The men's squad featured 11 players aged 23 or under, with a roster largely comprised of players who maintain full-time occupations away from rugby league.
The accumulating setbacks mean that for the first time in World Cup history, neither England's men nor their women are expected to feature in the last four.
England's rugby league campaign faces a historic exit following a combination of injuries, travel complications, and a tournament format that pitted the team against Tonga in an immediate opening test.
Critics noted that the tournament structure placed England in immediate jeopardy, with suggestions that an opening match against France would have aligned better with other northern hemisphere-based rosters.
The squad faced additional difficulties after a defeat by Tonga forced them to chase the scoreboard while depending on favorable results elsewhere.
However, structural disadvantages and the rapid progression of the game in the southern hemisphere left the northern hemisphere game facing deep-rooted problems.
Prior to the tournament, the team managed only four on-field training sessions in Australia.
Reflecting on the competitive gap, observers noted the contrast with the thriving NRL.
Following that 30-12 loss, McDermott said:"You give me another two or three weeks preparation or another couple of games of preparation leading into the tournament and I'd be really excited."With the tournament organisers planning travel itineraries for the teams involved, any post-World Cup debrief ought to examine how that situation was allowed to occur.