All is not lost for England but Shaun Wane needs to be bold in second Test

All is not lost for England but Shaun Wane needs to be bold in second Test

Briefly

"Having bet the house on Hull KR hero Mikey Lewis being the problem that Australia could not solve, England coach Shaun Wane has retreated home to Wigan to ponder whether he should have stuck rather than twisted. Dropping Harry Smith for the Ashes opener, and favouring treble-winner Lewis to partner captain George Williams in the halves, was surprising but understandable. Lewis, the player of the match in the Super League Grand Final, was in the form of his life."

"Our last plays disappointed me most, said Wane after the 26-6 defeat at Wembley. They outkicked us. It's rare anyone outkicks Wigan player Smith. Lewis mixed up his kicks under the arch, but very little troubled Australia. The best attacking kick was a 40-20 from replacement hooker Jez Litten when England trailed by three scores. Even then, Williams fumbled close to the line and five seconds later Reece Walsh had got to the halfway line."

"Williams played the role Tyrone May has done so successfully for Hull KR this year, defending on the right and almost always with Lewis to his left, but roaming across the field probing for gaps. There were not many to be found at Wembley. Williams and Lewis combined directly more than most halfback pairs do these days half a dozen times in the first half alone but they did not create any of the dazzling moments that dissect Super League defences."