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According to skipper the England captain, the national team were given a harsh "sobering lesson" as the Kangaroos won the Rugby League Ashes.

Australia's 14-4 victory at the Merseyside venue on Saturday gave them a 2-0 series lead, making the upcoming final match in Leeds a dead rubber.

The England team had come into the series harbouring hopes of inflicting the Kangaroos to their initial series loss since over five decades ago.

In the past two years, they had secured a 3-0 series win over the Tongan side and a 2-0 triumph over the Samoan team. But as the historic rivalry resumed after a 22-year absence, England were unable to make the leap against the reigning title holders.

"We're not making excuses. We've had enough sessions to execute properly on the pitch, and it's clear we've achieved that," Williams commented.

"Australia deserve praise. They were strong in defense. But we've got plenty to improve. It seems not as strong as we expected we were entering this series.

"This serves as a good lesson for us, and there is much to develop."

The Kangaroos 'Show Up and Are Ruthless'

After being comprehensively defeated in an error-strewn display at Wembley, Wane side's were much improved on Saturday back in the core regions of northern England.

During an energetic first half, England elicited errors from the Australians and had dominant territory and ball control, but importantly did not make it count on the scoreboard.

Significantly, the English team have now scored just one score over two full matches, with St Helens hooker Daryl Clark barging over late on in the setback in the capital.

In contrast, Australia have racked up half a dozen across the series - and when blunders began to creep into the hosts' play just after the half-time, it was a case of when, not if, they were going to be made to pay.

Initially the playmaker crossed, and then so too did Hudson Young. From being tied at 4-4, the home side were trailing by 10.

"Proud for the bulk of the game. In my view for 70 minutes we were solid," said the coach.

"The switch off for a brief period after the break hurt us greatly. Munster's try was avoidable and should not be scored in a Test match.

"We're devastated. So proud the squad had a dig but so disappointed with that post-interval, which hurt us dearly."

Although the upcoming global tournament in the Southern Hemisphere is just under 12 months away, the team's immediate focus will be on trying to salvage honor, avoiding a 3-0 sweep and addressing the errors that frustrated the coach.

"I hoped to see greater effort directed toward Australia. My aim was us to apply sustained attack in the game - we failed to deliver last week," added the veteran coach.

"We did this week. It's just a bit of detail in our offense where we could have applied under greater stress. It's essential to stop each of [tries] more effectively.

"Fair play to Australia - that is no slight to them. They arrive and are merciless when they capitalize, and we failed to be, but in defense we must do enhance.

"They will be determined to win all three Tests and we need to be obsessed to make it a competitive series. I've told that to the players. It has to be our main aim. It will be a difficult week but the side that wants it the most will emerge victorious next week."

Intensity Needs to Increase in Super League

England have participated in a comparable number of Test matches to the Kangaroos since the last World Cup in 2022.

Yet the coach believes that the strength of the Australian league - and quality of the domestic rivalry matches between New South Wales and QLD - deliver a superior foundation for competing at the top of the international game than what is available in the UK.

The England coach added that the congested domestic league fixture list allowed no time for him to train his squad during the season, which will only raise more issues around how England can narrow the difference to the Kangaroos before travelling to Oceania in the next World Cup.

"They play a lot of internationals in their competition," Wane added.

"England play 10-15 a year. It's crucial really intense games to enhance the domestic league and increase our prospects of succeeding in these high-stakes fixtures.

"I couldn't even train with the players. There was no chance to trained together in the campaign and despite having the complete support of all clubs in the domestic competition.

"I have also been in the position of the head coaches that must to win games. The league is that packed. It's unfortunate but it's not the reason we were defeated today."