadly killed the ashes.

 

[Wb1234]

Whilst conveniently forgetting the 43k turned out in Newcastle or the 40k who turned up in London to watch them play Samoa last year? Australia's reluctance to tour has sadly killed the ashes.

Australia were literally there two years ago

and it still lost money

 

[Perth Red]

Australia were literally there two years ago

and it still lost money

It broke even after everyone got paid. And you know why it didnt make a profit, it was explained at the time re covid tickets sale refunds. Ashes tours and WC are not the same thing! Whens last time Australia actually toured UK and France?

But the original point still stands, bleating about crowds 30 years ago when they are near the same today is dumbest thing ever.

 

[Wb1234]

It broke even after everyone got paid. And you know why it didnt make a profit, it was explained at the time re covid tickets sale refunds. Ashes tours and WC are not the same thing! Whens last time Australia actually toured UK and France?

But the original point still stands, bleating about crowds 30 years ago when they are near the same today is dumbest thing ever.

English fans talk big when it comes to international rugby league until it’s time to open their wallets

seems like the consensus agrees with me

for samoa series it should be

one yokrkshire (Leeds)
Lancs (Wigan)
London (craven cottage or similar)

or Newcastle