McDermott Blames World Cup Format and Travel for England's Struggles

England's Rugby League World Cup campaign is facing an early exit, with head coach Brian McDermott pointing to a demanding travel schedule and the tournament's "harsh" 10-team format as key reasons for their struggles. McDermott drew parallels to the chaotic travel depicted in the film "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" to describe the team's pre-tournament journey, suggesting it left them exhausted before their crucial opening match.

The reduced number of participating nations, down from 16 in the previous tournament, has created a more intense and unforgiving structure. McDermott specifically cited the opening loss to Tonga as a significant blow, compounded by the format's inherent jeopardy. This situation has led to significant disappointment for the England team and its supporters, raising questions about the tournament's organization and its impact on team performance.