Reece Walsh dazzled, Isaah Yeo lasted seven minutes and a pair of England stars — and the video referee — impressed in the first Ashes Test.
The Kangaroos are on the brink of winning the first Ashes series since 2003 thanks to victory at Wembley, where they were much too good for England in prevailing 26-6.
Here are the big talking points.
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REECE WALSH’S ASTONISHING SPREE CONTINUES — AND THE CHEEK
A few months ago, Reece Walsh was still firmly in the ‘erratic mega-talent yet to fulfil his insane potential’ category.
That seems forever ago. The Broncos, Maroons and now Kangaroos fullback has spun the rugby league world on its head by winning the NRL premiership, Clive Churchill Medal and now man of the match honours on Test debut — all with some of the most breathtakingly brilliant individual form we have ever seen on a rugby league field.
Walsh called it “surreal” to be appearing for Australia at Wembley. His selection for the Test was entirely warranted on form but still slightly contentious, given that the ultra-reliable Dylan Edwards held the jersey after playing a leading role in Penrith’s four consecutive premierships.
But Walsh now looks like having a mortgage on the Kangaroos No.1 for the next 5-10 years, barring a major form slump. Still just 23, he should only get better — which is rather terrifying.
He was at his breakneck best in the final hour of play against England, overcoming a somewhat quiet start to unleash his trademark kamikaze running and incisive passing. Two tries later, he had announced himself on the world stage and left 60,000 fans at Wembley in awe. The gigantic swan dive for the first try was pure Walsh.
“Can you believe what has just happened? Reece Walsh, off the back of one of the greatest grand final performances of all time … he’s made a dusty start to the Test, he then comes up with that try and scores it with that dive,” match commentator Andrew Voss said on Fox League. “He gets your attention.
“He just did what he would have done in his backyard, and he’s done it at Wembley in his first Test.”
Reece Walsh scores his incredible first Test try.Source: AP
Tellingly, as a player who intent on improving despite his lairish public profile, Walsh was most pleased with two try-saving plays in the first half against England.
“That goes a long way to getting the result tonight,” he said.
Sometimes guilty of slacking off in defence, Walsh’s try-saving efforts were also a huge feature of his grand final performance and speak to a talent for whom the sky is the limit. From here, he could launch a truly mighty career.
Aside from the highlights, he produced one bizarre moment for which he was lucky not to be penalised, or even sin-binned. Shortly after his first try, he grabbed the jersey of England centre Herbie Farnworth off the ball as Josh Addo-Carr returned a kick, ragdolling him to the ground.
“I don’t know if I’ve seen a defender ragdolled before!” Voss said. “That’s outrageous! How’d you get away with that?”
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Man of the match Reece Walsh during a lap of honour — minus his shorts.Source: Getty Images
WHAT NOW AFTER ISAAH YEO HIA DISASTER?
Champion lock Isaah Yeo’s Ashes series was just seven minutes and 35 seconds old when he clashed heads with England winger Dom Young, sending him off for an HIA. He was ruled out with a category 1 concussion and will also miss the second Test.
So — what now?
Harry Grant captained the side in Yeo’s absence, and did so with typical aplomb. Unless coach Kevin Walters wants to follow the lead of the Queensland State of Origin side this season and make a snap switch to Cameron Munster, Grant will likely lead the side as Australia tries to take an unassailable 2-0 lead next Sunday.
Reuben Cotter was Yeo’s replacement at lock and produced a typically robust performance, clocking an extended 59 minutes due to the skipper’s early exit. He may well hold the No.13 spot for the second Test, unless Walters wants to replicate some more of Yeo’s ball-playing nous with the middle back-rower.
That would be difficult with the squad players at his disposal unless he pulled the trigger on a hyper-aggressive move: playing Cameron Munster at lock, with either Tom Dearden or Mitchell Moses at five-eighth alongside halfback Nathan Cleary.
More likely he will look to his other forwards, though the solutions are imperfect. Prop Lindsay Smith has played a Test before, yet his inclusion would mean three front-rowers on the bench, alongside Lindsay Collins and Keaon Koloamatangi. Rookie backrower Jacob Preston could instead be set a debut off the bench when he was probably envisioned more as a squad pick; the rising Bulldogs star can play both edge and middle.
The other option is versatile Raiders ace Ethan Strange, fresh from his Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year win.
Yeo OFF after early concussion scare | 00:30
REF LETS POMS GET AWAY WITH MURDER — BUT AUSSIE IS COMING
English referee Liam Moore allowed England to play VERY slow at the ruck in the first Test. “Extraordinarily slow,” Fox League expert and former Kangaroo Greg Alexander said.
The Australians seemed to get far less leeway; though perhaps they were just being more respectful of his barked orders to move away after completing a tackle. The English made the ruck as stodgy as can be to hamper the star-studded Kangaroos.
“Far more lenient at the play the ball. Far more lenient,” Alexander said.
“The hands on the ball and the twisting of the players on the ground. Just slowing everything down.”
Yet Australian grand final referee Grant Atkins is coming in for the second Test, potentially changing the flow of the game entirely.
“The interpretation, you’d have to believe — with Atkins in charge, locked and loaded for next week — it will be different,” Voss said.
“And I don’t think it will be to the benefit of England. It may make their assignment harder, they have gotten away with a bit today.
“That’s not Australian bias, this is just calling what we see.”
Less that 10 minutes after those comments, England prop Matty Lees was given a warning for holding down Walsh in a tackle, then Herbie Farnworth was finally pinged for doing exactly the same to Josh Addo-Carr on the next play.
“He said, ‘I gave you a chance then’ … He could have said, ‘I’ve given you a chance for 63 minutes and you haven’t got the message! So I’m having to blow a penalty’” Voss said.
“’I have looked the other way for 63 minutes!’”
Yet a few minutes later, Moore declined to blow a penalty for a ruck infringement when two players were laying all over Tino Fa’asuamaleaui as he tried to play the ball, forcing a knock-on. Lees was still pulling Fa’asuamaleaui’s jersey as he fell.
Crichton scores double at Wembley | 00:42
KIDNAP THE VIDEO REF AND BRING HIM TO THE NRL!
Walsh’s opening try may well have been disallowed in the NRL. Decoy runner Hudson Young’s feet clipped those of Mikey Lewis on his way through the defensive line and the England halfback’s fall — with accompanying theatrics — seemingly prevented him from getting a fair shot at tackling Walsh
“I thought the foot contact was enough, I thought he might have pulled that up,” Alexander said.
“Not interested, the video referee. All good!”
It might have been an instance, though Lewis seemed to be impeded, where the video referee erred against rewarding a player who was clearly trying to milk a penalty.
“You know what I think played against Mikey Lewis there? I think it was too theatrical,” Voss said.
“I think the dive … he flung himself into the ground. I think if he basically just fell naturally, if you know what I mean here … I think it’s the dive. Just too elaborate. He said, ‘No, you’ve played for that’.”
The video referee was Jack Smith, who had already endeared himself by overruling a knock-on against Walsh on a play-the-ball. Walsh was deemed by Moore to have had no balance and control while playing the ball; Smith swiftly found that he was only off-balance due to a downward push to the head from England forward John Bateman.
“Take that bunker official and kidnap him, bound and gag him, and he’s off to Australia to the NRL!” Voss said.
Herbie stops Walsh’s Wembley magic show | 00:31
AUSSIES DETERMINED TO CLEAN UP THEIR ACT
Highlights aside, it wasn’t quite a vintage Kangaroos performance.
They made seven errors in the first half, with two from Raiders backrower Hudson Young, and 11 for the match.
Cleary said that it was an obvious area that needed attention heading into the second Test at Everton.
“Too many errors,” Cleary told the BBC.
“Obviously got a lot of skill, our team, and trying to put on plays all the time. But I thought in terms of how we connected as a group and defended well, that was the most important thing — so we want to build on that.”
The Aussies looked entirely comfortable in defence, barring a late lapse that allowed England hooker Daryl Clark to score with three minutes remaining. It was cold comfort for the home side and a little reminder to the visitors.
We were really scrappy, I think competed 70 per cent in that first half, which isn’t good enough for Test footy. But what I did like was that gritty attitude,” two-try backrower Angus Crichton said of the ball control.
“Disappointed we let in one try there at the end but we worked hard for each other.”
Reece Walsh and Harry Grant of Australia celebrate after winning the first Test.Source: Getty Images
CHANGES FOR ENGLAND — INCLUDING BRIMSON?
England ended up in the unusual position of having their back-up hooker play longer minutes than their starter. Daryl Clark clocked 36 minutes with the No.9 on his back, but Jez Litten earned 51 minutes after impressing when brought on, including with an eye-catching 40/20.
Captain George Williams was excellent at five-eighth and Super League grand final man of the match Lewis did enough to be retained, but there may be a chance at hooker and also the bench, with Litten touted to start and NRL star AJ Brimson given a debut as the bench utility.
Having switched international allegiance after previously playing Origin for Queensland, Brimson was passed over for the first Test.
“I don’t think they need to change their starting six and seven, I wouldn’t be doing that,” Voss said.
“But whether they feel they then do two genuine dummy-halves … does Clark get the spot next week? Would you go with Litten? Could you give (Harry) Smith a chance?
“AJ Brimson’s another one. If you’re gonna pick AJ Brimson and bring him across…”
Alexander interjected: “I’m getting him out there.”
Voss: “You’re playing him as your 14?”
Alexander: “Yep. You play AJ Brimson.”
England captain George Williams runs at Australia’s Angus Crichton.Source: Getty Images
WILLIAMS IMPRESSES AS NRL COMEBACK LOOMS
Williams is headed back to the NRL with the Dolphins in 2027, to partner outstanding young halfback Isaiya Katoa.
It was a signing that raised some eyebrows, with the English half last featuring in Australia back in 2021, before returning to England with homesickness.
He did not enter the Ashes in great form from the Super League season but delivered as his nation’s skipper despite the result.
“I’m surprised, but pleasantly surprised, with the form of George Williams,” Alexander said late in the first half.
“Warrington didn’t have a great year, George didn’t have his best season, but as England captain he’s probably been the best player on the field.”
Williams will be 31 when he arrives at the Dolphins but seemingly still has good football in him.
Another big tick for the Dolphins was the outing of Morgan Knowles, a quality backrower signed on a two-year deal for next season after a decade with St Helens. He’s still just 28.
“Morgan Knowles has been really good for England,” Voss said.