England Face Uncertain World Cup Preparation After Ashes Whitewash
After waiting 22 years for a rugby league Ashes series, England fans had hoped that playing at home would give their team a chance against Australia. However, the series ended in a whitewash, exposing the clear gap between the two teams.
The first back-to-back Ashes series whitewash since 1986 was confirmed with a decisive 30-8 Australian victory in the final test at Headingley on Saturday, where England again showed significant inferiority.
During the match, England supporters directed chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" towards coach Shaun Wane, with the Rugby League World Cup scheduled for next year.
"I don't believe, I know I am (the right man to lead England into the Rugby League World Cup)," Wane told reporters. "The only people who I want on my side are the players and the staff and I know I've got that. I'll do a report on the series and what my thoughts are and sit down with people at the RFL."
"They want to make it better, they don't like us losing. So we have to and must be better for the World Cup next year."
There is a stark contrast between domestic rugby leagues in Australia and England. The National Rugby League (NRL) is one of the most popular sports in Australia, breaking records with high revenues and TV viewership.
In comparison, the English Super League lags behind, with interest limited to regional areas and lower TV revenues. The funding each Super League club receives has dropped in recent years, with the competition’s TV deal falling from £40 million to approximately £21 million this year.
Author's summary: England's rugby league team faces a challenging road to recovery after a heavy Ashes defeat, highlighting the disparity with Australia's stronger domestic and international rugby structures.
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