8m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 3:25pm

Halftime: Australia 4 England 4

We’re all locked up at the break after a tough, gritty and tryless first half. It’s been a much better spectacle and contest than the first Test, I’ll tell you that for free!

Australia have been a bit sloppy but you can put some of that down to England really ratcheting up the aggression. It’s been an excellent contest.

10m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 3:22pm

38′ England level it up

England chase a Smith bomb, Walsh knocks Brimson over on the chase and England can level.

Smith’s kick is good and it’s 4-all with halftime not far away.

14m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 3:18pm

34′ Australia waste a chance after Cleary 40/20

Cleary has hit a sensational 40/20, it’s off the outside of his boot down a narrow blindside. It’s hard to see, because we don’t have a lot of lines on the field, but Atkins checks it and it stands.

But then Grant releases the pressure with a forward pass to Cotter. They’ve got their timing wrong a couple of times Australia.

21m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 3:12pm

28′ More big shots from England

After a couple more heavy shots from England they force an error of their own as Lees, Knowles and Smithies gang up on Fa’asuamaleaui.

The players are fired up and so is the crowd. Loved the physicality from the Poms so far, it’s made this feel like a proper Test match.

23m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 3:10pm

26′ England lose their challenge

Young loses the ball in contact and Australia will get another chance at points….but England will challenge.

Atkins ruled there was a bobble as he crashed into Munster. The ball definitely moves but I don’t think Young ever loses control.

The video ref disagrees though, the challenge is gone and the Kangaroos have a fresh set in good ball. Can they defy the early pressure and score the first try?

26m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 3:06pm24′ Cleary takes two more

Young can’t quite get to a Farnworth kick and England get pinged for a ruck penalty just after the restart. Now Australia have their first chance of the match.

Grant earns a set restart on the last by picking out an offside defender, then Smithies hits Munster with a cannonball tackle.

Will Australia take another two? Yes they will. Cleary knocks it over and it’s 4-2 Kangaroos. 

32m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 3:00pm

20′ England denied a try

Collins hits Knowles late and England will have another shot at scoring.

Williams slides a kick in, Walsh can’t clean it up, Knowles is there and he’s claiming the try! Atkins sends it up as no try, he thinks Lees knocked it on as he dragged it in and the replay proves him exactly right.

England will retain possession. Williams has looked for that early kick a few times, let’s keep an eye on that. 

37m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 2:55pm

17′ England can’t make the most of good ball

Lees and Pearce-Paul smash Crichton and on the next play Carrigan loses the ball in the tackle on halfway and there’s more ball for England.

They have the better of the game now but they need something to show for it.

Williams puts it up on the last but Australia secure it. England’s physicality has been excellent but they’re struggling to get their structure together in attack.

40m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 2:53pm

15′ Australia hold the line

Knowles drops it cold on the third tackle! Man, that’s a let-down after all that pressure. Good defence from Australia and they’ll work it away.

42m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 2:51pm

13′ Walsh gives away penalty in trysaver

Walsh throws a forward pass to Shibasaki on his own 40 and England will go on the attack again.

Watkins runs over the top of Cleary with a powerful charge. McMeeken follows it up, they look like a different team to last week.

As Young and Fa’asuamaleaui return to the field, Williams kicks early for Johnstone only for Staggs to knock it over the sideline. More field position for England.

They spread it right, Farnworth gets Young a shot at the corner but Walsh and Shibasaki come across and bundles him into touch! Great effort from the Bronco teammates – the crowd doesn’t like it though, they say it’s high, and Atkins is talking to the Bunker.

His arm did slip up. I think this will be a penalty….and it is. More ball for England, but can they crack the green and gold line?

47m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 2:45pm

Update

49m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 2:44pm

7′ England level after wild Marky Mark pass

Johnstone goes for the corner, throws it inside in desperation, it’s picked off by Nawaqanitawase and as he’s corralled to the sideline he tries to throw a flick pass but ends up throwing the ball to himself! Wild stuff!

He loses the ball, England get it back, Young gets pinged in the ruck and Smith will level the scores. It’s 2-all. 

52m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 2:41pm

5′ Tempers continue to fray in fiery start

Another penalty, this time against Grant on Farnworth for a head slam and there’s another scuffle. Not as serious this time, but geez the boys are fired up.

England on the attack for the first time.

54m agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 2:38pm2′ Double sin bin after early fireworks!

McMeeken gives away a ruck penalty on the second tackle of the match to let Australia straight out of their own end.

Walsh throws a nice short ball to Crichton and he nearly pulls through – and there’s a stink on at midfield!

The crowd is going wild, dunno if there’s any punches thrown but it’s a fair scuffle. Young is into for Australia, so is Lees from England. Litten and Grant started it and then Fa’asuamaleaui escalated it.

Sounds like we’re gonna get a couple of sin bins here – looks like Dom Young and Tino are gone and Atkins shows them the yellow card!

What a start! Australia get the penalty from an incident before the set-to. Cleary takes the two and after all that Australia lead 2-0.

1h agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 2:33pmKICK-OFF! WE’RE UNDERWAY!

Grant Atkins gets us started, England kicks off running left to right and away we go!

1h agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 2:32pm

Pre-game predictions

Tell you what, that rendition of God Save The King brought the house down. This joint is LOUD!

We’re right on kick off now, so let’s get some tips in – it’s impossible to go past Australia, but I am expecting a better showing from England this time around.

The riotous home crowd, the sting they’ll feel from the loss last week and the changes they’ve made – especially in the forwards – can give them a boost.

Let’s say they score first, why not – Dom Young feels likely. But I say Australia win 26-12 with Pat Carrigan to win man of the match.

1h agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 2:26pm

Teams are hitting the field

Williams leads out England and Grant is at the front for Australia. The anthems are imminent and from the looks of things it’s gonna be loud.

1h agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 2:26pm

Update

I am 85 yrs of age, I would not miss this game, Watched the 1st Test great game, Love NRL

– Josephine Collon

Great effort from Josephine! Let’s hope the game lives up to it.

1h agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 1:52pm

First look at the ground

1h agoSat 1 Nov 2025 at 1:41pm

Final teams: England confirm mass changes

Australia are 1-17 as named on Tuesday – the only change from last week is Isaah Yeo out with Pat Carrigan moving from prop to lock, Lindsay Collins starting and Lindsay Smith coming in on the bench.

England have shuffled the deck and rightly so after last week. AJ Brimson is in at fullback with Jack Welsby dropped, Matty Smith is into the halves with Mikey Lewis going back to the bench, Mike McMeeken moves from the bench to start at prop, as does Jez Litten at hooker.

But wait, there’s more! Kallum Watkins starts at second row with John Bateman dropped and Morgan Smithies and Mikolaj Oledzki are in on the bench.