The Rugby League World Cup has arrived with New Zealand entering into it as the number one ranked team in the world. However, Australia will be looking to win their third-straight title on the bounce in England, while also facing stiff competition from the likes of Tonga and Samoa.
Here is all the latest team list and news for week one of the tournament.
Tonga v Papua New Guinea
Wednesday October 19, 5.30am AEDT at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens
Tonga team: 20. Tolutau Koula 2. Daniel Tupou 4. Will Penisini 19. Moses Suli 5. Sione Katoa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Tui Lolohea 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 14. Soni Luke 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho (c) 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Keaon Koloamatangi 15. Haumole Olakau’atu 16. Tevita Tatola 17. Moeaki Fotuaika 18. David Fifita 21. Ben Murdoch-Masila 18th & 19th man: 3. Siosifa Talakai 24. Isaiya Katoa
Papua New Guinea team: 1. Alex Johnston 3. Nene MacDonald 4. Justin Olam 20. Rodrick Tai 5. Xavier Coates 6. Kyle Laybutt 7. Lachlan Lam 8. Wellington Albert 9. Edwin Ipape 10. Sylvester Namo 11. Nixon Putt 12. Rhyse Martin 13. Jacob Alick 15. Dan Russell 18. Keven Appo 21. Sherwin Tanabi 23. Watson Boas 18th & 19th man: 16. MacKenzie Yei 17. Emmanuel Waine
Wales v Cook Islands
Thursday October 20, 5.30am AEDT at Leigh Sports Village Stadium, Leigh
Wales team: 1. Caleb Aekins 2. Rhys Williams 4. Will Evans 5. Dalton Grant 6. Elliot Kear (c) 7. Josh Ralph 8. Anthony Walker 9. Matty Fozard 10. Dan Fleming 11. Rhodri Lloyd 12. Chester Butler 13. Ben Evans 14. Ollie Olds 15. Curtis Davies 16. Joe Burke 17. Bailey Antrobus 18. Connor Davies 19. Mike Butt 21. Tom Hopkins
Cook Islands team (alphabetical): 14. Tevin Arona 7. Johnathon Ford 3. Anthony Gelling 1. Kayal Iro 8. Makahesi Makatoa 5. Steven Marsters 4. Esan Marsters 20. Davvy Moale 10. Tepai Moeroa 17. Rua Ngatikaura 19. Pride Petterson-Robati 11. Dominique Peyroux 12. Brendan Piakura 23. Reuben Porter 16. Reubenn Rennie 6. Brad Takairangi (c) 9. Aaron Teroi 13. Zane Tetevano 2. Paul Ulberg
Results Week One
England 60 - 6 Samoa
Sunday October 16, 12:30am AEDT at St. James’ Park, Newcastle
England team: 1. Sam Tomkins (c) 2. Tommy Makinson 3. Kallum Watkins 4. Herbie Farnworth 6. Jack Welsby 7. George Williams 8. Tom Burgess 9. Micky McIlorum 10. Luke Thompson 11. Elliott Whitehead 13. Victor Radley 14. Dom Young 15. Morgan Knowles 16. Matty Lees 17. Mike Cooper 18. Chris Hill 20. Mike McMeeken 21. Marc Sneyd 24. Kai Pearce-Paul
England team news:
Coach Shaun Wane has chosen not to name a starting 17, with a 19-man squad selected instead.
Dom Young looks set to continue his rise with a start on the wing after veteran Ryan Hall was left out.
Victor Radley will play his first competitive fixture in England colours, but the backrow will be weakened with John Bateman serving a suspension. The former Canberra star was sent off in his last game for Wigan for a high shot on Aidan Sezer.
Samoa team (alphabetical): 13. Josh Aloiai 4. Stephen Crichton 24. Braden Hamlin-Uele 20. Chanel Harris-Tavita 23. Oregon Kaufusi 16. Spencer Leniu 9. Danny Levi 6. Jarome Luai 14. Tyrone May 7. Anthony Milford 8. Josh Papalii 10. Junior Paulo (c) 12. Jayden Su’a 1. Joseph Suaalii 18. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 3. Izack Tago 17. Martin Taupau 5. Brian To’o 22. Kelma Tuilagi
Samoa team news:
The Samoan team has been named alphabetically but judging by their squad numbers most of the starting side can be deduced.
The Penrith contingent, unlike with the Kangaroos, look set to play in the crucial opening match. Jarome Luai will be in the halves, while a strong backline featuring Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton and Izack Tago will line-up. Charlie Staines is the only Penrith player to miss out.
Junior Paulo will captain the side and form a front row partnership with Josh Papalii, while Spencer Leniu and Martin Taupau will likely provide impact off the bench.
Australia 42 -8 Fiji
Sunday October 16, 5.30am AEDT at Headingly Stadium, Leeds
Australia team: 1. James Tedesco (c) 9. Josh Addo-Carr 8. Latrell Mitchell 4. Valentine Holmes 23. Murray Taulagi 7. Cameron Munster 2. Daly Cherry-Evans 18. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 3. Ben Hunt 5. Jake Trbojevic 17. Angus Crichton 22. Jeremiah Nanai 11. Cameron Murray 20. Harry Grant 16. Reuben Cotter 13. Pat Carrigan 10. Jack Wighton. 12. Matt Burton 19. Campbell Graham
Australia team news:
Mal Meninga elected to name his side early, noting how he would rotate through his squad throughout the group stages. After their grand final exploits, Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin are all rested along with Reagan Campbell-Gillard who was part of the losing Parramatta team.
James Tedesco will start at fullback and captain the national side for the first time in his career, while former captain Daly Cherry-Evans will join Cam Munster in the halves.
Fiji team: 1. Sunia Turuva 5. Miteli Vulikijapani 4. Kevin Naiqama (c) 19. Semi Valemei 2. Maika Sivo 6. Sitiveni Moceidreke 7. Brandon Wakeham 17. King Vuniyayawa 9. Apisai Koroisau 13. Tui Kamikamica 12. Viliame Kikau 22. Josh Wong 16. Lamar Manuel-Liolevave 14. Penioni Tagituimu 23. Jowasa Drodrolagi 10. Ben Nakubuwai 11. Taniela Sadrugu 18. Netane Masima 21. Isaac Lumelume
Fiji team news:
Fiji have faced plenty of adversity before the tournament has even started, with coach Joe Rabele falling ill. Wise Kativerata has temporarily taken charge of the side in his absence.
Mikaele Ravalawa was unable to recover from a hamstring injury in time to feature, so has flown home with Semi Valemei replacing him.
Scotland 4 - 28 Italy
Monday October 17, 12:30am AEDT at Kingston Park, Newcastle
Scotland team: (alphabetical): 11. Euan Aitken 15. Luke Bain 8. Logan Bayliss-Brow 13. James Bell 7. Ryan Brierley 4. Keiran Buchanan 20. Davey Dixon 24. Dale Ferguson (c) 19. Calum Gahan 6. Bailey Hayward 3. Ben Hellewell 9. Liam Hood 12. Kane Linnett 14. Kyle Schneider 18. Jack Teanby 5. Lachlan Walmsley
Italy team: 1. Luke Polsell 2. Richard Lepori 3. Daniel Atkinson 4. Ethan Natoli 5. Jake Maizen 6. Jack Campagnolo 7. Radean Robinson 10. Anton Iaria 9. Dean Parata 15. Luca Moretti 11. Ryan King 12. Brenden Santi 13. Nathan Brown (c) 14. Joey Tramontana 16. Gioele Celerino 19. Luke Hodge 20. Jack Colovatti 18. Kyle Pickering 17. Ronnie Palumbo
Jamaica 2 - 48 Ireland
Monday October 17, 3am AEDT at Emerald Headingly Stadium, Leeds
Jamaica team: 1. Ben Jones-Bishop 2. Mo Agoro 3. Joe Brown 4. Jacob Ogden 5. Alex Young 6. James Woodburn-Hall 7. Kieran Rush 10. Michael Lawrence 11 AJ Wallace 13. Ashton Golding (c) 15. Jorge Andrade 16. Keenan Tomlinson 17. Aaron Jones-Bishop 18. Abevia McDonald 19. Bradley Ho 20. Greg Johnson 21. Ross Peltier 22. Chevaughan Bailey 24. Andrew Simpson
Ireland team: (alphabetical): 11. James Bentley 8. Liam Byrne 4. Ed Chamberlain 9. Josh Cook 12. Frankie Halton 22. James Hasson 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 6. Luke Keary 7. Joe Keyes 4. Toby King 13. George King (c) 17. James McDonnel 19. Ronan Michael 1. Richie Myler 24. Dan Norman 14. Brendan O’Hagan 16. Harry Rushton 2. Innes Senior 20. Louis Senior
New Zealand 34 -12 Lebanon
Monday October 17, 5.30am AEDT at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
New Zealand team: 1. Joseph Manu 2. Ronaldo Mulitalo 21. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 4. Peta Hiku 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Dylan Brown 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich (c) 9. Brandon Smith 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Isaiah Papali’I 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Kieran Foran 15. Moses Leota 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Briton Nikora 19. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Marata Niukore
New Zealand team news:
Michael Maguire has named his team with Joey Manu, Dylan Brown, Jahrome Hughes and Bandon Smith forming an impressive spine.
Joseph Tapine is carrying an injury into the opener but starts at lock, with captain Jesse Bromwich and James Fisher-Harris creating the front row partnership.
Lebanon team: 1. Jacob Kiraz 2. Josh Mansour 4. Brad Morkos 5. Abbas Miski 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Mitch Moses (c) 8. Kayne Kalache 9. Mikey Tannous 10. Hanna El-Nachar 11. Elie El-Zakhem 12. Charbel Tasipale 13. James Roumanos 14. Anthony Layoun 15. Andrew Kazzi 16. Reece Robinson 17. Jalal Bazzaz 19. Khalil Rahme 20. Jaxson Rahme 21. Josh Maree
Lebanon team news:
Canterbury’s rising star Jacob Kiraz has been named at fullback for the Cedars, with Adam Doueihi and Mitch Moses forming a strong partnership in the halves.
France 34 - 12 Greece
Tuesday October 18, 5.30am AEDT at Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster
France team: 1 Morgan Escare, 2 Arthur Romano, 3 Samisoni Langi, 4 Matthieu Laguerre, 5 Fouad Yaha, 6 Arthur Mourgue, 7 Tony Gigot, 8 Jordan Dezaria, 9 Alrix Da Costa, 10 Lambert Belmas, 11 Benjamin Jullien, 12 Paul Séguier, 13 Benjamin Garcia, 14 Eloi Pélissier, 15 Justin Sangaré, 17 Mickael Goudemand, 19 Corentin Le Cam, 21 Maxime Puech, 23 Cesar Rougé
Greece team: 1 Chaise Robinson, 2 Siteni Taukamo, 3 Terry Constantinou, 4 Nick Mougios, 5 John Mitsias, 6 Lachlan Ilias, 7 Jordan Meads, 8 Robert Tuliatu, 9 Peter Mamouzelos, 10 Stefanos Bastas, 11 Mitchell Zampetides, 12 Nick Flocas, 13 Billy Magoulias, 14 Jake Kambos, 15 Myles Gal, 16 Sebastian Sell, 17 Theodoros Nianiakas, 19 Liam Sue-Tin, 18 Aris Dardamanis
