ENGLAND are facing the prospect of having to defeat both Scotland and Australia to progress to the Ladbrokes Four Nations final after losing 17-16 in their opener against New Zealand at the John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield.

Man of the match Shaun Johnson’s drop goal sealed the Kiwis’ victory 16 minutes from time in what was the first tournament game under new England boss Wayne Bennett and his assistants Dennis Betts, the Widnes Vikings head coach, and Paul Anderon, the former Huddersfield Giants boss.

A bullocking run from Canterbury Bulldogs’ ex-St Helens prop James Graham in England’s first set led to a penalty for lying on and St George-Illawarra Dragons half back Gareth Widdop banged over the penalty goal from 30 metres for a 2-0 lead inside three minutes.

Huddersfield’s Jermaine McGilvary cleared the danger from a Shaun Johnson grubber kick but England faced six more tackles from a drop-out.

Wayne Bennett’s boys forced a handling error with Warrington’s Chris Hill regaining possession for England, who quickly doubled the lead from a second Widdop penalty after Johnson’s high tackle on Castleford’s Luke Gale.

A huge shot from Leeds centre Kallum Watkins on Tommy Leuluai earned England possession on halfway and Hill steamed towards the line from a feed by Canberra’s Josh Hodgson but referee Robert Hicks ruled the pass went forward.

England were soon on the attack again though after Hodgson’s clubmate Jordan Rapana obstructed Leeds wingman Ryan Hall as he hunted down Widdop’s last-tackle high kick.

From the mounting pressure St Helens’ Jonny Lomax joined the line and threw long for McGilvary to get over the whitewash but three Kiwis defenders scrambled to hold him up and push him back before the set ended with a retrieved kick.

Hill slipped the ball out of a tackle and Josh Hodgson kicked for Widdop, Dan Sarginson and John Bateman to tackle Rapana over his own line and force a repeat set.

Wigan’s Bateman went on his own from dummy half was held up by the desperate Kiwis defence.

South Sydney’s Tom Burgess replaced Hill just as Graham got over the line from first receiver but he stretched out his arm in a double movement as New Zealand survived again.

Wigan-bound Leuluai decided it was time England had a dose of their own medicine, with his grubber kick forcing McGilvary to tidy up behind his own try line and giving the Kiwis another six attacking tackles.

A scramble from a Johnson dabbed kick brought an end to the opportunity and the third of the Burgess boys, George, joined the action as Graham took a breather.

The kiwis turned down a straight 35-metre penalty goal attempt in a bid to crank up the pressure on England’s goal-line defence.

But from a further penalty for offside brought a change of tact and Brisbane Broncos’ Jordan Kahu got the Kiwis off the mark with the boot after 30 minutes.

New Zealand were straight back on the attack after Widdop’s restart went dead.

Leuluai spotted Lomax in the defensive line and kicked to the corner for Solomone Kata but the Saints man reacted brilliantly to beat the New Zealand Warriors centre to the grounding.

England were well and truly under the cosh as Johnson’s grubber was hacked dead by Sarginson.

And finally the defence cracked as Johnson came from deep to meet a ball that travelled from one side of the field to the other before firing a pass to put Rapana over in the right corner.

Kahu’s conversion from the touchline was inches wide, leaving the Kiwis 6-4 ahead after 35 minutes.

New Zealand, eager for more points before the break, reached the England line again with a chip kick from Johnson that was knocked on under pressure by Wigan’s Sarginson.

Elliott Whitehead’s interception of a Johnson pass was a timely one as England regained possession for the first time since Widdop’s mistake from the restart as the half-time hooter loomed.

England got the second half off to the worst possible start when Johnson intercepted Widdop’s pass meant for Bateman and the number seven had the legs on chasers Gale and Hall to complete his 60-metre dash. Kahu’s conversion moved the Kiwis 12-4 in front.

Isaac Luke lost possession on halfway to give England an early chance to strike back and a repeat set came about from Hodgson’s kick being pushed dead by Kahu before Widdop pounced.

And England got the response they desperately needed as McGilvary cut inside from Whitehead’s long pass and Widdop converted from the touchline for 12-10 after 48 minutes.

Warrington’s Daryl Clark joined the action and Graham returned too, with 29 minutes remaining, with Mike Cooper getting his first taste a few moments later along with Hill and skipper Sam Burgess returning.

McGilvary bundled St George’s Jason Nightingale into touch as he headed for the corner post but the Kiwis were not to be denied.

Rapana charged onto an offload from Parramatta’s Manu Ma’u before slipping out of Gale’s tackle and skirting Lomax to finish off a 50-metre dash, making it 16-10 after 57 minutes.

But England were back in it from a penalty as Clark and Gale combined for Widdop to speculatively flick on the ball for Hall to fly in at the left corner. And Widdop’s goal levelled matters with 61 minutes played.

A Johnson drop goal the next time the Kiwis got in range nudged the visitors back in front.

Hodgson returned for Hill with 12 minutes to go as England sought a way to win.

A promising attacking move from right to left, 20-metres out, broke down when Sarginson failed to take in Widdop’s bullet pass.

Cooper, with a surging charge, got England to the Kiwis line but over adventurous play from Sam Burgess throwing the ball forward through his legs cost his side possession.

A 40-metre Widdop drop goal attempt sailed wide with three minutes remaining.

England: Jonny Lomax; Jermaine McGilvary, Kallum Watkins, Dan Sarginson, Ryan Hall; Gareth Widdop, Luke Gale; Chris Hill, Josh Hodgson, James Graham, John Bateman, Elliott Whitehead, Sam Burgess. Subs: Thomas Burgess, George Burgess, Mike Cooper, Daryl Clark.

New Zealand: Jordan Kahu; Jason Nightingale, Solomone Kata, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Jordan Rapana; Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson; Jesse Bromwich, Isaac Luke, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Kevin Proctor, Tohu Harris, Jason Taumalolo. Subs: Lewis Brown, Martin Taupau, Manu Ma’u, Adam Blair.