England coach questions 46-hour journey to Perth for World Cup opener
England travelled through Singapore and Sydney before reaching Perth, where they will face Tonga at HBF Park.
England coach Brian McDermott says his players arrived exhausted after a 46-hour journey to Perth for their Rugby League World Cup opener against Tonga, having travelled via Singapore and Sydney.
The team bypassed the direct London–Perth service. After reaching Singapore, they took an almost eight-hour flight to Sydney rather than continuing to Perth, then spent roughly five hours flying back across Australia.
McDermott questioned the itinerary but said the squad had remained positive despite the lengthy trip. He said players had not complained and were ready to get on with their preparations.
England have since had a week in Perth to adjust and recover from jet lag. McDermott said he was confident they would be ready for the match at HBF Park.
The Tonga fixture will be McDermott’s first match as England coach following his appointment in April. He won eight major trophies while coaching Leeds Rhinos. England captain George Williams said McDermott commanded respect and held the players’ attention when he spoke.
