Andrew Johns fears for the state of rugby league in England should Australia record an Ashes whitewash over the next three weeks.

The game’s Eighth Immortal spent time working with players from the Warrington Wolves’ academy in blistering heat at Sydney Olympic Park earlier this week, and was impressed by some of the club’s teenagers.

Johns said the best way for England to keep developing the next generation of players was for their national side to compete strongly on the world stage – starting with the three-Test Ashes series against the Kangaroos.

“The game is flying here [Australia], it’s flying in New Zealand, the Pacific nations are just getting bigger, but we need England to be strong,” Johns said.

“This Ashes series is so important for the game over there. They will be physical

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