Aug 14th, 2017

Aug 14th, 2017

Despite being first held in 1954, the Rugby League World Cup has been something of a sporadic tournament, having had one, three, four, five, and even eight-year gaps.

But after the successes of the 2008 and 2013 tournaments, the RLWC has designs on becoming a ‘once every four years’ event, which means we’re due one in 2017 – and Australia has the co-hosting rights, along with New Zealand, while a number of matches will also be played in Papua New Guinea.

So which nations will feature, who’s in what pool, where will the matches be played, and when is the final set to be played?

Nations

Australia

The ten-time tournament champions come into the 2017 World Cup as overwhelming favourites – something coach Mal Meninga will try to keep under wraps as much as possible.

However, with an ageing side and regular halfback Jonathan Thurston ruled out through injury, are the Kangaroos vulnerable?

New Zealand

While the Kiwis may seriously struggle against the Kangaroos in the mid-year Test, they have a tendency to get it together over the course of a tournament. As a result they took out both the 2008 World Cup and the 2014 Four Nations.

However, those results came under former coach Stephen Kearney – can new clipboard holder David Kidwell keep the fire burning?

England

Technically England have never won a World Cup, with the 1954, ’60 and ’72 tournaments having been taken out by Great Britain – so Scotland and Wales have claim to those trophies as well.

Regardless, with the likes of James Graham, the Burgess boys and Josh Hodgson in the squad, and supercoach Wayne Bennett holding the reins, they’re primed to break the 60-plus-year duck.

Scotland

The Scots have had a bit of a disrupted lead-up, with prop Adam Walker being withdrawn from the squad after testing positive for cocaine.

Still, under the guidance of long-standing coach Steve McCormack, and with Lachlan Coote, Euan Aitken, Kane Linnett and Luke Douglas in the squad – as well as legendary halfback and captain Danny Brough – they’ve experience and talent enough to cause some waves.

Samoa

The Samoan squad is in something of a state of flux, as Australia and New Zealand get first dibs on virtually all of their players, however the island nation has depth enough that coach Matt Parish will have a full squad of NRL players regardless of who ends up playing for the Kangaroos or Kiwis.

France

France used to have the reputation of being rugby league’s great entertainers. That has probably gone a bit by the wayside, but with Catalans Dragons consistently tossing up competitive sides in the English Super League, there’s no shortage of French blokes who can chuck a Steden around with a bit of panache.

Ireland

Everyone wants to be Irish, right? You can’t walk a foot in any direction in America without someone telling you how they’re Irish. So is this a team made up of Plastic Paddies? Actually, the majority are lads who either play in the Super League, or for such famous rugby league clubs as Ballynahinch Rabbitohs or Athboy Longhorns.

Still, you can be sure they’ll have no shortage of ‘compatriot’ supporters in the stands.

Fiji

It will be very interesting to see if Jarryd Hayne is picked for the Kangaroos and, if not, whether coach Mick Potter decides the superstar is worth having among his workmanlike squad.

Of course there’s nothing wrong with being ‘workmanlike’ in the game of rugby league. This squad is made up of NRL players who are either lesser lights or not yet in their prime, but none of them will hold any fear facing up to the Kangaroos or Kiwis.

Wales

Another squad consisting of names not many Aussies will know, but the Welsh won the 2015 European Cup, so a lack of stars hasn’t meant a lack of results.

It’s another squad largely made up of Super League players, with the odd player from a semi-professional Welsh side, as well as Andrew Gay of the Queensland Cup’s Mackay Cutters tossed in for good measure.

USA

The States is a team which, historically, Aussies have turned out to represent at World Cups. But with the 12-team USA RL competition up and running, the local lads will be none too pleased for a bunch of Aussies to take their rightful spots in the Tomahawks’ squad – and competition for spots, as a rule, is a good indicator of squad strength.

Tonga

Another nation that will be left waiting to see who the Aussies and Kiwis select before they are sure the make-up of their squad. Take Andrew Fifita – the Sharks wrecking ball was named for Tonga ahead of the mid-season Test against Samoa in May, before being called up to the Kangaroos team for their match against New Zealand. Coach Kristian Woolf will be hoping his charges have quiet finals series, as that will give him a better chance of actually selecting the side he wants.

Italy

The eight-team Italian Serie A competition gives the Azzuri a decent base to work off, however, if the 2013 World Cup is any indication, the Italians will likely be mostly made up of Super League and NRL players. Expect to see the likes of Paul Vaughan and Aidan Guerra playing for Cameron Ciraldo’s team, with James Tedesco certain of getting a call up if he doesn’t make Mal Meninga’s side.

Papua New Guinea

After sensationally declaring he would never play for his home nation again, Sharks rake James Segeyaro said in August he will suit up for PNG at the World Cup, with aims of captaining the side. And with three games being played at Port Moresby, as well the PNG Hunters playing in the Queensland Cup since 2014, the Kumuls shape as dark horses for the tournament.

Lebanon

While they come into the tournament as the lowest ranked team, the Cedars will have the services of such NRL stars as Robbie Farah, Mitchell Moses, Michael Lichaa and Tim Mannah. Josh Mansour is another set to get a call up for Brad Fittler’s side if he isn’t selected by Australia. This is a team that could do some damage.

Eligibility rules

In September 2016, the Rugby League International Federation introduced new rules regarding eligibility for international matches.

The major rule for our purposes is that players who are eligible for both a top-tier nation and a developing nation can represent the latter without it harming their future prospects for the former.

The most famous example of this would be Anthony Milford. If he is not selected to represent Australia, the new rules allow him to play for Samoa without it having any bearing on Milford’s future prospects for Queensland or Australia.

In short, it means more of the NRL’s best players are set to appear in the upcoming tournament, which has to be a positive for both the game and fans.

Pools

The nations' current RLIF rankings are in parentheses.

Pool A: Australia (1), England (3), France (6), Lebanon (21)

Pool B: New Zealand (2), Scotland (4), Tonga (11), Samoa (5)

Pool C: PNG (15), Wales (9), Ireland (7)

Pool D: Fiji (8), USA (10), Italy (14)

Fixtures

Friday, October 27: Australia v England, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium

Saturday, October 28: PNG v Wales, National Football Stadium, Port Moresby

Saturday,October 28: New Zealand v Samoa, Mount Smart, Auckland

Saturday, October 28: Fiji v USA, Townsville Stadium

Sunday, October 29: Scotland v Tonga, Barlow Park, Cairns

Sunday, October 29: Ireland v Italy, Barlow Park, Cairns

Sunday, October 29: France v Lebanon, Canberra Stadium

Friday, November 3: Australia v France, Canberra Stadium

Saturday, November 4: New Zealand v Scotland, Christchurch Stadium

Saturday, November 4: Samoa v Tonga, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Saturday, November 4: England v Lebanon, Sydney Football Stadium

Sunday, November 5: PNG v Euro Ireland, National Football Stadium, Port Moresby

Sunday, November 5: Italy v USA, Townsville Stadium

Sunday, November 5: Fiji v Wales, Townsville Stadium

Friday, November 10: Fiji v Italy, Canberra Stadium

Saturday, November 11: Samoa v Scotland, Barlow Park, Cairns

Saturday, November 11: New Zealand v Tonga, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Saturday, November 11: Australia v Lebanon, Sydney Football Stadium

Sunday, November 12: PNG v USA, National Football Stadium, Port Moresby

Sunday, November 12: Wales vs Ireland, Perth Rectangular Stadium

Sunday, November 12: England v France, Perth Rectangular Stadium

Finals

Friday, November 17: Quarter-final, Darwin Stadium

Saturday, November 18: Quarter-final, Christchurch Stadium

Saturday, November 18: Quarter-final, Wellington Regional Stadium

Sunday, November 19: Quarter-final, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium

Friday, November 24: Semi-final, Brisbane Stadium

Saturday, November 25: Semi-final, Mount Smart, Auckland

Saturday, December 2: Final, Brisbane Stadium