RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP FINAL 2017 SO CLOSE Last-ditch ankle tap foils Watkins as shattered England go down fighting
BOYD CORDNER KALLUM WATKINS admits he thought he was clear of the defence before the ankle tap that cost England a World Cup.
The Leeds centre – his side’s main attacking threat all game – broke free of the Australian shackles with 14 minutes of an epic final left.
With Elliott Whitehead supporting on the inside Watkins looked certain to draw the full-back and put the second- rower away for an equalising try.
But Aussie three-quarter Josh Dugan produced a desperate, diving effort that clipped Watkins’ heels and grounded the England man.
It proved the decisive moment in a defence-dominated clash that left England’s gallant players shattered at the final hooter.
Devastated
Watkins said: “I’m just devastated. I thought I was away but just couldn’t keep my balance.
“I’m not even sure whether he got my ankle, the bottom of my studs or whatever.
“I had support and it was one of those where one of us would’ve scored.
“It was a huge opportunity and if he hadn’t ankle-tapped me it was a try for sure.
“We still had opportunities after that to get points but just couldn’t.”
Veteran Australian coach Wayne Bennett, whose future is now unclear as his two- year contract has expired, could not have asked for any more effort from his players.
To restrict a Kangaroos side that had racked up 204 points on their way to the final to just one try on home soil was a remarkable effort, but with the ball England just couldn’t find a way through.
Several times they forced the pass unnecessarily while attacking and wasted chances, while Australia took just one of theirs when back- rower Boyd Cordner forced his way over in the 15th minute. Both sides tore into each other for the remainder of the game but somehow a second try didn’t come. Watkins added: “It was a really, really tough game, a proper Test match, on the biggest stage. “It was really difficult for us but we battled so well, especially in that first half when we were under pressure quite a bit, and the start of the second. “Yo u get limited opportunities in international rugby, that’s why you have to execute them. “We did it at times with our plays but they defended really well. There’s a real mixture of emotions. It’s more quiet t han anything – j ust devastated at being so close.”
Among several heroic performances for England was prop James Graham who like most of his team-mates slumped to the floor in exhaustion at the end.
He said: “I thought the defence was through the roof from both teams.
Off the dial
“From a game speed perspective it was off the dial as far as I was concerned.
“You talk about a Test match – that tested us don’t worry about that.
“When you’re in a sporting contest like that and there’s two good teams going up against each other there’s got to be a winner and a loser.
“For us we were on the Follow us on Twwitwtewr.: @ losing side – we fought hard and just couldn’t manage to get over the line.”
Graham was one of several players to call for Bennett to stay in charge after the game.
Graham added: “I’d love Wayne to continue the job he’s doing, I think he’s been great for this group.
“We’ve come to Australia, away from home for seven weeks, and put in a performance like that where the game was on the line.
“For 80 minutes we were only one score away – he gets my nod.” lceosp.