2025 Rugby League Ashes, First Test
England v Australia
Saturday 25 October 2025
Wembley Stadium, London
The Kangaroos were comfortable winners over England in the First Test at London’s famous Wembley Stadium last Sunday morning (Australian time).
Much of the most match comment focused on the English team’s performance, and the apparent gulf between the two teams, particularly in defence.
The consensus pointed to Australia still having much more room for improvement, whilst England were criticised for a lack of intensity in both attack and defence.
Shane Wane, the England coach, lamented his side’s poor showing as the media questioned several of his selections, particularly the absence of the Gold Coast Titans player AJ Brimson, who was in his tracksuit as eighteenth man for this fixture.
A team where NRL journeyman John Bateman is a starting second rower for England perhaps sums up the depth of the game in Australia in comparison to the UK Super League.
Jack Welsby, the England fullback, did have an unhappy game, although he was certainly not alone in that group.
Meanwhile, for the Kangaroos, it was difficult to notice a below par player. For Kevin Walters, in his first game as the national coach, it was a dream start.
No wonder ‘Kevvie’, a former five-eighth, was grinning from ear to ear: a team where the ‘spine’ consisted of his Broncos superstar Reece Walsh, Origin hero Cameron Munster, the multiple premiership winner Nathan Cleary, as well as Harry Grant at hooker, surely would be a wonderful team to coach!
In my last piece, I wrote about the mighty Invincibles, the undefeated 1982 Kangaroo tourists. After six lead up games on that epic tour, including a match against Wales, the invincibles won the First Test at Hull, 40-4.
The class of 1986 won the First Test of that undefeated tour 38-16 at Old Trafford, having played five lead up games.
Back to Wembley, Australia cruised to this win, two tries to the electric Reece Walsh, who also had a great game in defence, as well as two tries to back rower Angus Critchon. Nathan Cleary five from five with the boot … a very neat looking scoreboard!
Whilst it is great to admire this 2025 Kangaroos team playing so well, it would be great to see a more competitive England side in the remaining two Test matches.
England scored what could only be described as a consolation try in the 75th minute. Andrew Moore made his much-anticipated return to commentary this weekend for the ABC for the Pacific Championships. If Andrew was commentating this match, he would have called ‘game, set, bingo’ long before this passage of play…possibly even at half-time.
From the South Sydney viewpoint, Keon Koloamatangi, having previously represented Tonga, made his Kangaroos debut off the bench.
It is on to Everton for the Second Test this weekend, with Harry Grant as Kangaroos captain. Isaah Yeo is unavailable due to concussion protocols.
Australia 26 defeated England 6
Australia: tries Walsh 21’, Critchon 44’ and 64’, Walsh 70’ goals: Cleary 5/5
England: tries: Clark 75’, goals Lewis 1/1
Penalties: Australia 4-3
Half-time: Australia 8-0
Referee: L Moore (Wigan)
Attendance 60, 812
England: Welsby, Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone, Williams, Lewis, Havard, Clark, Lee, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles. Bench: Little, Walmsley, Trout, McMeekan. Coach: Shane Wane
Australia: Walsh, Nawaqanitawase, Shibasaki, Staggs, Atto-Carr, Munster, Cleary, Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Critchton, Young, Yeo (capt.) bench: Dearden, Cotter, Collins, Koloamatangi
Coach: Kevin Walters
Highlights
2025 Ashes | England v Kangaroos | Match Highlights | 1st Test
Rabbit in the Vineyard player of the series points:
3 Walsh (Australia)
2 Crichton (Australia)
1 Grant (Australia)
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About Russel Hansen
Russel Hansen Has worked in schools for over thirty years – as a teacher, coach, coach educator, sports coordinator and in pastoral care roles. Whilst at Brisbane Boys’ College as Director of Athletics, he led teams to six GPS premierships in track and field, and cross country. He has coached (athletics) at all levels from school to international. His squad at the University of Queensland (to January 2023) included Lachlan Kennedy OLY, Paris 4x100m relay runner, Australian record holder. He is married to Heidi, a Primary school principal, and is father to two adult daughters. Twitter: @Russel_Hansen
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‘Meanwhile, for the Kangaroos, it was difficult to notice a below par player.’ – and therein lies the tale, RITV. Yes, they might have been a bit rusty in their execution but their endeavour and energy made the Chooms look very ordinary.
Can England do something better this week? They can’t be much worse!
exactly, Ian!
I am not sure if the England team has been named yet – seriously, if Bateman is a starting second rower again – really?
Farnworth is surely their ‘go to’ player? and what of AJ Brimson?
Watching the game it always looked like Australia played well within themselves and it is difficult to see Australia being troubled. RITV must surely be happy with the Fifita signing?? Can Wayne extract anything from this enigma? Anyway I’m on the path to Melbourne for Derby and Cup days – Gggggiddy Up!
Prop:
South Sydney have managed to sign a player who plays fewer minutes than Cody, and BLM (to quote Ian Hauser!)
Add Fifita to Wayne’s long list of challenges … didn’t work with Schuster
South Sydney need ‘middles’ as we call them these days
I hope I am completely wrong and things turn around