Former England internationals Adrian Morley and Paul Sculthorpe have been appointed to lead an inquiry into England’s early exit from the Rugby League World Cup. The decision follows England’s elimination after Tonga’s 20-18 victory over Samoa ensured that neither England nor Great Britain would feature in the tournament’s final four for the first time.
England’s campaign came under intense scrutiny after the loss dashed the hopes of head coach Brian McDermott’s side. McDermott lamented the limited options available in key “spine” positions—halfback, hooker, and fullback—suggesting that the domestic talent pool fell short compared to the well-developed pathways in the National Rugby League (NRL). “I should be able to pick from eight or nine teams in Super League, who’ve got genuine sixes, sevens, nines and ones. Young British lads who’ve been playing in several competitions leading up to Super League,” he said, emphasizing the contrast with the NRL’s more rigorous development system.
Tonga’s victory, clinched by Addin Fonua-Blake’s decisive try, underscored the growing strength of Pacific Island teams, who produced a high-quality and closely contested semifinal. Tonga will face New Zealand in the semifinal on Saturday, with speculation rising that a Tonga-Samoa final could materialize should Samoa, coached by Ben Gardiner, overcome Australia on Sunday.
In response to England’s disappointing showing, the Rugby Football League (RFL) has established a review panel that includes Morley, Sculthorpe, retired women’s international Jodie Cunningham, and former England forward Gareth Ellis. This initiative aligns with the RFL’s emerging “One Game, One England” strategy aimed at unifying efforts to improve international competitiveness.
Ian Nolan, the RFL’s newly appointed chief executive, acknowledged the longstanding nature of England’s challenges on the world stage. “We must look at why we have struggled to make our mark on the world stage for more than half a century — this isn’t just a recent problem," Nolan said. He noted ongoing consultations with Super League clubs and warned that meaningful progress would require collective support across the sport and would not happen quickly.
The inquiry’s findings are expected to shape future strategic decisions about player development, talent pathways, and the broader governance of rugby league in England as officials seek to reverse a multi-generational decline and restore competitiveness in international competition.