Set up to fail? Where England's World Cup campaign went wrong

England's men and women endured different types of disappointment at the Rugby League World Cup on Friday – and the inquests have already begun. Brian McDermott took charge as England head coach in April – and had no matches before the World Cup As Mikey Lewis darted over for a late try in a desperate – and almost certainly fruitless – points chase against Papua New Guinea, the obituaries were already being written for England's Men's Rugby League World Cup campaign. Much earlier on Friday, England's women had lacked the power and nous to overcome Samoa, losing 24-6 in a match that decided who went through to the semi-finals.

England's men actually won their game – 34-12 – but it was nowhere near the margin of victory required. Their elimination will be confirmed on Sunday unless Tonga beat Samoa by more than 46 points. And so the likelihood is that for the first time in World Cup history, neither England's men nor their women will feature in the last four. For the men, that ends a run that began with Great Britain at the first tournament in 1954. The disappointment will only reinforce the idea that English rugby league needs a serious period of introspection – as well as significant investment to keep pace with the game in the southern