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George Williams Says England Will Be Different Ahead of Tonga World Cup Opener in Perth
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George Williams says England will be different ahead of Tonga opener. England driven by memory of 2022 semi-final loss.
England face Tonga
England captain George Williams said England will be "different" ahead of the Rugby League World Cup opener against Tonga in Perth on Saturday morning. Williams pointed to the "heart-breaking" 2022 Rugby League World Cup semi-final loss to Samoa, describing it as "the most difficult loss of my career to date" as England seek to reach the semi-final stage next month. England will play Tonga before meeting France and Papua New Guinea in the group stage, with Williams saying the opening clash will decide who progresses given only the top two advance from the combined six-team table.
England also face a late change to their starting line-up, with Luke Thompson replacing the absent Morgan Knowles, and Williams said Tonga are "a stacked team" packed with NRL talent. Williams added that England will be underdogs and said, "We know if we lose, we're under the pump straight away to make the semis" under the tournament's new format.
Underdog mindset
Williams framed the Tonga opener as a chance to embrace the underdog tag, telling reporters, "We'll be underdogs but we'll quite like that kind of brush on our head" as England prepare for humidity expected to be above 60% inside HBF Park.
Williams said the squad has learned from past setbacks, adding, "It does sit there. You can't hide away from what happened" after England's 2022 golden-point loss to Samoa.
Brian McDermott said England's selection was shaped by managing players after long flights and jet lag, telling media, "The temptation is to do too much soon" as preparations continued.
McDermott also explained the decision to pick Harry Smith at seven and keep George Williams at six, saying, "Mikey will bide his time and he will get a shot at some stage during the tournament, I'm sure."
The Guardian described the tournament's truncated format as putting England "in must-win territory from the start" against Tonga, with the opener in Perth carrying consequences for semi-final qualification.
What is at stake
England's World Cup campaign begins with the men's match in Perth, and the BBC said England's opener against Tonga comes after the withdrawal of Morgan Smithies through injury and the replacement of Morgan Knowles by Luke Thompson. The Guardian said England's opening game in Perth is "intriguing enough" because a slip-up could leave them relying on results elsewhere and "a favour from Samoa who beat them in the semis in 2022" to progress. Williams said England's approach will be physical but not a "mad expansive style of free-for-all," adding that England will "put some stuff in there that we've not done previously" as they try to win the big moments.
The Guardian reported that McDermott promised England will try to "do things differently" and quoted Williams saying, "The group have all bought into what he wants us to do" ahead of Tonga. England's schedule then turns to France and Papua New Guinea, and Williams said England must "do our job" starting with a win over Tonga to avoid being "under the pump" for semi-final qualification.