Shaun Wane is still “tortured” by England’s failure to win last year’s Rugby League World Cup as a three-match Test series with Tonga this autumn looks likely to be the first major step to the next tournament in 2025 for his side.
Defeat by Samoa in a dramatic golden point semi-final in London last November ensured the hosts missed out on a first World Cup final on home soil for almost 30 years. Wane agreed a contract extension with the Rugby Football League in February through to the next tournament in France in three years, but he admits last year’s missed opportunity still haunts him to this day.
“I won’t get over that for a long time,” Wane said on Wednesday. “It really impacted me, the way we lost, and it will do for a few months yet. The competition was the best six weeks of my life but the way we finished was so disappointing. We’ve analysed everything, starting with me, and it still tortures me to this day.”
England will play France in a mid-season Test next month but Wane’s first big test post-World Cup could well be a home series against Tonga, with the RFL set to confirm a three-match series in the coming weeks.
Newcastle and London are potential venues for at least one of the games as the RFL looks to build on encouraging crowds in both cities during the World Cup. “As far as I’m aware it’s not set in stone or done yet, but it more than likely will be happening,” England’s head coach said. “With so many people supporting it, it is going to get better and hopefully we’re going to have more fixtures set in stone moving forwards.”
With a large portion of England’s World Cup squad over the age of 30, Wane hinted that he will use the fixtures against France and Tonga as a chance to refresh his playing group with younger stars. That could mean call-ups for players such as the St Helens half-back, Lewis Dodd, and the talented Leeds centre, Harry Newman.
“It’ll be a younger squad and it’ll be with 2025 in mind,” Wane said. “I picked some players over 30 in the World Cup and they did a fantastic job, so it won’t be a complete clearout but I’m looking at players who are 22 or 23 who could play a big part for us in the next World Cup.”
One player who will not be involved in 2025 is Sam Tomkins, who captained England at last year’s tournament. He will retire at the end of this season and while Wane refused to confirm whether Tomkins’ decision meant he had effectively retired from England duty, he did hint that the France fixture would provide an opportunity for younger players to shine.
“I’ve too much respect for Sam [to retire him],” Wane said. “I’ll have some influence on what happens but 2025 is a fair way off, and Sam understands that.”
