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The home side's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a ruthless Australia as the tourists swept to a surprisingly comfortable victory in the opening Test of the rugby league Ashes series.

Shaun Wane’s team had talked at length about their motivation going into the first Ashes for over two decades, and they were certainly not short on endeavour at the famous stadium. However, in the crucial moments, it was the reigning title holders who displayed more composure in front of a record attendance for an series match in the United Kingdom of more than 60,000.

Outstanding Performance from Reece Walsh

Guided by an exceptional showing in attack and defence from club star Walsh, the Kangaroos were deserving and convincing victors in the opening Test of the three-game contest, meaning England must triumph at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday to sustain their aspirations of a first Ashes win since the 1970s.

England will have to be significantly improved with the ball if they are to achieve that. On multiple occasions in the opening period, the home team found themselves in promising positions but they were unable to cross for any tries. That was in large measure thanks to Reece Walsh, who pulled off two superb turnovers.

Key Moments of the Match

The initial occurred as Herbie Farnworth seemed certain to put Young in for what would have been the opening try, then Walsh denied Mikey Lewis as the break approached. By then, the Kangaroos had taken the lead as Reece Walsh himself finished a excellent play.

Cleary added the extras before adding a two-pointer on the stroke of the interval to establish a eight-point lead. It was a pivotal point, as was the score for Crichton shortly after the restart which made it fourteen to nil in favour of the Kangaroos. England now had to score three times and that seemed to stifle their drive.

Should there have been uncertainty about the winners, they were firmly put to bed with a quarter-hour to go. Munster's line break was supported by Crichton, who pushed past Jack Welsby for Australia’s third try.

That made it twenty to zero and there was further humiliation in the closing stages as Walsh finished another scintillating move, exploiting a tired and clearly exhausted English defense for his second.

Final Score and Looking Ahead

By then, home fans had begun to filter out and many missed Clark's late try, which at least prevented England finishing scoreless. Nonetheless, there are many issues for Wane to answer going into what is now a do-or-die match next Saturday.

• England: Full team lineup.
• Substitutes: Bench players.
• Tries: Clark.
• Conversion: Lewis.

• Australia: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Interchange: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
• Tries: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
• Goals: Cleary 5.