England 60-6 Samoa: Hosts make strong start in Rugby League World Cup

By Josh Graham, Sportsbeat Dominic Young and Elliott Whitehead scored two tries apiece as hosts England recorded an emphatic 60-6 win over Samoa in a thrilling Rugby League World Cup opener. Ad Jack Welsby scored the first try of the tournament and provided both assists for debutant winger Young to put the hosts 18-6 up at half-time.

Rugby LeagueGreece's incredible journey to their Rugby League World Cup debutA DAY AGO England were ruthless after the break, scoring 42 unanswered points as centres Kallum Watkins and Herbie Farnworth crossed before Whitehead’s double and further tries for Tommy Makinson, George Williams and Tom Burgess followed. Loose forward and player of the match Victor Radley was immense in the middle on his first England appearance as Samoa struggled to get their star-studded attack going in front of 43,119 spectators at St James’ Park with their only points coming via Izack Tago’s first-half interception.

England started quickly and the first sight of 6ft 7in Young brought them an early repeat set and, although Farnworth failed to ground Williams’ grubber, Makinson kicked the hosts into a 2-0 lead after Whitehead was impeded by Anthony Milford. Shaun Wane’s side thought they had scored the first try when the onrushing Tom Burgess stretched for the line, but he lost control of the ball at the last second.

They soon did get over and in sensational style too as captain Sam Tomkins injected some pace from inside his own half before popping to Williams, whose hard line burst through the Samoa defence with Welsby on hand to apply the finish. A minute later and England were in again as half-back Welsby’s cut-out ball found Young and he danced inside the despairing Samoa full-back Joseph Suaalii