| England (12) 24 |
| Tries: Farrell 2, Knowles, Davies Goals: Ratchford 4 |
| Combined All Stars (14) 26 |
| Tries: Sio 2, Mata’utia, McGillvary Goals: Sezer 3 Pens: Sezer 2 |
Shaun Wane said his players need “to be a bit smarter” as his tenure as England boss began in disappointment with a 26-24 defeat by the Combined All Stars.
Appointed in February 2020, Wane finally took charge for the first time.
But Ken Sio and Peter Mata’utia crossed for the All Stars – in between Liam Farrell’s double – for a 14-12 lead.
Jermaine McGillvary and Sio’s second extended the lead and, although debutants Morgan Knowles and Tom Davies responded, it was not enough.
“I thought they played well,” Wane said. “There’s no excuses. We could have won that game, no question. We just needed to be a bit smarter. But I’m proud of the team.”
Three-time Super League winner Wane replaced Australian Wayne Bennett and was supposed to oversee an Ashes Test series against Australia last autumn, but it was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It meant he has had to wait 16 months to…
