The locally based players of Jamaica's Rugby League squad returned to the island Monday night still smarting from their heart-rending loss to the USA in what was a must-win game if they were to qualify for the Rugby League World Cup in 2013.

Jamaica went into the three team qualifier knowing that they had to win all their games to advance and started out well when they defeated South Africa 20-6 on October 19. The United States had earlier defeated the Rhinos 40-4 and so it came down to the match between the USA's Tomahawks and the Rugby Reggae Boyz to decide which team would be making reservations for the United Kingdom in the fall of 2013.

During the match played on Sunday at Campbell's Field in Philadelphia, Jamaica held their own early on. They actually took the lead 4-0, before the Americans scored to take the lead 6-4 shortly before half-time. The USA extended their lead 10-6 after 55 minutes, but with only a four point lead, Jamaica was still in the hunt. It was then that everything fell apart.

According to the team's vice captain Roy Calvert, injuries halted Jamaica's challenge that saw the Americans scoring an additional 30 points in the final 25 minutes of play.

"We were left with one fit player on the bench for the final 25 minutes," Calvert said. "At this level that is a killer."

In Rugby League teams play with 13 players on the field and four on the bench. Teams are allowed 12 interchanges during each game. Calvert explained that most coaches will leave five of those changes for the final 20 minutes as that is the time when fatigue plays a major role in the outcome of games.

"Since we were down to just one fit player we couldn't do that," he said. "And we became undone by tired legs. That is why the US scored so much then."

Richie Barnett injured his ankle during the first 20 minutes of the game but managed to 'tough it out' and play until half time. However, he was unable to return for the second half. Corey Hanson, who had scored earlier in the game to give Jamaica an early lead and was Jamaica's best player on the day, picked up a rib injury and was unable to return for the final 25 minutes. He was replaced by Tyronie Rowe who injured his ankle within five minutes.

With these key players picking up injuries the very physical US team capitalised and ran roughshod over the hamstrung Jamaicans who otherwise played with admirable grit.