After New Zealand thrashed and truly humiliated the English rugby league team in the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup, the last thing that fans of the team needed was an anxious message concerning the national side’s future from the coach of Australia, Ricky Stuart.

England rugby fans have had to watch their side suffer humbling defeats during three out of their four World Cup matches and the loss to New Zealand was only surpassed, in terms of humiliation, by the defeat at the hands of an impressive Australian team.

Ricky Stuart’s team beat England 52-4 in Melbourne and the coach has since spoken of his shock at what he has “witnessed over the past month from England”.

He believes that the international game has suffered to a large extent and the national side has been negatively impacted by the “scramble from Super League owners, coaches and managers” to look after their own interests and disregard those of the England team.

Stuart’s words echo those made by some sections of the sporting media about football in England. The Australian coach believes that the “lack of focus” on developing home-grown talent and encouraging youngsters to try the sport has resulted in the national side declining in general form and skill over the past few years.

Almost 40% of the players in the English Super League have been imported and, sadly, the coach believes that the days of the United Kingdom producing “classy, seasoned footballers" seem very long ago.