Mal: I want Kangaroos to tour England

MAL MENINGA wants the all-conquering australians to return to England for an ashes series by 2024 after winning their third consecutive World Cup. the Kangaroos, who beat Samoa 30-10 at old trafford on Saturday to be crowned champions for a 12th time, have not played England for five years and their last ashes was against Great Britain in 2003. they were due to tour here in 2020 before it was cancelled because of Covid and there is now talk of another series in the year before the 2025 World Cup in France. asked if he will bring his side to England within the next two years, meninga said: ‘Hopefully,

yes. absolutely. We need the schedule to be discussed and to work towards. ‘International Rugby league have a sit down before the end of the year and hopefully we have some sort of schedule organised.

‘this whole tournament was excellent and it just shows where the international game is going. I am looking forward to the decision-makers making our next decision about where we go to.’ australia came into this tournament having not played an international since 2019. But this was their ninth win in the last 10 World Cups — and meninga believes they should be regarded as one of the greatest international sides in sport.

‘If you go back to the 1970s, we have got a 90 per cent winning record,’ he added. ‘It’s been a dominant time, but this is only the beginning for this team.’