PERTH — Brian McDermott remains confident he can correct the mistakes that undermined England's opening match at the Rugby League World Cup, though questions linger over whether adjustments can arrive in time to save their tournament campaign.
England suffered a 30-12 defeat against Tonga in their opening fixture in Perth, leaving them under pressure in the combined Group B-C table. Tonga capitalized on key handling errors and indiscipline, with tries including a decisive effort by Tolutau Koula off a kick from Tui Lolohea, while conversions from Isaiya Katoa further stretched the lead.
McDermott insists the underlying errors are fixable following the loss. However, with the tournament structured around a competitive six-team pool where only the top two advance to the semi-finals, England face a narrow window to recover as they prepare for their remaining group fixtures against France and Papua New Guinea.