England boss Shaun Wane watched hat-trick man George Williams start his captaincy in style but insisted: “He didn’t deserve man-of-the-match!”
The Warrington stand-off, 28, took over from Sam Tomkins and was at his electric best as England destroyed hapless France. He toyed with their inexperienced opponents in an 11-try rout on his home ground. But Leeds winger Ash Handley was also brilliant. He’s had to wait a long time for his international debut but the 27-year-old made the most of his chance when it finally came.
Not only did he run in his own hat-trick of tries but he also created all of Williams’ treble. Wane - whose team will face Tonga in a three Test series this autumn - fielded a largely youthful side, handing out 13 debuts with one eye on the 2025 World Cup. After England’s first game since last year’s World Cup semi-final exit against Samoa, he said: “George was good. But I don’t think he deserved man of the match. He’s won enough!
“I thought one of the wingers deserved it. That’s the first time I’ve ever said that. I’ve been impressed with George, how he’s managed this week, how he’s spoken and developed into the leader he is. I had him when he was young at Wigan, was mute and wouldn’t speak.
“Ash (Handley) was good. I thought him and Matty Ashton both went really well on the wings on debut. It’s been a good week and a good performance. I’m really proud to see 13 young Englishmen debut like that. But we won't get carried away.
“My talk beforehand was all about Tonga and those guys today have put a good step forward towards that. I know we can get a lot stronger. That’s what excites me. This is a really, really young team with so many debuts. I’ve been really impressed with how they adapted.”
As soon as Williams sent in a chip for Handley’s fourth minute opener, it was one-way traffic. France did come up with some brutal defensive hits, full-back Tanguy Zenon levelling Wigan scrum-half Harry Smith at one point. But they were outclassed and still haven’t beaten England since 1981.
Wigan centre Jake Wardle needed treatment after smashing into advertising boards in the first half but he scored a debut try as did club-mate Ethan Havard. Smith finished with a try and nine goals while Warrington hooker Danny Walker and Wigan’s Kai Pearce-Paul also crossed, Williams slotting the last conversion.
Jack Welsby impressed after switching to full-back in Tomkins’ absence. He was one of only three survivors from the World Cup with Williams and Pearce-Paul while Ben Currie earned a recall. England have plenty of players to come back into contention for that Tonga series.
But Wane has been left with plenty to ponder given the quality of some of his young guns, many of whom have come through the England Knights’ system.
France boss Laurent Fraysinnous admitted: “It’s a nice, good reality check about where we are. The scoreboard is pretty tough. It’s a learning curve for a few kids. They need to play week in week out like all the England boys do in Super League. “We have some young players who either play in the French comp, Championship or two or three games in Super League in a season. They need more. We’ll take our medicine.”
