The English Ashes Ambitions Conclude with Stark 'Wake-Up Call'

As stated by skipper George Williams, the national team were delivered a stark "reality check" as the Kangaroos secured the Rugby League Ashes.

Australia's decisive 14-4 win at the stadium in Liverpool on Saturday gave them a commanding series edge, making the upcoming sold-out third Test a academic contest.

The national squad had come into the series holding aspirations of inflicting Australia to their maiden Ashes setback since over five decades ago.

In the past two years, they had enjoyed a clean sweep over the Tongan side and a success over the Samoan team. But as the Rugby League Ashes returned after a two-decade hiatus, England were failed to advance further against the reigning title holders.

"No excuses from us. There were enough training periods to get it right on the pitch, and I don't think we've achieved that," Williams stated.

"Credit to Australia. They proved good defensively. But we've got plenty to work on. It seems not as good as we believed we were entering this series.

"So it's a valuable lesson for us, and we have plenty to develop."

The Kangaroos 'Show Up and Are Ruthless'

After being heavily outplayed in an mistake-ridden performance at Wembley, England's were markedly enhanced on Saturday back in the rugby league heartlands of England's north.

In an inspiring opening period, the home side caused turnovers from the Australians and had dominant territory and possession, but unfortunately did not capitalize on the scoreboard.

Significantly, England have now managed just one try over two full matches, with player the forward scoring late on in the defeat in London.

Conversely, the Kangaroos have accumulated half a dozen in two games - and when errors began to creep into the England's play just after the interval, it was a case of inevitability, they were going to be severely punished.

First the playmaker scored, and then so too did Hudson Young. From being level at four-all, England were trailing by 10.

"Proud for the majority of the game. I thought for 70 minutes we were competitive," said the coach.

"The lapse for a brief period after half-time hurt us severely. Munster's try was soft and should never happen in a top-level game.

"The team is deeply disappointed. Extremely pleased the squad had a dig but very frustrated with that second-half lapse, which proved costly significantly."

While the upcoming global tournament in Oceania is just under a year from now, the team's immediate focus will be on trying to regain respect, preventing a series whitewash and eradicating the mistakes that irritated Wane.

"I hoped to see more thrown at Australia. My aim was us to maintain momentum in the game - we didn't do that last week," added the 61-year-old.

"We did this week. The issue is a bit of detail in our offensive play where we could have applied under increased strain. It's essential to defend both [tries] more effectively.

"Fair play to the Kangaroos - that is not a criticism to them. They turn up and are merciless when they get a chance, and we failed to be, but defensively we must do improve.

"The Australians will be determined to win 3-0 and we need to be obsessed to make it 2-1. I've told that to the players. It has to be our main aim. It's going to be a challenging week but whoever strives for it the most will get the win next week."

Intensity Needs to Improve in Super League

The English side have participated in a similar number of Test matches to the Kangaroos since the last World Cup in recent years.

Yet the coach thinks that the caliber of the NRL - and level of the State of Origin matches between New South Wales and QLD - deliver a more effective grounding for competing at the highest level of the international game than what is on offer in the UK.

Wane noted that the packed Super League calendar left no time for him to coach his players during the campaign, which will only pose more issues around how the national team can narrow the difference to Australia before heading to Oceania in the next World Cup.

"They participate in a large number of Test matches in their league," Wane stated.

"We have ten to fifteen a year. It's crucial highly competitive games to enhance the competition and improve our prospects of succeeding in these sorts of games.

"It was impossible to even practice with the squad. There was no chance to got on the field in the campaign and I had the complete support of all clubs in the domestic competition.

"I understand in the shoes of the head coaches that must to win games. The competition is that packed. It's a pity but that's not the cause we lost today."