Australia are the only men’s team assured of a Rugby League World Cup semi-final spot heading into the last round of the group stage, with New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, England and Papua New Guinea all still fighting for the other three places.
Head-to-head results are the first tiebreaker, then points differential, NRL.com explained in its guide to the final weekend. Here is what every men’s team needs, with all times AEDT.
Australia
The Kangaroos have already qualified and can lock up first place in their group by beating the Cook Islands in Townsville at 8.05pm on Saturday 31 October. Their semi-final is at Allianz Stadium on Sunday 8 November, in a double-header with the Jillaroos.
Read more: Kangaroos Team: Sam Walker Dropped as Dearden Partners Munster
New Zealand v Fiji: winner goes through
The Kiwis and Fiji meet at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast at 3.30pm on Saturday 31 October. It is simple: the winner makes the semi-finals and the loser is out.
Samoa and Tonga in control
Samoa and Tonga play at a sold-out CommBank Stadium at 8.05pm on Sunday 1 November. A win guarantees either side a semi-final berth, and a Samoa win would also secure top spot on the combined table for Pools B and C.
If Samoa lose, a Papua New Guinea win over England would still send them through. If England win, Samoa’s place comes down to points differential, where they lead England by 68 points. Tonga, who beat England in round one, go through even if they lose to Samoa as long as England beat PNG.
Read more: Jamayne Isaako Breaks Kiwis Record in 82-16 Rout of Cook Islands
England and PNG need big help
England face Papua New Guinea at WIN Stadium in Wollongong at 8.05pm on Friday 30 October, and the loser is out. England then need Tonga to beat Samoa by a big margin to make up a 68-point gap, while PNG need Samoa to thrash Tonga to overturn an 88-point deficit.
Women’s World Cup
The Jillaroos are through and can finish first in their pool by beating Wales at CommBank Stadium at 3.40pm on Sunday 1 November. England and Samoa play off for a semi-final place at WIN Stadium at 5.45pm on Friday, while the Kiwi Ferns, Fiji and PNG are chasing the two spots in Pool B.
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