10 of the best moments of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup

With another World Cup now in the history books and another title headed the way of Australia, we can hit the rewind button and reminisce on some of the great moments this year’s tournament gifted us.

With pandemic-effected scheduling now hopefully but a memory, the sport enters a telling period of potential growth on the back on the exciting gains made at this year’s World Cup.

The diversity of rugby league was on display from the outset and multiple teams and individuals left an everlasting impact throughout their journey.

Here is a look back at some of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup’s greatest moments:

Mougios’ in-and-away beauty for Greece

World Cup rookies Greece submitted an early claim for ‘try of the tournament’ in their opener against France in Doncaster.

As the seconds ticked away, centre Nick Mougios flew onto a beautiful cross-field chip from skipper Jordan Meads before turning the fullback inside out and racing away for Greece’s second World Cup try.

Mougios’ supreme effort on the world stage will long be remembered by the Greek faithful as they shift their focus to the 2025 World Cup in France and beyond.

Mansour scores in Cedars’ first set of the tournament

Much of the pre-tournament chatter surrounded Michael Maguire’s Kiwis who jetted off to the UK with one of their strongest squads in recent memory.

Their opening minute could not have gone much worse, however, with Michael Cheika’s Cedars winning possession in unlikely fashion off a short kick-off before ending their set with the clash’s opening points.

It was far from regulation, but a Mitchell Moses grubber ricocheted its way into the arms of Brandon Morkos who had it stripped allowing veteran winger Josh Mansour to pounce on it prior to the clock ticking over the 60-second mark.

Kukis hang on in thriller against Wales

Whilst perhaps not the most anticipated clash of the tournament, the meeting between the Cook Islands and Wales in Leigh was one of the group stage’s tightest.

The two exchanged tries early before Davvy Moale and Steven Marsters each crossed to earn the Kukis a six-point lead heading into the final 15 minutes of the encounter.

A last-minute charge-down gave Wales a last-ditch opportunity at a potential game-tying try only for a Caleb Aekins pass to cannon into the back of Anthony Gelling’s arm and hit the turf as the centre pulled off a rare ‘no-look try-saver’.

Jones-Bishop scores Jamaica’s first ever World Cup try

Jamaica’s biggest win came prior to the World Cup during the qualifiers when they earnt a 16-10 upset win over the United States in Jacksonville.

Competing against the likes of Ireland, New Zealand, and Lebanon was always going to be a tall task, however, the talent disparity was unable to prevent them from leaving their mark on the tournament.

Ben Jones-Bishop’s try in their second clash of the tournament against New Zealand was one of the World Cup’s proudest moments.

Jones-Bishop chased a wonky Kieran Rush chip, toed it forward off a ricochet, and won the race to it to score prompting an almighty roar and Reggae Warriors hog pile.

A star is born as Young scores four against Greece

Dom Young surprised many when he opted to represent England over Jamaica at this year’s World Cup but the Huddersfield product quickly left his mark on the tournament scoring nine tries across his five games.

His most dominant outing game against Greece in Sheffield when he bagged four tries, assisted on another, ran for 169 metres and broke six tackles.

Following a breakout year for Newcastle in the NRL, Young has quickly captured the hearts and minds of the English faithful and, at just 21, has the opportunity to continue his meteoric rise in the coming years.

Ngutlik goes long for PNG

Few nations pulled off as many head-turning plays as Papua New Guinea who made an excellent account of themselves in the group stage before a disappointing quarterfinals loss to hosts England.

It was winger Jimmy Ngutlik who came up with arguably Papua New Guinea’s play of the World Cup against the Welsh in Doncaster.

In a simple carry carting it out of his own end, Ngutlik spotted a gap behind the ruck and hightailed it between a pair of Welsh defenders before burning the fullback and racing away from a trio of chasers to dive over in slippery conditions.

Barely a fingertip was laid on him as he crafted one of the best individual efforts of the tournament and, at just 22, it is surely the first of many for the Kumuls flyer.

Naiqama’s quarterfinal double against the Kiwis

Many viewed New Zealand’s quarterfinals clash Fiji as somewhat of a warmup game in preparation for their highly-anticipated semi-final against Australia; a formality of sorts.

Fiji had other thoughts, however, and came within inches of an upset for the ages in wet conditions in Hull.

Skipper Kevin Naiqama, the most capped player in Fijian history and veteran of three World Cups, did all he could to push his country towards an unlikely win scoring two tries, running for 136 metres, and breaking five tackles.

The first of his tries came in the opening quarter when he hit a beautiful hole running off fullback Sunia Turuva before bagging a second just after halftime off a superb acting-half scoot down the short-side that saw him slide over in the corner.

Siva Tau versus Sipi Tau

An aspect that has become synonymous with international rugby league clashes are the Pasifika war cries that send crowds into frenzies and ensure intense openings to matches.

One of the World Cup’s most moving moments came prior to Sāmoa and Tonga’s quarterfinals clash in Warrington when Sāmoa’s Siva Tau led by Junior Paulo and Tonga’s Sipi Tau led by Siliva Havili clashed thunderously.

Sāmoa came out victors in one of the great World Cup showdowns 20 points to 18 as Anthony Milford put together his finest outing in a blue-and-white jersey to earn his side a shot at redemption against England.

Hunt, Addo-Carr link for remarkable semi-final try

Australia and New Zealand’s semi-final clash in Leeds was close to the best of the tournament; a back-and-forth affair between the world’s two best sides.

At no stage did Australia look particularly convincing but it did not stop Ben Hunt and Josh Addo-Carr from linking for one of the great World Cup tries.

Last-tackle and playing off the back of a sideline break, Hunt jumped in at second receiver from 40 out and put up a cross-field Hail Mary that landed in the lap of a gliding Addo-Carr who dived over the line to score untouched.

Few Kangaroos tries in recent memory have been as memorable and, given Australia ultimately hoisted the World Cup Trophy, it likely will not be the last we see of it.

Crichton’s historic double at Emirates

Sāmoa star Stephen Crichton is no stranger to producing momentum-turning moments on the big stage and his abilities were on full show in his side’s 27-26 semi-final upset over England in London.

Crichton, who earlier this year became the first player since Brett Kenny in 1983 to score in three-straight NRL Grand Finals, came up with two major plays in Sāmoa’s win over England to help send them to their first ever World Cup Final.

The first, a 73rd-minute, 63-metre intercept that put Sāmoa ahead entering the dying stages.

The second, an 84th-minute, walk-off field goal to silence the Emirates Stadium crowd and send Sāmoan fans across the delirious with joy; arguably the biggest moment in Rugby League World Cup history.

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