Three tries and three try-saving tackles for magic Makinson as England seal series

WAYNE BENNETT jokingly asked where the English game has been hiding Tommy Makinson after the winger’s stunning performance sealed a famous series win.

Australian Bennett admitted he knew little about Makinson before picking him to face New Zealand in Denver in June, where his eye-catching contribution thrust him on to the international stage.

That completed a remarkable comeback story for the 27-yearold, who has twice battled serious injuries that threatened his blossoming career.

Makinson’s story hit a new high at Anfield, as he first produced three try-saving tackles to keep battling England in a gripping contest, before scoring a sparkling hat-trick himself.

After last week’s two-point win in Hull, it means Bennett’s side have already completed a series triumph over a team that beat world champions Australia last month, with Sunday’s

Elland Road finale still to come.

And while the veteran Australian had huge contributions across his committed side, there was little doubt who was the star performer, not least because those defensive contributions kept England in the game.

Bennett said: “We weren’t getting too much ball, nothing was going for us and we were hanging in there.

“Tommy defended great out there and so did Jake Connor.

“They played great together, the tide turned for us turned for us because we didn’t let the scoreboard get away.”

Bennett said in the aftermath of the opening win in Hull that this is an England side the country can be proud of, and it could not have been illustrated clearer than here.

Despite at times looking physically out-muscled by a determined Kiwis team, they stood shoulder-to-shoulder throughout a bruising clash and defended superbly.

Centre Connor proved an outstanding three-quarter partner for Makinson,

providing a stunning flick pass for one of his tries, and making it four in four internationals himself amid England’s second-half stampede.

In the pack, Luke Thompson, John Bateman and Elliott Whitehead stood tall against their bigger opponents, while hooker Josh Hodgson provided a combination of creativity and grit.

England could have folded both when the excellent Dallin Watene-Zelezniak sliced over in the first half and then when he helped build an eight-point lead by creating a try for Ken Maumalo in the second.

But Makinson’s first – from a George Williams cut-out pass – kept the home side in the game and they finished much the stronger.

Connor laid on his second, then he touched down after smart work from Hodgson and Whitehead, before Makinson cut through a tiring defence for the winner.

Man of the match Makinson said: “The tries were pretty good, but the work was done by the pretty special boys I have around me.

“I’m not the biggest, but I put my heart on the line every time.”