England’s Rugby League World Cup campaign ended in shock as a 20-18 victory for Tonga over Samoa eliminated the Lions from the tournament. Despite securing a 34-12 win against Papua New Guinea on Friday, Brian McDermott’s side required Tonga to lose by more than 46 points to leapfrog Samoa on points difference. The narrow margin of victory for Tonga sealed England’s fate, forcing them to depart Australasia despite winning two of their three group matches.
Historic group-stage exit confirms as 30-point deficit proves insurmountable.
The elimination traces back to the opening fixture, where England suffered a 30-12 defeat at the hands of Tonga. Although a dominant 82-0 rout of France provided a significant points boost, it left the Lions with a 68-point gap to close against Samoa. With the final group match concluding in a low-scoring thriller, the mathematical impossibility of advancing became clear, marking the first time England has failed to reach the semi-finals in seven consecutive tournaments.
The result reshapes the bracket for the final four, setting up a gritty semi-final clash between Tonga and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Samoa will face Australia in a repeat of the 2022 final, a matchup that promises high intensity given the recent history between the two powerhouses. For England, the focus now shifts to a thorough review of their defensive lapses and strategic errors that led to this historic early exit.
Source: Sky Sports
