Australia clinched the best-of-three series in the second Test held in Liverpool, securing a 14-4 victory over a determined England side.

Despite a much-improved performance compared to their initial Test defeat, England struggled to find the decisive edge needed to overcome the Australians.

Sam Lisone, a former player for New Zealand Warriors and Gold Coast Titans, expressed his frustration with the outcome. He attributed the loss to the exclusion of his Leeds Rhinos teammate, Jake Connor, from the lineup.

Former New Zealand Warriors and Gold Coast Titans forward Sam Lisone was left livid at the result, believing the absence of Leeds Rhinos teammate Jake Connor was behind the loss.

The halfback was named Man of Steel as the best player in the UK Super League, but coach Shaun Wane could not find a spot for him in his English side.

It was the headline story during the series in the UK and Lisone, who will move to Hull next season, took to social media to unload on Wane for leaving out the talented playmaker.

Former NRL star Sam Lisone was not impressed with England coach Shaun Wane and his selections for the Ashes series against Australia

Lione posted this tirade to his Instagram Story, which was later deleted by the Leeds forward

Wane was left to rue what could have been with Australia taking an unassailable two-game lead in the Ashes series

Lisone believed his teammate and Man of Steel winner Jake Connor should have been selected

‘Pick Jake Connor you soft fat [homophonic slur] lad @shaunwane,’ he posted in a now-deleted Instagram story.

Wane chose Harry Smith to partner NRL-bound halfback George Williams. He also picked Hull KR playmaker Mikey Lewis to come off the bench, leaving Connor out altogether.

Wane wasn’t making any excuses for the loss, but did admit his side lacked the killer instinct required to beat Australia. 

‘We got beat. There was some improvement, but at the end of the day they won the Ashes, we didn’t … it’s really disappointing,’ he said.

‘I thought we had a foothold in the game at times but it just weren’t enough against a really good team. We didn’t have that killer instinct at their end but we’ve created a lot.

I’ thought we did a lot of really good things. We asked a lot of questions – we completed at 90 per cent.

‘But same again, we started the second half really poorly and they punished us. Lesson learned, but it’s a really tough lesson to learn.’

Williams, who has one more season left with Warrington before he links with The Dolphins in the NRL in 2027,  also admitted their attacking structures were not up to the standard required.

‘I don’t think we started the second half well at all – the very same as last week. Australia scored two quick tries and that’s pretty much the game. Then we’re chasing points, we’re very lateral, not very clinical at all,’ he said.

‘So, we’re very disappointed – we showed improvements in the first half, but not good enough at this level.

‘I don’t think our shape was too effective at the end, with tired bodies, we’re just going through the motions. A spirited performance, but not good enough.’