As the Rugby League World Cup kicks off in spectacular fashion with the Kangaroos taking on the Kiwis on Thursday night, we run our eye over the contenders for the biggest prize on the international stage.
Australia
As always, the tournament favourites. However, there are many obstacles – Kiwis aside – that the locals will need to overcome. There’s the absence of the best player in the game, injured halfback Nathan Cleary. The unavailability of props Payne Haas and Lindsay Collins, which leaves the Kangaroos light up front, could be just as telling. They can ill-afford for any front-rowers to get injured during the pool games.
Another potential issue is the fact that coach Kevin Walters has picked 10 players who didn’t play finals football and have spent more than a month on the sidelines. Time will tell if they will come in rusty, or better for a freshen-up.
The Roos will also have to contend with speculation about the future of their biggest names. Eleven players – including Latrell Mitchell, Sam Walker, Bradman Best, Jack Bostock, Harry Grant and Cameron Munster – will become free agents if they don’t recommit to their clubs before November 1. Their next move will be a big talking point – and possible distraction – throughout the Cup.
There will also be plenty of conjecture about who should be the team’s first-choice fullback and halfback for the finals, with Reece Walsh and Mitchell Moses selected over grand final heroes James Tedesco and Sam Walker in the opener. The team has plenty of class out wide, although Bostock and Tom Trbojevic haven’t had much recent experience on the wing.
New Zealand
Now this is a pack you’d want to play behind. Naufahu Whyte, James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and Joseph Tapine are as good as any prop rotation assembled. At a time when the Aussies are depleted up front, this is a huge advantage for the Kiwis.
It’s a powerhouse pack that should create momentum for a New Zealand spine that will, for the first time, contain Kalyn Ponga. Ponga and former Knights teammate Dane Gagai have been able to switch their allegiance from Australia.
Hooker Phoenix Crossland’s suspension is a blow, but Jeremy Marshall-King provides creativity from dummy half. Jarome Hughes will call the shots at halfback, and you know it’s a strong spine when Keano Kini is squeezed out of the fullback spot.
Whether there’s as much class across this backline as Australia’s is a debate likely to be decided in the final.
The World Cup provides teams with a short preparation at the end of a long season. Picking six Warriors players will be an advantage from a cohesion standpoint.
Samoa
The runners-up in the last World Cup, Samoa will fancy their chances again. This squad features established stars Jarome Luai, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton and Junior Paulo, who will provide the required leadership.
There’s plenty of excitement about some of the newcomers, namely Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua. This is a platform to further show how far the Newcastle back-rowers have come during a breakout season.
The team has loads of strike power with To’o, Crichton and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Spencer Leniu, coming off his grand final heroics, will provide a point of difference to a steady pack that features Francis Molo and Paulo.
However, much will come down to whether Luai will be able to reproduce his best after going off the boil at Wests Tigers. Luai has previously stood up at international level and his halves pairing with Chanel Harris-Tevita will need to click.
Tonga
Will be looking to reestablish themselves in the international arena after falling to fifth in the world rankings. They have won one of the past nine Tests, stretching to the last World Cup. They were well off the pace last year, copping hidings from Samoa and New Zealand.
On paper, this side should be better than that. Coach Kristian Woolf has a powerful pack at his disposal – including Addin Fonua-Blake, Jason Taumalolo, Stefano Utoikamanu, Demitric Vaimauga, Haumole Olakau’atu, Siua Wong and Taniela Paseka. There’s also class out wide with Rob Toia, Tolu Koula, Lehi Hopoate and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Much will depend on how rising star Isaiya Katoa acquits himself. This is a chance for the Dolphins halfback to stamp himself as a genuine superstar. Halves partner Latu Fainu will also need a big series.
England
There was so much hype about last year’s Ashes series, but England couldn’t have been more disappointing (Australia was only marginally better). That 3-0 series defeat ended the tenure of coach Shaun Wane, with Brian McDermott tasked with restoring credibility.
There’s plenty of NRL talent: Herbie Farnworth, AJ Brimson, Victor Radley, Hugo Savala, Max King, Morgan Knowles, Kai Pearce-Paul and Dom Young. Skipper George Williams, who is returning to Australia with the Dolphins, is another familiar face. How the Australian-based players gel with their Super League counterparts during a short preparation will be vital.
Before the Ashes, England won seven Tests in a row, including against Samoa and Tonga. However, that streak was achieved at home and playing here during an Australian summer is a different challenge.
With the NRL in discussions to purchase the Super League and a World Cup up for grabs, there’s an opportunity for the English game to get a big boost over the next month.
The rest
With the Papua New Guinea Chiefs coming into the NRL in 2028, this is a fantastic opportunity for Willie Peters to cast his eye over the nation’s home-grown talent. Their first opponents, Lebanon, feature Michael Cheika as coach and contains NRL players Jacob Kiraz, Jason Saab, Alex Twal and Jordan Samrani.
A Fijian side with Jacob Saifiti, Kurt Donoghoe, Sunia Turuva and Brandon Wakeham should beat the Cook Islands in their first clash. The other teams are coming over for the experience.