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According to captain George Williams, the national team were given a stark "reality check" as Australia clinched the prestigious series.

The Kangaroos' 14-4 victory at the stadium in Liverpool on the weekend gave them a 2-0 series lead, making next week's Headingley encounter a dead rubber.

Shaun Wane's side had come into the series harbouring hopes of inflicting Australia to their maiden Ashes setback since the 1970s.

Recently, they had achieved a dominant victory over the Tongan side and a 2-0 triumph over the Samoan team. But as the prestigious competition resumed after a long break, the English were unable to take the next step against the top-ranked team.

"We take full responsibility. We've had enough preparations to execute properly on the field, and I don't think we've achieved that," Williams stated.

"Credit to Australia. They were strong defensively. But we've got a lot to work on. We're probably not as prepared as we believed we were entering this series.

"This serves as a good wake-up call for us, and we have plenty to develop."

The Kangaroos 'Turn Up and Prove Merciless'

Having been soundly beaten in an error-strewn display at the national stadium, Wane side's were markedly enhanced on Saturday back in the core regions of England's north.

During an energetic first half, the home side elicited errors from the Australians and had all the field position and possession, but unfortunately did not make it count on the scoreboard.

Notably, England have now managed just one score over the series so far, with player the forward powering through late on in the defeat in London.

Conversely, Australia have racked up half a dozen in two games - and when errors began to affect the hosts' play just after the break, it was a case of inevitability, they were going to be made to pay.

First the playmaker went over, and then so too did the forward. From being level at 4-4, the home side were 10 points adrift.

"Proud for the majority of the game. I thought for 70 minutes we were good," said the coach.

"The drop in intensity for 10 minutes after half-time cost us severely. Munster's try was avoidable and should never happen in a international fixture.

"The team is deeply disappointed. So proud the squad had a go but very frustrated with that after half-time, which hurt us heavily."

While the next World Cup in Oceania is just under 12 months away, England's short-term goal will be on trying to regain respect, preventing a 3-0 sweep and addressing the mistakes that irritated Wane.

"I wanted to see additional intensity directed toward Australia. I wanted us to apply sustained attack in the game - we didn't do that last week," added the 61-year-old.

"We did this week. The issue is a bit of detail in our offense where we could have applied under greater stress. It's essential to stop each of [tries] with greater resolve.

"Fair play to the Kangaroos - that is no slight to them. They turn up and are clinical when they capitalize, and we weren't, but defensively we can and should do improve.

"The Australians will be obsessed to win all three Tests and we need to be just as focused to make it 2-1. I've told that to the players. It has to be our primary goal. It will be a tough week but whoever desires it the most will get the win next week."

Intensity Must to Improve in Super League

The English side have played a similar number of Test matches to Australia since the previous global tournament in recent years.

However Wane argues that the quality of the Australian league - and standard of the State of Origin matches between NSW and Queensland - deliver a much better preparation for performing at the top of the international game than what is on offer in the northern hemisphere.

Wane noted that the packed Super League calendar allowed little opportunity for him to train his players during the campaign, which will only raise additional concerns around how England can close the divide to the Kangaroos before heading to Oceania in the next World Cup.

"They participate in a lot of Test matches in their league," Wane added.

"We play ten to fifteen a year. We need really intense games to enhance the competition and improve our prospects of winning these types of matches.

"It was impossible to even train with the squad. We never trained together in the campaign and despite having the full backing of all clubs in Super League.

"I understand in the boots of the head coaches that must to win games. The league is that congested. It's unfortunate but it's not the cause we were defeated today."