Due to the vagaries of the international rugby league calendar, this was McDermott’s first match in charge of England since being appointed in April as Shaun Wane’s successor.
Wane had his critics, many of them justified, but he organised a defensively solid England team who whitewashed Tonga on their tour of Britain in 2023.
He left in January after England were well beaten in last year’s Ashes, and McDermott has had to piece together a team with minimal preparation.
England did not play a single warm-up match; this was their first game since losing to Australia at Headingley in November 2025. They have not won a match since November 2024, against Samoa.
A much more assured Tonga side started the evening with a spine-tingling Sipi Tau battle dance and ended it with victory for the first time in seven meetings with England.
The relative lack of preparation is out of McDermott’s control. Team selection and tactics are not, and that is where the former Leeds Rhinos coach will be questioned.
“You cannot play with freedom at international level, you have to keep hold of the ball,” McDermott said after the game. His side looked nervous with ball in hand, too willing to pass up the chance to run at the Tongans and pass the buck.
As for selection, McDermott chose a central pairing of Harry Smith and captain George Williams. They were found wanting, with Williams enduring one of his poorest games in an England shirt.
AJ Brimson was chosen ahead of Jack Welsby at full-back. Although Brimson scored England’s first try, he was also caught out of position for Tonga’s fourth.
McDermott said he will “have a look” at options regarding selection. Expect changes when the team to face France is named on Tuesday.
“You have to give Tonga credit for the scramble, but I reckon we left three or four [opportunities] out there early doors,” said Williams. “We lost our way, we were erratic, we must find that balance to improve the team.
“We can’t be kicking stones. We have a great group of lads, and one loss does not change how we think.”