In 1982 the Kangaroos came to the UK and made history. They were both the first Australian side to win the Ashes series 3-0 and go through a tour undefeated, winning 22 matches in a row and averaging 45.6 points per game. They dazzled the English public not just with their skill, speed and size, but their pure footballing brilliance. Historians and authors have written that they “changed rugby forever”. They were rugby league gods.
Fast forward 43 years and swap Mal Meninga, Wally Lewis and Peter Sterling for Reece Walsh, Cameron Munster and Nathan Cleary. Yes, these modern-day Aussies haven’t dominated anywhere near the same extravagant fashion as their predecessors four decades ago. Yes, this green and gold side isn’t as stacked in every position as the Kangaroos were back then. You could safely argue no team has ever been. But they still return home with a 3-0 whitewash and having won hearts and minds on and off the field, winning plaudits for their engagement with fans and media in England.
As a charm offensive, as part of the NRL’s mission to go global, it is a win. Social media has been set alight. Locals have swooned for Walsh’s green eyes and pink shorts. The depressed English market, shorn of big names and stars for many a year, has been rejuvenated. And that will matter more in the long run than the outcome of 80 minutes on the pitch, which hasn’t always been of the highest quality.
But tell that to the Australia coach, Kevin Walters. With his contract ending at the completion of this Ashes series, the rumblings down under are that only a whitewash would do if Walters was to take the team to next year’s World Cup.
The 58-year-old showed his resolve by deciding against giving the likes of Mitchell Moses and Dylan Edwards a run in this dead-rubber third Test. With the Ashes already back again in Aussie hands, Walters could have rotated his squad and many had called for it in NRL-land. But the former Brisbane Broncos coach stuck solid, with only the captain, Isaah Yeo, returning from concussion and Lindsay Smith making way. Walters needed a clean sweep to keep his job and he was keenly aware of it.
The Kangaroos might have won the first two Tests, but they never got out of second gear at Wembley or Hill Dickinson Stadium. We hadn’t seen the best of them yet, witnessed what the likes of Walsh and Cleary do for Brisbane and Penrith on a weekly basis. As Andrew Johns said at a speaking event in Keighley nearly 24 hours before the third Test: “Australia’s been a six out of 10 in this series. I think they’ve played within themselves.”
And so to Headingley. The Ashes returned to English rugby league’s spiritual home, an intimate ground more akin to Leichhardt or Brookvale Oval. The noises coming out of the Aussie camp before kick-off were to keep the pressure on England. Make it 3-0 like the greats of the past. Put on a show.
The Kangaroos displayed their intent in their first set. They shifted the ball twice instead of the customary first hit-up. Thirty seconds later they almost scored, after Harry Grant broke down the middle, but his kick was cleaned up by AJ Brimson. Still the message was clear. Entertain.
It took merely five minutes for Munster to find Josh Addo-Carr with a floating cut-out pass for an easy opening try. England responded and camped themselves in the Australian half. But like in the second Test, all the good ball in the world is pointless if you don’t do anything with it.
Australia punished another English error with a second Munster-created try, this time a sumptuous grubber for Hudson Young to dive on. 12-0 with 27 minutes gone and some feared a cricket score, which was convenient considering Headingley’s location.
England had other ideas. Jez Litten, playing the Ben Stokes role, darted up the middle and smartly kicked for George Williams to touch down. It was only England’s second try in the entire series, but it was a vital one. The stadium erupted and the Kangaroos went into half-time 12-8 ahead, disappointed not to have a bigger buffer.
Australia had shown glimpses but never cut loose. The second half started with what looked to be another Addo-Carr four-pointer, set up by another Munster kick, though England were saved by the winger straying offside. Errors followed from the Kangaroos, inviting England back into the contest. Again it was the outstanding green and gold defence, not their attack, which saved their bacon repeatedly.
England had set after set on the Aussie line, and tempers flared repeatedly. The locals loved it. But the scoreboard wasn’t troubled. On 62 minutes the ruck parted like the Red Sea and Grant gleefully exploited it: 18-8 and Headingley fell silent. All that was left was delivering the last rites, courtesy of two late Walsh tries, to blow the score out as Britain’s 19-year wait for any victory over the Kangaroos rolls on.
The postmortem for England, and their coach Shaun Wane, after this series won’t be pretty. It might also not be so sweet for Walters. But regardless, after 22 years the Ashes is back and the rugby league world is much better for it. Now, to make sure it doesn’t go into exile again.
