Rugby League World Cup 2022: Samoa’s title hopes hang by a threat after England thumping

Samoa are on a quarter-final collision course with Pacific rivals Tonga after a weak display in their World Cup opener against rampant hosts England.

Kangaroos and South Sydney star Cameron Murray.

Samoa’s Rugby League World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread after a disastrous 60-6 thumping at the hands of England heaped pressure on coach Matt Parish and his side full of bona fide NRL stars.

The World Cup is one day old but judging by events in Newcastle on Sunday, England are well and truly in the mix and Samoa are a rabble.

The host nation raced in 10 tries to one in a 60-6 victory as Victor Radley put in a man-of-the-match performance, Newcastle winger Dom Young and Canberra back-rower Elliott Whitehead helped themselves to doubles, and young half Jack Welsby put himself on the radar of cashed-up NRL clubs.

Dejected Samoan players were among the world cup favourites at the start of the tournament, but now their hopes are hanging by a thread. Picture: Getty Images

SAMOAN SHAMBLES

As good as England were, they were given a helping hand by Samoa. They came into the tournament with huge expectations following some big-name defections but produced a shambolic performance.

Their dismal display was exacerbated by injuries that have likely sidelined Tyrone May (dislocated hip), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (syndesmosis) and Braden Hamlin-Uele (calf) for the remainder of the tournament.

They dropped their bundle in the final 16 minutes, conceding six tries, including four while halfback Anthony Milford was in the sin bin.

Defiant Samoa coach Matt Parish is under-pressure, after the pacific nation struggled to live up to the hype. Picture: Getty Images.

It was schoolboy stuff, leaving Parish, who is leading the Pacific nation after surviving a player-led revolt to oust him from the job last year in favour of a coaching team comprised of Matthew and Andrew Johns and Sonny Bill Williams, to deny that they had given up once the game was out of reach.

“We had a man (Milford) in the sin bin, a second rower in the centre, one centre who was busted. So I definitely wouldn’t say that,” he said.

“We could play that game again tomorrow and it would be an entirely different result.”

TREACHEROUS PATH

Parish insisted it was premature to write his side off, although finishing second in their group would send them into a likely quarter-final against Pacific island neighbours and rivals, Tonga.

“As we have always said, we will build from this performance. It wasn’t a performance we wanted today but we still have a group of guys in there who are determined to do something this World Cup.

“Nothing has changed from that.”

Man of the match Victor Radley inspired England to their dominant win.

POMMY VICTOR

A penny for your thoughts now, Garry.

England legend Garry Schofield publicly rebuked the host nation over their decision to select Radley in their World Cup squad but the Sydney Roosters lock responded the only way he knows how — by helping inspire the land of his father’s birth to a remarkable win.

England has a new King. He plays for the Sydney Roosters, lives a stone’s throw from Bondi Beach, and speaks with a broad Aussie accent. He also bleeds red and white if this performance is anything to go by.

It was a bloodbath and while Radley didn’t score, he was involved in everything as he answered any questions over his commitment to the cause.

His decision to pledge his allegiance to England in honour of his family came as a shock but Radley did them proud as he contributed three try assists and won man of the match.

“I am not sure how I got player of the match - I am a bit embarrassed,” Radley said.

“Really, really stoked.”

Many of his English relatives - his father hails from Sheffield - were in the stands.

“I might go see them now,” Radley said.

“A lot of them came so I am really happy.”

Knights youngster Dominic Young starred in his England debut, scoring two tries against Samoa. Picture: Getty Images.

ENGLAND ROSE

Young, the towering Newcastle Knights winger, had no issue announcing his side’s intentions, declaring “we can win it”.

“I think we showed in that game that we can,” Young said. “Everyone was talking about how good the Samoa team was and we put 60 points on them.

Wane added: “I know nobody gave us a chance to win the game, but within our group there’s a really tight team spirit we have, we knew how we trained and knew what we could do.

“We enjoyed all that negativity, to be honest.

“Samoa are a very good team. You look at their individuals and who played in the NRL grand final, they are an outstanding team, and their attack wasn’t as good as it can be, but we defended well as well.”

Originally published as Rugby League World Cup 2022: Samoa’s title hopes hang by a threat after England thumping