Rugby League World Cup 2026: England will relish underdog tag against Tonga - BBC Sport
BBC Sport
England will embrace the role of underdog when they face Tonga in their World Cup opener in Perth on Saturday, according to captain George Williams.
They have a strong history against the Pacific Islanders, having defeated them 3-0 in a Test series at home three years ago, and also secured victory in a dramatic World Cup semi-final in Auckland in 2017. However, England have suffered a blow with the injury withdrawal of Morgan Smithies, leading to a late change in their starting line-up, with Luke Thompson replacing the absent Morgan Knowles.
With high humidity expected, Williams anticipates a challenging encounter against a Tonga side that has evolved since 2023 and boasts NRL talent.
"Tonga are a stacked team. They have been for a few years now," Williams stated. "We'll be underdogs but we'll quite like that kind of brush on our head and we'll bring our game... against a great team."
Rugby League World Cup
15 October - 15 November
Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand
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Figure caption:
George Williams, England captain, reflects on his third Rugby League World Cup.
England's World Cup history includes heart-wrenching defeats, such as a golden-point loss to Samoa in 2022 and a 6-0 loss to Australia in the 2017 final. Williams, who was part of those squads and captained England during their 3-0 loss to Australia in 2025, emphasized that past experiences will not hinder the current team.
"I don't think it hinders us," he added. "Some of the lads were talking about the last World Cup and it was probably one of the most difficult losses of my career to date. It does sit there. You can't hide away from what happened but what it can do is give you drive and motivation..."