England captain George Williams says his team is ready to embrace the underdog role when they open their Rugby League World Cup campaign against Tonga at HBF Park in Perth on Saturday.
He expects a demanding contest against a side packed with National Rugby League talent, with humidity forecast to exceed 60% at the venue.
England enter the matchup with a history of competitive encounters against the Pacific Islanders.
According to the BBC, England won a hard-fought three-Test series against Tonga 3-0 on home soil three years ago, following a dramatic victory over the same opponents in the 2017 World Cup semifinal in Auckland.
Heat and Conditions Present a Different Test
Williams believes the conditions in Perth will present a different challenge from those England experienced during their previous meetings at home.
The captain also acknowledged the quality of Tonga's squad, which he said has continued to develop since 2023.
"Tonga are a stacked team. They have been for a few years now," Williams said.
The England captain said his team was comfortable with being considered the less-favored side and intended to approach the contest with confidence.
He also highlighted the contrast between playing in Australia's heat and facing opponents in the colder conditions often experienced in England during November.
"We'll be underdogs but we'll quite like that kind of brush on our head and we'll bring our game tomorrow night against a great team."
"I think it's always different over here as well, with the heat and different conditions.
It helps when you drag them to Leeds and it's minus two or whatever it normally is in November."
Williams said England understood the scale of the challenge posed by Tonga's internationally experienced players.
He emphasized that his squad had prepared for the opening fixture despite the difficult conditions expected in Perth.
"We're looking forward to the challenge.
They are stacked full of world-class players who play across the NRL, so we know what we are in for, but we are fully prepared and ready."
