To count cost of win
alongside the calibre of players I did was really enjoyable. It’s very disappointing to be going home today and I was hoping it was a long tour ahead of us and some really good fun.’’
It’s another headache for the Sea Eagles, whose star centre Dylan Walker suffered a distressing leg injury which could sideline him from the first month of the NRL season.
Kaufusi and Campbell-Gillard will jostle for a spot in the 17 for the crunch games later in the tournament. Both are yet to receive their first cap for the green and golds.
Meninga indicated he would play all seven of his squad who didn’t feature against England – barring Ben Hunt who is due to get married – in the clash against France in Canberra next weekend.
And England will be also picking up the pieces of a brutal World Cup opener, with Sam Burgess struggling to be fit to take any further part in the tournament after suffering a medial ligament injury to his knee.
Josh Dugan’s late 80-metre dash after scooping up a loose kick from Gareth Widdop iced the win, but he was visibly frustrated earlier in the half when he was dragged from the field for a concussion test after a head clash with England fullback Jonny Lomax. Dugan was embroiled in head injury assessment drama earlier in the year when he was asked to leave the field in a match against the Bulldogs under the slow-to-stand protocols. ‘‘I think I was a bit stunned and I just tried to get up too quick,’’ Dugan said.
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea have routed Wales 50-6 in a historic Rugby League World Cup match in Port Moresby.
The Kumuls were far too slick and physical for the visitors yesterday in front of 14,800 frenzied fans at the National Football Stadium.
The match was marred by biting allegations from Welsh players against prop Stanton Albert in the first half.
Cummins then placed the incident on report, with Albert likely to miss PNG’s next pool game against Ireland on November 5 if the judiciary rules against him. The Sun-Herald