04 November 2023 , 17:47
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Harry Smith repaid Shaun Wane’s faith in him with a stellar showing as England wrapped up a series whitewash of toothless Tonga.
The Wigan scrum-half ran the show as the hosts eased to victory at Headingley with tries from Ben Currie, Matty Ashton, Elliott Whitehead and Harry Newman. With captain George Williams returning from a two-game ban for his first appearance of the series, Wane had to choose between ditching Smith or Hull KR’s impressive half-back Mikey Lewis. He went with the latter which caused some dismay for some England fans.
But Smith, 23, stepped up with a superb performance, producing a brilliant kicking display including one audacious crossfield effort on the run for Newman’s 65th minute try. Wests Tigers second-row John Bateman pipped him to the player of the match with another all-action display including some quality offloading which left disappointing Tonga ragged. But Smith, who steered Wigan to Grand Final glory last month and has shown his credentials for the 2026 World Cup, did take the Nan Halafihi Medal for player of the series.
He claimed more than half the votes after also impressing in the first Test at St Helens and last week’s win at Huddersfield. Wane, so angered by “disrespectful” Tonga comments after that first Test victory, demanded his side went out and made it 3-0. They did just that in emphatic style. And there was plenty of expected niggle, too.
But England were simply too good for a Tonga side who promised so much in this series but delivered so little. Wane made three other changes. Warrington second-row came in at centre for Toby King, Leigh’s Robbie Mulhern replaced injured loose forward Victor Radley and Tyler Dupree took Wigan club-mate Liam Farrell’s place on the bench. Currie was a surprise pick but, having already been held up once, he scored the game’s first try on 14 minutes.
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It was a cracking effort, started by Bateman’s offload near halfway but including a lovely deft pass from Tom Burgess and then a burst of pace from Smith who also found the final pass. Smith slotted the first of his five goals, his tactical kicking was spot on and he also showed plenty of guile with his hands. Tonga threatened with a couple of chances but were too error-strewn to make them count.
England's Harry Newman (centre) is congratulated by his team mates after scoring his sides fourth try during the International Test Series match at Headingley Stadium (PA)And England made them pay with their second try in the 27th minute, Bateman once more swatting off defenders before finding Newman with a late offload. Leeds centre Newman produced a brilliant flick pass to put Matty Ashton in for the Warrington winger’s third try of the series after last week’s brace. Smith converted and then added a penalty after Latu Fainu’s dangerous tackle on Williams.
But England prop Matty Lees suffered a brain explosion from the restart. He charged the ball back but, after being met by a raft of Tonga defenders, grabbed Haumole Olakau’atu’s hair when getting back to his feet and wouldn’t let go. It set off a big melee which ended with St Helens’ Lees and Tonga’s Keon Koloamatangi both being yellow carded.
Having led 14-0 at the break, the hosts added to that with their third try in the 44th minute. Jack Welsby’s quality cut-out pass sent Tom Johnstone clear down the left, Currie supported and Elliott Whitehead, the Canberra second-row making his final international appearance, fittingly scored. Tonga were again reduced to 12 men when Konrad Hurrell randomly started swinging punches at Mike McMeeken in the tackle
England's Harry Newman scores against Tonga (PA)While the Saints centre was left stewing on the sidelines - and aiming more verbals at the England bench - Wane saw his side capitalise. Smith’s superb pass sent Currie clear again and as England kept the ball alive on the last tackle, Smith aimed a brilliant low-angled crossfield kick to the far side where Newman claimed on the full and just made it to the line. Tonga, at least, did avoid being kept pointless when Elisea Kato crashed over in the 68th minute but it was no consolation having been truly hammered in front of a crowd of 15,477.