However you recall Reece Walsh’s Test debut, it’s the Australia fullback’s own impressions of his afternoon at Wembley Stadium that should sent a chill down the spine of England and their fans.
Not for him the two blazing tries or second man-of-the-match award in two games played before a cumulative 141,035 fans - or even the two touchdowns he prevented with feline reflexes - as the Kangaroos triumphed 26-6. Asked what stuck out in his mind, just under an hour after full-time, Walsh replied: “A lot of room for improvement I think.
“It was pretty scrappy out there. We obviously got a lot of looks (opportunities). We wanted to come into the game with a clear mindset and not try to overplay our hand.
“There’s some things we’d like to take back and get another shot at again.
“I think there’s some things I could definitely get better at for sure. Just trying to organise the line, there’s a few things in defence there, I sort of let the boys down. But we’re all chasing perfection - that doesn’t mean you’re going to get it.”
Walsh on his player of the match performance
His team-mates see a 23-year-old with perfection in his destiny. “Not many people can do what he does - probably throughout history,” said fellow grand final specialist Nathan Cleary. “He’s definitely not shy about the big stage.”
Further cause for concern if you’re English was halfback Cleary describing the First Test - “torture’ to Shaun Wane - as ‘good fun’ while debutant Mark Nawaqanitwase contending “we left a lot of points out there’.
The big question that hung over the first anglo-Australian international in eight years and first Ashes series in 22 was whether the contest would be a gilt-edged rugby league international or an exhibition for British league fans of otherworldly skills by athletes off the television.
England v Kangaroos: First Test
It was during alternating periods both - but over the 80 minutes you could not say it was convincingly either.
There was just a glimpse of the suspected inherent Australian superiority during the first half-hour, Walsh finishing off a movement involving Cameron Munster, Cleary and Nawaqanitawase with an outrageous swan dive over the tryline.
Sure, second-rower Angus Crichton’s disallowed touchdown not long afterwards was worrying for England - but Cleary having to scoop the ball dead just in the nick of time was worrying for the tourists.
But after a 40th minute penalty goal by Penrith’s Cleary, and a team huddle on the field before leaving the arena in their own good time, the Aussies set about conjuring up the spirits of the ’82 Invincibles and ’86 Unbeatables after the break.
Sure, they did it with varying levels of success, plays collapsing, passes dropped or lobbed into touch.
Walsh is lighting up Wembley
But not even the loss of their captain Isaah Yeo to concussion in the first half could prevent them piling on 18 unanswered points before Daryl Clark’s forlorn score from dummy half for England with four minutes left.
Series rules dictate back-rower Yeo be stood down for the second Test at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium although the Kangaroos don’t seem to have completely ruled him out just yet.
“He’s OK in there, he’s with us but it was a bad knock,” said coach Kevin Walters.
“It was a category one. We’ll just look after him this week and we’ll see where he’s at the next few days.
“That’s the rule (that he is stood down). That’s probably the rule but again, we’ll just wait and hear what our medical staff say.”
Wane: We can be better
Like Walsh, Cleary profferred quotes that are foreboding for most of those intending to be part of the sold-out Everton crowd.
“A few combination breakdowns, a few passes not sticking so I’m looking forward to getting into training again... hopefully there’s a lot of improvement in us and that’s exciting," the halfback said. "But the foundation of our defence is the most important thing.”
Australia are 80 minutes from a 14th consecutive Ashes series win.
Litten boots a 40/20
England coach Wane described his charges as, at times, “apprehensive”, “anxious” and “nervous”.
His star player, Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth, left Wembley with a knee covered in ice. The coach would not discuss in any detail the possibility of changes.
Wane said of Walsh: “We need to put him under more pressure” while captain George Williams reckoned the English gave their rivals too much respect.
Others will share their impressions of Reece Walsh’s Test debut in the days and weeks ahead. If Cleary is right about his destiny, make that years and decades.
But five-eighth Munster opted to do it in two words. “Speed kills,” he said.
