Shaun Wane’s England entered a mouthwatering two game test series against a Samoan side who knocked the hosts out of the World Cup at the semi-final stage in 2022 as the two sides did battle at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan.

England are unbeaten since that loss but are against a Samoan side containing only two of the players who made it to the World Cup final.

It promised to be a big challenge for England as they looked for a modicum of revenge for the heartbreak of two years ago, the scene was set for an explosive opening in the first ever test series between the two nations.

Good England pressure led to the opener after seven minutes when they found numbers down the left side with Herbie Farnworth dropping the shoulder and going in from ten metres after taking a George Williams tap pass to ground. Harry Smith smashed his kick between the uprights for a 6-0 lead, England getting their just reward for a dominant opening.

Williams was again the provider on fourteen, this time for Matty Ashton as England again exploited the left side with the winger stepping inside and diving over the line between two tacklers. This time the kick went wide of the mark, but it was all one-way traffic and a comfortable lead.

Williams go into the scoring action himself on twenty after regaining his feet from a broken tackle and dropping over the line to ground with a second effort. Smith regained his kicking accuracy and England had raced into a 16-0 lead.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck dropped a spiralling bomb on twenty-five and England then forced a goal line drop out, but a great restart saw the Samoans regain possession when it looked like they were in trouble again.

Mike McMeeken went over on thirty-one off a Daryl Clark pass, but the referee called a forward pass and two minutes later a brilliant interception by Dean Mariner saw him sprint home from fifty metres for the first Samoa try of the game. Junior Pauga added the extras to reduce the arrears to ten points with five minutes of the half remaining.

Eight minutes after the restart a stepping Farnworth found Victor Radley after a brilliant Williams break put England in a superb attacking position. Scoring next to the sticks, Smith hit the target for the third time on the afternoon for 22-6.

Harlem Globetrotter stuff from Samoa led to their second try on fifty-three with Luai the architect before five passes, Luai involved twice, in putting Mariner in for his second of the game. Pauga found the middle of the sticks and again there were just ten points between the sides.

As the game approached the hour mark England were in again, Matty Ashton taking the final pass to score after Jack Welsby had hacked forward twice before collecting and then being tackled just short of the line. A fast play the ball saw Williams feed Ashton for his second. Smith found the target for 28-12 going into the last twenty as Mikey Lewis entered the field from the bench.

Samoa needed to score next or the game would be beyond them but it was England who registered the winning try through the ‘Man of Steel’ Lewis as he took an inside pass from Dom Young to go in from twenty-five metres and salute the crowd. Smith added the extras for 34-12, the test win in the bag.

Five from time Samoa got a consolation despite the attention of Ashton as Gordon Chan Kum Tong slid over the line, Pauga adding the conversion for 34-18, respectability for Samoa.

Tempers frayed in the closing minutes in a minute long rolling brawl, but referee Liam Moore read the captains the Riot Act and left both outfits with a full complement to the final hooter.

Two years is a long time in rugby league, and the massive turnover in Samoan playing staff proves that, but the memory of THAT game was at the forefront of English minds, and they made some amends with a comprehensive victory over worthy challengers. George Williams ran the show for England, a captain’s knock, but he had great support from his back line who seemed to be able to break through the Samoans at will.

England: Welsby, Young, Newman, Farnworth (T), Ashton (2T), Williams (T), Smith (5/6 G), Havard, Clark, Lees, Pearce-Paul, Bateman, Radley (T). Subs: Lewis (T), McMeeken, Knowles, Burgess. 18th Man: Currie.

Samoa: Tuivasa-Sheck, Skelton, Tago, Pauga (3/3 G), Mariner (T), Milford, Luai, Molo, Tevaga, May, Blore Anae Ulisese, Nanai, Asiata.  Subs: Seuala-Talagi, Chan Kum Tong (T), Vaalepu. 18th Man: Palasia.  

Half-Time: 16-6.

Full-Time: 34-18.

Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 14-0, 16-0, 16-4, 16-6 :HT: 20-6, 22-6, 22-10, 22-12, 26-12, 28-12, 32-12, 34-12, 34-16, 34-18 :FT.

Lead Exchanges: England.

Referee: Liam Moore.   

Attendance: 15,137