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England edge towards World Cup exit despite PNG win

England edge towards a World Cup exit after their points chase against Papua New Guinea descends into a chaotic and error-strewn 34-12 victory that will almost certainly prove insufficient.

Published: Friday, 30 October 2026 at 11:17 AM
England edge towards World Cup exit despite PNG win
Key Things to Know
  • England face likely World Cup elimination despite defeating Papua New Guinea 34-12 in their final group match.
  • England scored tries through Matty Ashton, AJ Brimson, Dominic Young, Harry Smith, Morgan Knowles, and Mikey Lewis.
  • The team committed 21 errors and posted a 57% completion rate during the match.
The Story in 60 Seconds

England moved closer to a Rugby League World Cup exit despite securing a 34-12 victory over Papua New Guinea. Needing a massive win to overcome a points deficit against Samoa, England raced to a 22-0 lead through tries from Matty Ashton, AJ Brimson, Dominic Young, and Harry Smith. However, Morgan Knowles and Mikey Lewis added second-half tries as England's performance deteriorated in an error-strewn display.

Brian McDermott's side committed 21 errors and registered a low 57% completion rate, allowing Dudley Dotoi and Gairo Voro to score for Papua New Guinea. England now require Tonga to defeat Samoa by more than 46 points to advance to the semi-finals.

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