Rugby League World Cup: Week One Wrap

There were some major results in an historic opening week of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup with some valiant performances, some uninspiring ones, and some surprises. Here are how things unfolded:

England demolish Sāmoa in shock 60-6 rout

In the opening showdown of the tournament, outsiders England came away with an incredible 60-6 victory over a star-studded Sāmoan outfit in front of 43,119 spectators in Newcastle.

England dominated from the opening whistle and were rewarded for their effort in the 21st minute when St Helens five-eighth Jack Welsby crossed for the opening points of the tournament. Their onslaught continued moments later with debutant Dom Young bagging two tries in five minutes. An Izack Tago intercept stopped the bleeding ever so slightly for Sāmoa, however, their nightmarish start to the World Cup continued with England pouring on 42 unanswered points in the second half to race away 60-6 victors.

Victor Radley earnt Man of the Match honours in his international debut assisting on three tries and running for 138 metres. Welsby was also superb for England assisting on three tries of his own and running for 102 metres whilst centre Kallum Watkins wound back the clock scoring a try and running for a game-high 202 metres. Sāmoa could not have opened their campaign in worse fashion; aside from their humiliating defeat, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Braden Hamlin-Uele, and Tyrone May were ruled out for the tournament all through injury whilst Anthony Milford will miss their clash against Greece through suspension.

[adrotate group=”9″]

Australia cruise to victory over gutsy Fijians

A rusty Australian side made light work of a spirited Fijian unit winning their first test match in nearly three years 42-8 in Leeds.

Semi Valemei pounced on a Siti Moceidreke grubber in the third minute to give Fiji a shock lead before the class of Australia took over as the defending champions put on 42 unanswered points before fullback Sunia Turuva bagged a consolation four-pointer late. Josh Addo-Carr bagged the first try double of his international career whilst Jeremiah Nanai, Angus Crichton, and Harry Grant all crossed on debut.

Cameron Munster’s two try assists and 102 run metres was enough to earn him Man of the Match honours whilst Addo-Carr ran for a game-high 220 metres to go with his double. Skipper James Tedesco scored a try of his own to go along with 169 run metres and an absurd 18 tackle breaks whilst Roosters teammate Crichton ran for 179 metres and made 32 tackles to go along with his try. Turuva impressed for Fiji scoring a try and running for a team-high 145 metres whilst debutant Siua Wong ran for 88 metres and made a game-high 33 tackles.

Italy pull off strong 28-4 win over Scotland

In the second upset of the tournament, Italy came away with a 28-4 win over Scotland in Newcastle to kick their campaign off on the right note behind a second-half hat-trick from debutant winger Jake Maizen.

Scotland were denied an early shout before Italian fullback Luke Polselli crossed for the game’s opening points in the ninth minute. Hooker Dean Parata took advantage of a tiring Bravehearts defence in the 22nd minute to scoot over and give the Azzurri a 12-nil lead. Maizen got over an early bungle to cross in the 43rd and 48th minute and give the Italians a healthy lead before racing 95 metres downfield off a scrum to snag his third in the 73rd minute and cap off a dream debut. Scottish winger Lachlan Walmsley grabbed a consolation four-pointer in the dying stages, however, the afternoon belonged to Italy as they earnt their first international win in nearly three years.

Italian skipper Nathan Brown was awarded the Man of Match for his 200-metre, 35-tackle effort whilst centre Daniel Atkinson ran for a game-high 256 metres with seven tackle breaks, two line breaks and a try assist. Lock James Bell put in a shift for a disappointing Scottish side running for a team-high 190 metres with seven tackle breaks and a game-high 41 tackles.

Ireland make light work of rookies Jamaica in 10-try display

Jamaica were given a harsh welcome to their debut World Cup with Luke Keary steering Ireland to a comfortable 48-2 victory in Leeds.

Nine players crossed the stripe for the Wolfhounds with winger Louis Senior grabbing a double on debut. Jamaican halfback Kieran Rush slotted a penalty goal over on the stroke of halftime for the country’s first World Cup points leading to an almighty cheer from the passionate Leeds crowd. Ireland’s class was on full display, however, as they ran in seven unanswered second-half tries to trot on to a strong victory just a week out from a decisive clash against Lebanon.

Keary was awarded the Man of the Match for his 183 run metres and two line breaks whilst leading the Irish around the paddock from the opening whistle before earning himself an early shower. Fullback Richie Myler was superb running for 201 metres and assisting on two tries whilst Frankie Halton proved destructive on the edge bagging a try, running for a game-high 210 metres and breaking 11 tackles. For Jamaica, skipper Ashton Golding ran for 114 metres and made a game-high 55 tackles in what was surely a proud moment for he and his teammates.

Kiwis outlast gallant Cedars in Warrington

New Zealand proved too strong for an impressive Lebanon side in Warrington running away 34-12 victors after Cedars five-eighth Adam Doueihi was sensationally sent off in the 59th minute.

Veteran winger Josh Mansour crossed for Lebanon in the opening set of the game after a short kick-off paid dividends before the Kiwis answered moments later through Kenny Bromwich. Kiwis prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona crashed over in the 24th minute before Peta Hiku found the stripe not long after. Abbas Miski dover over in the left corner for Lebanon off the back of a Doueihi 40/20 early in the second half to make things interesting before they went awfully close to levelling things moments later through a fifth-tackle shift that ended with a kick back inside and a late drop. Kiwis fullback Joseph Manu set up Dylan Brown in the 54th minute before submitting his own early bid for ‘try of the tournament’ the following set which included a chip-and-chase, some footwork, and a dummy. Doueihi was sent off after the subsequent restart for dissent after objecting to what he perceived to be a missed escort penalty. A Rapana try put the cherry on top for the Kiwis as they kicked off their campaign with a win.

Manu’s game-high 216 metres, 15 tackle breaks, try and two try assists were enough for him to take home the Man of the Match. Joseph Tapine was also strong through the middle for the Kiwis running for 163 metres from 15 carries with four tackle breaks and 24 made tackles. Lebanon’s back three of Mansour, Miski, and Jacob Kiraz combined for 412 metres and nine tackle breaks whilst Jalal Bazzaz ran for 90 metres from seven carries in 22 minutes off the bench.

France open tournament with a win over eager Greeks

The result may not have gone their way but Greece put on a show in their 34-12 loss to the French in Doncaster as they ushered in a new era of rugby league in the country.

Hulking French prop Jordan Dezaria barged over for the opening points of the contest before Tony Gigot and Benjamin Jullien found tries later in the first half. Arthur Mourgue capitalised on a Matthieu Laguerre break to open the second half with a try and give the French a 26-nil lead before an early-tackle kick finally paid off for the Greeks as winger Siteni Taukamo flew through to haul in a Jordan Meads grubber and score Greece’s first ever World Cup try. Taukamo went close to scoring another pearler not long after before centre Nick Mougios submitted his ‘try of the tournament’ claim in the dying stages running onto a cross-field Billy Magoulias chip from inside their own half before turning the fullback inside-out and diving over.

French skipper Benjamin Garcia was awarded Man of the Match for his 208-metre, 37-tackle effort whilst winger Fouad Yaha ran for 175 metres of his own and broke four tackles. For Greece, Magoulias played a role in Mougios’ try and ran for a team-high 160 metres and made 50 tackles.

Tonga edge Kumuls in Group D thriller

In the most intense clash of the World Cup’s opening week, Tonga downed Papua New Guinea 24-18 in St Helens.

The opening points of the encounter came through Kumuls skipper Rhyse Martin before Tongan fullback Toluta’u Koula exploded off a kick return to set Will Penisini up for their answer. The Kumuls bombed a certain try shortly after before some sharp work through the middle courtesy of Tui Lolohea and Keaon Koloamatangi set up Moeaki Fotuaika to give Tonga their first lead of the night in the 34th minute. Moses Suli and teenage debutant Isaiya Katoa put together a nice two-man game to earn another four-pointer for the Tongans moments before halftime. The Kumuls refused to surrender, however, with hooker Edwin Ipape knifing his way through the Tongan middle to send halfback Lachlan Lam over for a brilliant try in the opening set of the second-half. The Kumuls went within inches of a third try in the 53rd minute when winger Rodrick Tai dove for the right corner before makeshift winger Dan Russell finished off a scrum play in the left corner to tie things up. The clash looked destined for a draw before a sideline-to-sideline, fifth-tackle prayer ended with Keaon Koloamatangi diving on a Siosiua Taukei’aho to win it for Tonga.

Ipape was awarded Man of the Match in a losing effort for his try assist, team-high 192 run metres, four tackle breaks and 34 tackles whilst Alex Johnston ran for 136 metres, broke five tackles, and assisted on a try. For Tonga, Koloamatangi scored the match-winner, assisted on another, and ran for 147 metres with six tackle breaks whilst Koula ran for a game-high 239 metres and assisted on try as he adjusts to life as a fullback.

[adrotate group=”9″]

Last-ditch Welsh effort not enough as Kukis earn first World Cup win in nine years

In the final clash of the opening week of the tournament, the Cook Islands came away 18-12 winners over a strong Wales outfit in Leigh.

Welsh second-rower Rhodri Lloyd pounced on a Josh Ralph grubber to open the account the Dragons before Esan Marsters burst through to send Anthony Gelling under the sticks and even things up. Some sharp footwork from Ollie Olds saw the five-eighth wrestle the lead back for Wales in the first-half before Davvy Moale shrugged off multiple defenders in the 59th minute to give the Kukis their first lead of the night. Steve Marsters skied high to reel in a Brad Takairangi kick for the Kukis third try of the contest in 64th minute. Wales had several chances to tie things up late and blew a golden opportunity on the final play of the game.

Kukis halfback Johnathon Ford’s try assist, 142 run metres, and four tackle breaks was enough to earn him Man of the Match honours whilst five of the Cook Islands’ backs ran for 200-plus metres including fullback Kayal Iro who finished with 266 metres, nine tackle breaks, and zero errors. For Wales, Caleb Aekins cracked 200 run metres and broke seven tackles whilst Ralph assisted on two tries and ran for 168 metres of his own.

Fill In The Form To Get Our NRL News Straight To Your Email For FREE!

• First Name*
• Last Name*
• Email*
• Comments
  This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ