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The home side's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a ruthless Australian side as the visitors secured a surprisingly comfortable win in the first match of the rugby league Ashes series.

Shaun Wane’s side had spoken effusively about their motivation going into the opening series for over two decades, and they were certainly not short on endeavour at Wembley. However, in the key instances, it was the reigning title holders who showed more calmness in front of a historic crowd for an series match in the UK of over sixty thousand spectators.

Brilliant Display from Reece Walsh

Led by an exceptional display in offense and defense from Brisbane Broncos’ Walsh, the Kangaroos were deserving and convincing winners in the first match of the three-match series, meaning England must triumph at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next weekend to keep alive their hopes of a series victory since the 1970s.

England will have to be significantly improved with the possession if they are to achieve that. On several instances in the opening period, the home team found themselves in promising positions but they were failed to score for any points. That was in large measure thanks to Walsh, who executed two wonderful turnovers.

Key Moments of the Game

The first came as Farnworth seemed destined to put Young in for what would have been the opening try, then Walsh stopped Lewis as half-time approached. By then, the Australians had gone ahead as Walsh himself completed a wonderful move.

Cleary converted before adding a two-pointer on the stroke of half-time to open up a two-score advantage. It was a significant moment, as was the score for Angus Crichton shortly after the resumption which made it fourteen to nil in favor of the visitors. England now had to cross the line thrice and that seemed to halt their momentum.

If there were any doubt about the winners, they were firmly put to bed with a quarter-hour to go. Cameron Munster’s half-break was backed up by Crichton, who pushed past Jack Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.

That made it 20-0 and there was added disappointment in the closing stages as Reece Walsh finished another scintillating move, exploiting a weary and clearly exhausted England defense for his second try.

Final Score and Outlook

By then, home fans had begun to leave early and many missed Clark's consolation, which at least prevented England finishing scoreless. However, there are plenty of questions for Wane to answer going into what is now a must-win match next weekend.

• England: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles.
• Substitutes: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.
• Try: Clark.
• Conversion: Lewis.

• Australia: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Bench: Reserves.
• Scores: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
• Goals: Cleary 5.