Sky Sports’ Jon Wilkin has criticized the Rugby League World Cup format as “fundamentally flawed” following England’s precarious position in the tournament’s group stage, where they nearly secured their first-ever group-stage exit.
England’s 34-12 win over Papua New Guinea required a 68-point margin to overtake Samoa in Pool B and C for a semi-final berth, highlighting the high stakes of the revised tournament structure.
Their advancement now hinges on Tonga’s result against Samoa on Sunday, where England requires a 46-point victory to secure progression.
The tournament’s restructuring from 16 to 10 teams, prompted by Australia’s late arrival as hosts after France withdrew, intensifies the competitive pressure in group matches, according to Wilkin.
“Australia have done a great job organizing a tournament in such a short timeframe, but the format was fundamentally flawed and unfair to the start,” Wilkin stated.
“The competition structure is diabolical. England faced an exceptionally difficult challenge from the outset, as they effectively played their quarter-final in week one.”
The tournament features two groups: one with four teams (Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, and Fiji) and another with six teams (England, Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Lebanon, and France).
England needed to beat Papua New Guinea on Friday by 68 points but struggled to score in the second half
In the event of tied points, head-to-head records and points difference determine standings. England’s opening loss to Tonga (30-12) and subsequent 82-point win over France underscored the volatility of their group stage campaign.
“England knew their first game was critical, but the competition’s structure and preparation left them exposed,” Wilkin remarked. “The late organization by International Rugby League deserves praise, but the tournament format lacks credibility.”
Wilkin further criticized the absence of traditional quarter-finals, stating, “There are multiple ways to engineer a better structure. England should have been in the quarter-finals, not eliminated after 40 minutes against Tonga.”
Wilkin Questions England’s Preparation and Logistics
While supporting Head Coach Brian McDermott, Wilkin highlighted the logistical challenges England faced, including a flawed travel itinerary that left the team jet-lagged before their opening match.
McDermott revealed the squad’s journey involved a detour via Singapore and Sydney before reaching Perth, a process Wilkin deemed “laughable” for an elite sporting event.
“Flying athletes economy class across multiple time zones and expecting peak performance is unreasonable,” Wilkin said. “This reflects a lack of elite preparation standards.”
Despite his criticisms, Wilkin expressed confidence in McDermott’s leadership, emphasizing the need for improved organizational structures to support the coaching staff.
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