Walsh turns Wembley Wizard as hosts rue poor composure: Talking points as Australia beat England in first Ashes test

Reece Walsh annointed himself as a Wembley Wizard for a new Ashes generation as the fullback inspired Australia to a 26-6 triumph against England in Saturday's opening test.

The Brisbane Broncos star, fresh off his Clive Churchill Medal-winning turn in the NRL Grand Final, proved gamebreaker in attack and defence as the visitors routed their hosts.

Success in the first game between these two nations since the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Final ensures it is advantage to the Kangaroos before next week's trip to Liverpool.

But while Australia coach Kevin Walters will delight in his tactical decisions, England boss Shaun Wane will be left to lament his side's lack of composure when it mattered most.

DAZN News looks at the key talking points from Wembley Stadium.

Walsh conjures echoes of Davies in standout performance

There haven't been too many heroes for England or predecessor Great Britain in Ashes clashes in London over the years, but their 8-4 win in 1994 remains fondly remembered.

There, Jonathan Davies scored a superb long-range try for the Lions to secure a famous victory - but now, over three decades later, another fullback has snatched his sobriquet.

Walsh has enjoyed a coming-of-age campaign to remember with the Broncos, but here, before a British series record crowd of 60,812, he announced himself on the global stage.

It was not just his offensive capabilities - finishing two free-flowing tries with aplomb - but his defensive nous too, with a pair of knockdowns to deny England near-certain scores.

It feels almost bizarre to remember the column inches dedicated to whether he would unseat incumbent Dylan Edwards and take the coveted number one shirt in green and gold.

But Walters, who previously coached Walsh at the Broncos, will feel comfortably vindicated in his choice, with the star now the early frontrunner to take the Fulton-Reilly Award.

Captains justify faith despite Yeo blow

Both England skipper George Williams and Australia captain Issah Yeo underperfored on the domestic front this year with Warrington Wolves and Penrith Panthers respectively.

Though it never felt like a question that either man would lose the armband, they arrived at Wembley Stadium looking to silence their critics, particularly in the case of the former.

Williams ultimately acquitted himself for the most part, though struggled to click with his partner, Hull Kingston Rovers' Super League Grand Final-winning halfback Mikey Lewis.

Yeo meanwhile saw his game come to an early end after a stray elbow from England winger Dom Young saw him fail a head injury assessment, ruling him out of the next test.

In his absence however, Melbourne Storm hooker Harry Grant showed why some wondered if he would take the captaincy outright, offering inventive vision and on-field direction.

With no Yeo at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium, the Queensland favourite will step up to the plate once more, faced with a chance to seal the series at the earliest opportunity.

Wane faces uphill battle with flaws exposed

The somber face of the England boss at the full-time whistle reflected his frustrations in a game where his team flirted with potential but came up brutally short in the simple plays.

Twice in the first half, superb breaks off Wigan Warriors centre Jake Wardle and Dolphins three-quarter Herbie Farnworth laid up chances, only for Walsh to seize the moment.

Wakefield Trinity winger Tom Johnstone saw an audacious grubber just run dead before Lewis and St Helens fullback Jack Welsby could get to it midway through the first half too.

Having trailed only 8-0 at the break however, England's high press was subsequently exploited as fatigue set in, with Wane unable to prevent his players from some soft mistakes.

Hull KR hooker Jez Litten, brought off the bench, offered moments of great promise, and Daryl Clark's late try from dummy-half four minutes from the end saved some minor face.

But with his attack too frequently caught between route-one drives and handling errors, Wane now must rally his troops and refine his gameplan to avoid a chastening series loss.

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