THE Poms were sent packing, but not without a fight first.

Star Englishman Sam Burgess took that last part seriously, earning himself more than a few fans in the process.

Five things we learned from the Kangaroos defeat of England to send them crashing out of the Four Nations.

THE BIFF’S BACK, BRIEFLY

Sam Burgess doesn’t suffer too many fools, and David Klemmer was, as the kids used to say, acting one.

So Burgess put one on him. The world kept spinning, Klemmer kept grinning, and we all got on with it.

English skipper Sam Burgess was in the thick of a fiery encounter with the Kangaroos. Source: Getty Images

This was in the 72nd minute mind you, and the game was well and truly gone. Klemmer’s carry-on after a Matt Gillett try was unnecessary, but entirely standard behaviour in modern day rugby league.

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Burgess cracked it, then cracked him with a quick jab that would have earned him a mandatory 10 minutes in the bin at NRL level.

As referee Robert Hicks explained, Klemmer more or less got what was coming to him, the matter was thus settled and the boys played on.

Mal Meninga confirmed afterwards that Klemmer, as you’d suspect, had no issue with it.

“He’s fine, he loved it,” Meninga said.

“It’s Test match footy, it brought a smile to his face.”

He’s not the only one. Don’t expect punching to come roaring back into fashion in the NRL — It’s simply not going to happen.

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It’s also not the answer to eradicating the endless niggling and nagging that is now the norm.

Rugby league and society have gone past the days of enforcing with the fists.

The answer lies in strong policing from the officials and the introduction of a five-minute sin bin.

Burgess just showed us what the game could and should be without it.

NEW BREED OF BLUE ROOS SHINE

Boyd Corner was one of Australia’s best. Source: Getty Images

There’s plenty to be excited about ahead of next year’s World Cup and for the future after the performances of the Aussie big men.

Aaron Woods, David Klemmer, Boyd Cordner, Tyson Frizell and Trent Merrin were all fantastic against England’s star-studded pack and caused plenty of problems with strong carries, tackle busts and freak offloads.

What do they have in common?

They’re all from NSW.

Blues coach Laurie Daley must be licking his lips.

WAYNE WAS WRONG

George Williams should have started for England. Not just in this game, but for the whole Four Nations.

The 22-year-old was selected on the bench against Australia after a man of the match effort last week against Scotland, but Wayne Bennett must be ruing that decision now.

Williams was injected into the game midway through the second half as the match started to slip from England’s grasp, but he made his presence felt with two try assists.

But it all came too late.

Bennett tinkered with his halves combination throughout the tournament, using three different pairings in three games — hardly ideal when you’re trying to build on the previous week.

ENGLAND ARE THEIR OWN WORST ENEMY

English hooker Josh Hodgson conceded four penalties against Australia. Source: Getty Images

“They think the opposition beats them, it isn’t,” Wayne Bennett said of his English side afterwards.

The Kangaroos bevy of champions might take umbrage at that.

But England could well have knocked them off but for a series of fundamental errors that have held them back in the past, and will continue to in the future unless they find the fix.

Gareth Widdop failing to find touch from a penalty six minutes in. Josh Hodgson doing the same one minute from the break. Coach killing 101 from England’s two most experienced playmakers.

Hodgson also ended up with four penalties against his name, while skipper Burgess conceded two, prompting a frank assessment from Bennett afterwards.

“Sam gives away far too many penalties. He does that for South Sydney as well. He needs to change.”

PUT THE REF BACK IN HIS BOX

The man in the middle was bang on with his handling of the Burgess-Klemmer fracas. His first half was anything but.

Sole referee Robert Hicks was as big an influence throughout the first half as anyone on either side, never a good sign.

He pinged pedantically around the ruck for the first 20 odd minutes and had blown 13 penalties by halftime.

Thankfully Hicks dialled it back after the break with the final count ending 10-8 in England’s favour.

These writers are on Twitter: @dan_walsh64 @JohnDean_

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