Brown leads England to big win over brave Wheelaroos

Wheelchair Rugby League star Jack Brown led England to an impressive 38-8 win over Australia in London on Friday, with the hosts opening their World Cup campaign in emphatic style. 

While Tom Cody's side looked rattled in the opening stages of the match, Queensland State of Origin coach Jack Brown was relentless for the hosts with his attacking flair and defence earning him a well-deserved player of the match reward in England's Round 1 victory.

Jack Coyd was also a constant threat in attack for the hosts, with back-to-back tries opening the floodgates for England in front of a record 3,033 fans at London's Copper Box Arena.

After a closely contested opening, it was Australia who cracked first with a perfect kick chase in the left corner from Parramatta Eel Diab Karim to hand Australia an early lead. 

Come the 19th minute and Copper Box Arena erupted when England's Joe Coyd sliced through the Wheelaroos' defence to score the first points for the hosts. 

Australia was still hanging on to a 6-4 lead after an unsuccessful conversion attempt from Robert Hawkins. 

But the hosts were only just getting started. With Coyd going back-to-back in the 22nd minute and Queensland local Jack Brown crossing the line just three minutes later to hand England a 14-6 lead. 

Errors started to prove costly for Australia and England wasted no time with gifted field position and off the back of Sebastian Bechara's charge down the line, Nathan Collins crashed over the line and the hosts went further ahead with a 20-6 lead.

Brown, who was everywhere at Copper Box on Friday, found England's line again just before halftime and after Collins missed the sticks, a penalty shot on the stroke of halftime handed the hosts two more points to head into the break with a 20-point lead. 

After a try from Wheelaroos skipper Brad Grove was disallowed, it was Lewis King who crossed next for England and Tom Coyd's side to bring the score 32-6 and put the game well out of reach for the Aussies. 

Even when the game looked all but over Australia continued to show up in defence, denying England multiple scoring opportunities but the hosts put the icing on the cake in the 70th minute of the match with a Nathan Collins double bringing the score 38-6.

Fighting until the end, the Wheelaroos finished the match with pride, with Bayley McKenna kicking a field goal on the stroke of full time to round out the points 38-8.

What's Next

It's a two-day-turnaround for England who take on Spain at the Copper Box Arena in London, with the winner all but booking their place in the semi-finals. Australia's World Cup campaign could all hinge on their next clash against Ireland with both sides coming into next week's game without a win.