BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Junior Nsemba says England “did what we could do” against Papua New Guinea and left the World Cup as a united and connected team, despite their early exit.
England beat the Kumuls 34-12 in WIN Stadium, but needed to win by a larger margin and were knocked out of the tournament on points difference.
“Obviously, at the end of the day, we got the win, but I feel like some boys might feel a bit disheartened because obviously we knew what’s on the line, but we did what we could do,” Nsemba told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads in Wollongong.
“In the second half it didn’t really flow as well as we wanted it to. At the end of the day, we did what we could and stuck together.
“There’s brotherhood and there’s trust in each other [in the team], so we’re just happy with what we did.”
England raced to a 24-0 lead against Papua New Guinea on Friday night, but struggled in the second half where the Kumuls posted two tries. Tonga then went on to defeat Samoa by just two points, ending England’s tournament
Asked for his take on the World Cup format, Nsemba said: “I’m not one to talk on it. They can all… They can all do that that business.
“I don’t know how the World Cup format has been done this year or previously.
“I just don’t get how that works, we won two games out of three. [But] it’s the way it’s done isn’t it.”
Nsemba was playing in his first World Cup and in Australia for the first time.
The Wigan back-rower said he has really enjoyed the experience.
“It’s been real good, I really enjoyed it,” he said.
“Tonga was a real, real big test, coming over with them being the first game. It was real physical, a real fast game.
“And it made me realise that it’s not a joke, lYou can’t ease yourself into it, uou need to go full for all that stuff.
“But, yes, my first World Cup, hopefully, we continue on. If not, I’ve enjoyed every second of it, and I’ve enjoyed working under Brian McDermott.”
