‘Part of history’: Walsh double ices Kevvie’s Kangaroos’ 3-0 Ashes sweep in England rout

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“To lose 3-0, I feel so gutted for the players, and we’ll reflect hard on what we’ve done, how we’ve played, the squad we’ve picked, how hard we’ve trained.

“Everything will be analysed and reflected on from within. I was genuinely optimistic when we went into this series and it’s been a real test for us.”

Australia boss Kevin Walters said more clashes are needed to help the encourage the competitive balance between the sides.

This was the first Ashes series 2003.

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“For 20-odd years the Ashes haven’t been played, and now it needs to continue on a regular basis, to allow both teams to continue to get better,” Walters said.

“It used to be a part of history and it just helps both nations – a different style of game over here, and the crowd overhere, it’s great Test football.”

Walsh admitted it was a clunky series for the Kangaroos, but a 3-0 result they should be proud of.

“It was a tough one, mate, we knew that they were going to come out firing,” Walsh said.

“It wasn’t our best footy, but we got the job done in the end. I think it’s something that we should be proud of and really build on what we want to go through for the future.”

“I wouldn’t say that’s the best we could play for sure.

“Bit scrappy, but just proud of our defence. The way we worked hard and we’re just really hungry to get better as a group, and I think that’s something that we can take pride in.”

Walsh was happy to tick off his first Kangaroos series with a win and two tries and wants to see more Ashes tours in the future.

“It’s been amazing. Back home, everyone talks about the weather. We came over and it was beautiful, so it’s a really cool experience to have, however many supporters out here in the stands, mate.

“The game’s doing really well over here, and we want to boost it and make it a lot better.

“So, anytime I can get over here and show face and get the young kids out and sign some stuff and get some photos mate here, it’s a dream from the kid that I grew up to where I am now, so proud.”

Grant hopes the Ashes series becomes a much more consistent part of the rugby league calendar in the future.

“It’s been awesome and for a lot of us guys, it’s been our first opportunity to play against England,” Grant said.

“For a lot of the England boys, it was their first opportunity to play against Australia and it’s been enjoyable.

“I hope everyone here has enjoyed the spectacle of the three games. We’ve played some really good footy. London, Liverpool now here in Leeds, and this was the best atmosphere we’ve had.

“So, thanks everyone for turning up and hopefully this concept can keep going for many years to come.”

Grant believes the Kangaroos built combinations over the series and put in their best performance in game three.

“Probably everyone sort of had a bit of more, a bit better of a feel for each other’s games, and everyone was probably pretty keen to play footy,” Grant said.

“But it didn’t go in our favour in a sense of not completing our sets, so we sort of just pulled it back a little bit, simplified things and we played some good footy tonight.

“But as a team, we just kept building each game, so that’s all we can ask for.”

Grant relished with the chance to play with the best in the NRL and believes it will hold the Kangaroos in good stead for next year’s World Cup on home soil.

“It does and I just think it’s enjoyable, you’re playing with the best players in the competition,” Grant said.

“You get to learn often. You get to enjoy each other’s company and then make memories for life.

“We’re going to remember this forever and hopefully in 12 months’ time, there’s an opportunity to pull the green and gold on again and, we’re in better stead from this camp.”

Returning skipper Isaah Yeo returned in style after he was rubbed out of the first two games with a concussion in the opening stages of the series opener and was proud of the series victory.

“It certainly was, the start of the series, obviously, not how I planned it on going, but I’m just really proud of how the group handled it,” Yeo said.

“It wasn’t all perfect. All three games, there was little periods there that were’nt great.

“But the way we defended our try line for periods there was just really proud throughout the whole series.

“And to score some classy tries at the end we just got a bit of that X-Factor, a bit of that brilliance there that could break a game open, and they probably did that in the second half.

“I’m just really proud. It’s been 20 odd years. It’s way too long to not have the Ashes, so to be able to get over here and have an opportunity against the English side, it’s something we definitely didn’t take it for granted, so over the moon.”