NRL supremo Phil Gould has called out the England side for a worrying display in the first Ashes Test in 22 years having suggested Shaun Wane needs to get snubbed star AJ Brimson into the staring side. The Kangaroos, led by a brilliant Reece Walsh, dominated a lacklustre England side with the hosts outplayed in a 26-6 win at Wembley.
Walsh was too dynamic for the England side having carved them open on a number of occasions with the Kangaroos getting accustomed to the slower ruck speed in the first-half. But commentator and former Origin coach Gould was critical of England and felt the Kangaroos were below their best in a worrying sign for the hosts next week.
NRL supremo Phil Gould (pictured) has called out the England side for a worrying display in the first Ashes Test in 22 years with calls for Shaun Wane to select AJ Brimson next week after Jake Welsby’s (pictured right) shock moment. (Images: Getty Images/Channel Nine)
And he also called for coach Wane to select Brimson in the starting side after watching Jack Welsby struggle in the No.1 jersey. With the Kangaroos running away with the game, Gould said: “I think the halves have been really quiet and the fullback virtually non-existent.”
And he then turned his attention to Wane leaving out Brimson. Welsby was wearing the No.1 for England, but was suffocated at the back thanks to the kicking of Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster.
Welsby finished the game with just 65 metres after 13 runs. And one horror moment in defence just about summed up the difference between the two teams. Munster put Angus Crichton through the line with the second-rower running towards the try line from 20 metres out.
Crichton had options to his left, but realised Welsby was so far back he was only a few metres off the try line. And Crichton opted to just cruise to the line with Welsby clearly unaware of his position. This allowed the Australian second-rower to score one of the easiest tries of his career.
The moment left fans absolutely baffled. And it also prompted Gould to question whether it was a mistake from Wane to leave out Brimson from the side. “Well they are going to have to put the Gold Coast boy in there, and find another spot for him,” Gould said after it was mentioned Welsby had been shut out of the game.
Angus Crichton scored his first try after some puzzling defence from Jake Welbsy. (Image: Channel Nine)
Brimson has played fullback for Queensland in State of Origin, but opted to make the switch to England for this series. This meant he gave up his opportunity of playing Origin again.
While many thought Brimson would be selected, he was only picked as 18th man for the clash. And fans agreed suggesting England need a change in the No.1 jersey heading into the second clash, which is now a must-win for the hosts.
Phil Gould critical of England performance
Speaking while Australia were dominating the game, Gould suggested he feared the outcome could get worse for England. “I didn’t really expect any better. I had hoped for better. I hoped they would rise for the occasion. They haven’t, they have been overwhelmed,” Gould said during Channel Nine commentary.
“Hopefully England learn a lot from this game as well.” Gould pointed out England only have seven days to turn around this performance, which doesn’t leave Wane a lot of time to make adjustments. But the coach wasn’t too concerned having suggested the team ‘tormented’ themselves.
AJ Brimson’s decision to turn back on Origin vindicated
Brimson’s switch to England was a talking point ahead of the game. The 27-year-old has played four State of Origin games for Queensland across his career, and helped the Maroons win the series in 2023. But his decision to switch to England means he’s banned from playing Origin again because Engald are a Tier-1 nation (along with Australia and New Zealand).
Players who represent Pacific nations like Samoa or Tonga are still eligible for Origin because they’re deemed Tier-2 nations. Brimson’s father is Australian and mother is English, and he will now hope to get a game next week.
Reece Walsh (pictured left) was too good for the English at Wembley.