LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
In the lead-up to the Rugby League Ashes 2025, Brian Carney emphasizes that England must capitalize on their unique opportunity against the Kangaroos. His thoughts echo Mark Twain's sentiment: "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." Given the current circumstances, this matchup presents a significant chance for England.
According to reports from skysports.com, Australia will take the field at Wembley without several star players, including James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Payne Haas, Zac Lomax, and Xavier Coates-all regarded among the world's elite rugby athletes.
In contrast, England faces a relatively minor setback, missing only Matty Ashton and Victor Radley. This situation is a stark difference from the 2017 World Cup final, where England was without key figures like Josh Hodgson and Sean O'Loughlin, ultimately losing 0-6 in a tightly contested match.
Tomorrow, England will step onto Wembley strong and poised to play in front of a record Test crowd. While Australia boasts prominent stars such as Nathan Cleary, their supporting roster should not intimidate England.
England has cultivated a club-like environment within their squad over the last three years, with coach Shaun Wane relying on trusted players. This cohesion suggests that they will showcase effective combinations against an Australian team that has had limited time together, marking a significant contrast from the squad that claimed victory in last year's Pacific Championships.