The sound was embarrassingly lost for pre-match ceremonies but it didn’t matter as boisterous England made all the noise on the pitch in a brilliant Rugby League World Cup 2021 opener.
The Kaiser Chiefs’ set had to be cut short after technical difficulties at St James’ Park saw the PA system fail for the tournament kick-off.
Among the dignitaries on show, legends Kevin Sinfield and Jason Robinson were left holding the men’s cup waiting to walk onto the pitch as engineers battled to sort the issues.
There was a delay of more than 10 minutes and - being beamed live on the BBC - bemused supporters at Newcastle’s ground sat in near silence, Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson valiantly trying to get a Mexican Wave going as he waited for a restart.
It never came and tournament organisers “sincerely” apologised at half-time for the disrupted tournament welcome. Nevertheless, once the action did get underway, fans in the **** crowd were not left disappointed.
Samoa had been made favourites but England’s young guns Jack Welsby and Dom Young soon made a mockery of that as the hosts produced a superb performance.
St Helens’ Welsby, preferred to Marc Sneyd at half-back, scored one try and set up another two as Shaun Wane’s side raced into an 18-0 lead after just half-hour.
George Williams burst up the middle to put him over in the 22nd minute and then Super League’s Young Player of the Year took control himself in the next set.
Welsby, 21, produced a confident cut-out pass to unleash Young on halfway, the Newcastle Knights rookie who forced his way into the side after an impressive bow against Fiji last week.
The strapping former Huddersfield wideman showed real confidence of his own to cut infield and leave Samoa’s teenage superstar Joseph Sua’ali’i stranded.
But more was to come. After a Samoa fumble allowed England to force more pressure, Welsby darted down the short side on the last tackle to pick out another perfect pass for Young’s second. He couldn’t put a foot wrong. Test match footy seemed simple.
Welsby was quickly reminded it isn’t when, perhaps getting too confident, Samoa centre Izack Tago intercepted his next pass to race in from 50m for a try out of nothing.
Stephen Crichton converted and Matt Parish’s side, with Sydney Roosters’ Sua’ali’i looking more and more threatening from full-back and Penrith’s Jarome Luai bringing his dancing feet, grew into the game. Still, England’s defence, with Michael McIlorum and Victor Radley bring such steel, never flinched.
When Kallum Watkins added their fourth try in the 50th minute, Welsby once more involved after Mike Cooper offloaded, Tommy Makinson added his fourth goal and they were home.
It was a crucial opening day win; if England had lost, they’d most likely face highly-fancied Tonga in the quarter-finals but now they face a more favourable route.
After a troubled season with Warrington, Williams was excellent at scrum-half, being direct in attack and causing Samoa all sorts of issues with his short kicking game.
Herbie Farnwroth was solid at centre, Sam Tomkins gave a terrific captain’s display but it was England’s impressive pack that laid the foundation against some revered forwards.
Samoa will get better and boast some dazzling talent which will light up the tournament. But they were hindered by injuries, Braden Hamlin-Uele limping off early on and Tyrone May stretchered off at the start of the second half.
That said, scrum-half Anthony Milford didn’t help them, getting sin-binned for a late hit on Tomkins in the 63rd minute. Makinson slotted that penalty and Farnworth got a deserved try when Samoa were down to 12 men.
Elliott Whitehead also scrambled over. The Canberra second-row then quickly got his second when Makinson raced away down the left flank. Makinson got one of his own as he latched onto Williams’ kick, emphatic England really rubbing it in.
But there was more to come as Williams exposed tired defence to cross off another Welsby pass and when Tomkins fired a 40/20, Tom Burgess bulldozed over as well.
As they look to become the first British side to win the World Cup in 50 years, England will certainly go into next Saturday’s game against France at Bolton in confident mood. Attendance at St James' Park was 43,119.
