Here is what the page “McDermott blames 'harsh' Rugby League World Cup format as England exit looms” contains. England's Rugby League World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread after a shock opening defeat to Tonga, with head coach Brian McDermott pointing to the tournament's unforgiving 10-team format. The competition has been cut from 16 nations to 10 for financial reasons, with Australia stepping in as hosts after France withdrew. This restructuring has created a unique group stage where the margin for error varies drastically.
McDermott admitted his side failed to 'hit the ground running' against Tonga, and now face an uphill battle to reach the semi-finals. The format's reduced size means one bad result can be fatal, especially in a tough group. England must quickly regroup, but their fate may already be out of their hands. This listing links straight to the original page, where the content is available in full.