Kangaroos Dominate England in Ashes Series Opener at Wembley
Australia’s Kangaroos have made a powerful statement in the return of the Rugby League Ashes, crushing England 26–6 at Wembley Stadium to take a 1–0 lead in the series. In front of a record crowd of more than 60,000 fans, the Kangaroos were in complete control from start to finish, with young fullback Reece Walsh stealing the show on his Test debut.
Walsh, who scored twice and saved two more tries, looked unstoppable. His pace, sharp decision-making, and fearless defence gave Australia the edge throughout. “I’m probably happier with the two tries I stopped than the two I scored,” he said afterward — a humble reflection from the player who was later named man of the match.
England entered the match full of confidence, talking up their chances of ending Australia’s long-standing dominance. But once the game kicked off, the difference in class became clear. The Kangaroos’ forwards, led by Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Angus Crichton, simply overpowered the English pack. One of the biggest hits of the game came from Fa’asuamaleaui in the opening minute, a crunching tackle that seemed to drain England’s fight before the contest had really begun.
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Crichton, who crossed for two tries, was another standout. His first came through a clever left-foot step that left England’s defence watching helplessly, while his second was the result of slick teamwork between Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster, and Tom Dearden — all combining in vintage Australian style.
England’s only moment of joy came late in the game when Daryl Clark muscled over for a consolation try. Even then, it was too little, too late. England coach Shaun Wane admitted his side “didn’t give ourselves a chance to win,” adding that they looked “a bit apprehensive” throughout the match.
For much of the first half, Australia weren’t even at their fluent best. There were handling errors and some clumsy plays, but England failed to capitalize. When Walsh scored the opening try — after what looked like a missed forward pass — Australia took an 8–0 lead into halftime. From there, it was one-way traffic.
By the time Walsh sliced through for his second try, the crowd had already begun to accept what was happening: the Kangaroos were on another level. Munster, reflecting on the performance, said the team “got a bit lucky” at times but emphasized that both sides would need to lift for the second Test.
That second match will be played in Liverpool, followed by the series finale in Leeds — both already sold out. England will need a massive turnaround to keep the series alive, but for now, it’s Australia who hold all the momentum, with Reece Walsh and the green-and-gold machine setting the tone for what could be another dominant Ashes campaign.
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