Having retained the World Cup with a typically ruthless display, two-try Australia star Latrell Mitchell fired: “Now let’s face England.”
The swashbuckling centre featured as Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos swept to a record-extending 12th tournament success at Old Trafford. Huge underdogs Samoa, the first Pacific nation to play in a World Cup final, put up a valiant fight but couldn’t live with their rivals’ intensity. However, the World Cup came and went without Australia even facing England with the old rivals still having not clashed since the Kangaroos edged the 2017 World Cup decider in Brisbane.
Shaun Wane’s side’s shock semi-final exit against Samoa ended those hopes. There is nothing yet firmed up for Australia in the international calendar for 2023 while all England know is they’ll face France in April. A planned Ashes series here in 2020 was axed due to Covid and fans and players alike would love to see that happen next year.
