Rugby League World Cup: Week Three Wrap

Several contenders showcased their title credentials in a major week of Rugby League World Cup action over in the UK. With the group stage now in the rear-view mirror and half of the tournament’s nations journeying home, our focus shifts to a mouth-watering week of quarterfinals clashes. Here are how things unfolded in the final week of group stage action:

Clunky Kiwis take care of Ireland in Leeds

The Kiwis took care of business 48-10 against a spirited Irish side in Leeds to open the final round of this year’s group stage.

After Ireland leapt out to an early 2-0 lead, New Zealand’s Jahrome Hughes, Jordan Rapana, and Peta Hiku all found ways through the Irish defence before Ireland’s Louis Senior proved his try-scoring run has been anything but a fluke picking off a Briton Nikora ball to race 40 metres downfield and dive over. The Kiwis bagged the next six tries, however, before Senior grabbed one more of his own – his sixth of the World Cup.

Hughes’ first outing of the tournament could not have gone much better with the Kiwi halfback notching two tries, three try assists, and 18 tackle breaks en route to a Player of the Match nod.

Fullback Joseph Manu was similarly dominant finishing with a game-high 255 run metres, 18 tackle breaks, and a try whilst Rapana bagged himself a double to go along with 131 run metres and 12 tackle breaks.

Senior was the standout for Ireland snagging a try-double to go along with a team-high 91 run metres.

New Zealand have not been totally convincing through their three group stage victories and have only a quarterfinals clash against the Fijians to sharpen up before a likely clash against the Kangaroos.

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England trounce Greece in record-breaking win

England’s dream group stage continued as they dismantled Greece 94-4 in Sheffield – their biggest ever win on English soil.

Greece held firm early on; down just 10-4 at the 25-minute mark, there was plenty to like from the World Cup rookies before the English avalanche began. Dominic Young’s four tries secured his spot atop the tournament’s try-scoring leaderboard whilst Andy Ackers, Thomas Burgess, and Ryan Hall all earnt doubles as England powered towards a 17-try rout.

Five-eighth Marc Sneyd was awarded Player of the Match thanks to his five try assists, one try, and three line break assists whilst stand-in skipper George Williams assisted on three of his own, bagged another, and ran for 205 metres with five tackle breaks.

Burgess was dominant off the bench scoring two tries, running for 203 metres from 15 carries, and breaking 12 tackles in just 49 minutes whilst Ackers also crossed for a double to go along with a game-high 233 metres and four tackle breaks.

Greece were clearly outmatched, however, teenager Siteni Taukamo enjoyed a breakout tournament finishing with two of Greece’s four tries and looking generally dangerous for long stretches.

Greece’s biggest victories came in the qualification process and prior to tournament when their government officially recognised the sport after years of frustrating politics. The best is yet to come for the proud nation who will look forward to proving themselves once more in France in 2025.

Fiji outlast defiant Bravehearts, earn quarterfinals berth

Fiji have set up a World Cup postseason rematch against New Zealand after downing Scotland 30-14 in Newcastle.

Backrowers Taniela Sadrugu and Viliame Kikau each crossed early on for Fiji Bati before Scottish winger Lachlan Walmsley answered with a 90-metre intercept in the 20th minute.

Fijian five-eighth Henry Raiwalui made up for the intercept with a try of his own shortly after before Ben Hellewell pounced on a James Bell grubber moments before the halftime siren to bring Scotland within 10.

With Scotland lock Luke Bain binned in the opening set of the second half for a high shot, Maika Sivo found himself a try in the left corner, however, the Bravehearts refused to fold with centre Bayley Liu stepping his way to the try-line against the run of play.

Scotland continued chancing their arm before a Walmsley sin-bin dashed any hopes of a fightback with Korbin Sims crashing over to seal things for Fiji.

Sunia Turuva’s game-high 214 metres from 19 carries and seven tackle breaks was enough to earn him Player of the Match honours whilst King Vuniyayawa led from the front with 152 metres of his own to along with 18 tackles and zero misses.

Walmsley got himself involved a tonne for the Bravehearts and finished with team-high 182 metres from 11 carries and a much-needed four-pointer.

Fiji will now face New Zealand in an elimination final five years on from their famous 4-2 victory over them at the 2017 World Cup in Wellington.

Kangaroos get through group stage unscathed with win over Italy

Australia capped off a dominant group stage with a 66-6 win over the Italians in St Helens as they shift their focus to the playoffs.

With Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans playing alongside one another for the first time, the Australians got off to a firecracker start to lead 30-0 at halftime. A Ronny Palumbo four-pointer got the Italians on the board midway through the second half, however, it proved a blip on an otherwise dominant Kangaroos radar.

Jeremiah Nanai was surprisingly awarded Player of the Match for his try and 100 run metres whilst Cleary and Cherry-Evans combined for seven try assists and six line break assists.

Latrell Mitchell had some classy touches finishing with a try, two try assists, 114 metres and five tackle breaks whilst skipper James Tedesco scored a try, ran for a game-high 183 metres, and broke seven tackles before earning an early shower against the nation he has represented at two previous World Cups.

Halfback Radean Robinson had some nice moments for Italy assisting on their only try and running for 113 metres whilst centre Dan Atkinson ran for a team-high 125 metres with seven tackle breaks.

Lebanon flex muscles against intrepid Jamaicans

Lebanon have advanced beyond the group stage for the second-consecutive World Cup after storming past Jamaica 74-12 in Leigh.

Lebanon hit their straps early on jumping out to a 24-0 lead just 15 minutes into the game and riding that momentum for the remainder of the half.

Jamaican winger Mo Agoro put together a brilliant individual effort against the run of play to snag the Reggae Warriors’ second try of the tournament before a ricocheting ball found its way into Jordan Andrade’s hands for their second of the contest.

Josh Mansour capped off a memorable Cedars win with a 70th-minute hat-trick.

Adam Doueihi’s try, five try assists, game-high 212 run metres and eight tackle breaks earnt him Player of the Match honours whilst five-eighth Khaled Rajab assisted on five tries of his own and scored another to go along with 156 run metres.

Abbas Miski continued his strong tournament with a double, 164 run metres, and six tackle breaks whilst Jaxson Rahme ran for 150 metres and made 11 tackles off the bench.

Agoro was brilliant for Jamaica scoring a try, running for a team-high 192 metres, and breaking three tackles whilst skipper Ashton Golding ran for 96 metres and made a game-high 36 tackles.

Lebanon will now face a formidable Australian side in a do-or-die quarterfinal after coming away with two group stages wins.

Tonga hit their stride against disappointing Kukis

Tonga have come out on the other side of the group stage with three wins from three outings after securing the biggest win in the nation’s history 92-10 over the Cook Islands in Middlesbrough.

Daniel Tupou scored in the first set of the clash before Jason Taumalolo scored back-to-back tries in his opening appearance of the tournament as Tonga strangled the life out of the Kukis en route to a 52-0 halftime lead. Aside from a pair of consolation tries, the second half was more of the same with five separate Tongans snagging multiple tries including Will Penisini’s quartet of four-pointers.

Taumalolo was at his dominant best for Tonga scoring a double, running for 171 metres, and breaking seven tackles as he was awarded Player of the Match whilst Penisini scored four, assisted on another, and ran for 153 metres.

Tesi Niu bagged a hat-trick at the back to go along with a try assist and 119 run metres whilst Tupou scored a double and ran for a game-high 181 run metres.

Sāmoa end France’s campaign, set up quarterfinals belter against Tonga

Toa Sāmoa have propelled themselves to a quarterfinals berth after dismantling France 62-4 in Warrington.

Veteran centre Tim Lafai bagged the first try of the contest in the opening stages with Brian To’o joining him on the scoresheet shortly after before Taylan May snagged an unbelievable four tries in-a-row in his World Cup debut. Fouad Yaha got France on the board in the second half but the 80 minutes was virtually all Sāmoa as they poured on 11 tries in their final hit-out before a massive quarterfinals clash against Tonga.

May was close to Sāmoa’s best running for 220 metres and making six line breaks to go along with his four tries whilst wing-partner Brian To’o bagged a double, assisted on another, and ran for a game-high 265 metres with seven tackle breaks.

Lafai wound back the clock for the second-straight week scoring a double, running for 169 metres, and breaking seven tackles whilst Anthony Milford scored two tries, assisted on another, and ran for 141 metres with four tackle breaks.

French skipper Benjamin Garcia capped off his strong tournament with a 140-metre, 37-tackle effort – both team-high marks – whilst hulking prop Justin Sangaré ran for 107 metres from nine carries and made 29 tackles off the bench.

Sāmoa will now face Tonga in a win-or-go-home quarterfinal in Warrington in what firms as one of the clashes of the tournament.

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Kumuls too strong for Wales, do-or-die clash with England beckons

In the final game of the group stage, Papua New Guinea capped off an impressive three weeks with a 36-0 over the Welsh in Doncaster.

Tries to Kyle Laybutt and Nixon Putt got the Kumuls off to a hot start before a simple hit-up resulted in Jimmy Ngutlik bursting through some meek defence to streak 70 metres downfield and dive over in one of the best individual efforts of the tournament. The Welsh defence stood tall for long stretches across the second half but the might of Papua New Guinea was too much to overcome with Putt and Ngutlik both pinching doubles as the Kumuls earnt a strong victory for the second-straight week.

Ngutlik was superb for the Kumuls scoring two tries, running for 170 metres, and breaking seven tackles whilst Justin Olam ran for a game-high 174 metres and broke 10 tackles.

Edwin Ipape’s performances have turned heads for the entirety of the tournament and the reality was no different in this win with the crafty nine assisting on four tries and making 21 tackles.

Kyle Evans has been close to Wales’ best player all tournament and capped it off with a 112-metre, four-tackle break effort whilst edge forward Bailey Antrobus ran for a team-high 152 metres and made 38 tackles.

Whilst they were unable to snag a win, the Welsh exceeded expectations this tournament and look poised to improve in coming years; they came within inches of a draw against the Cook Islands and held Tonga and Papua New Guinea to a combined 13 tries.

Papua New Guinea, meanwhile, will face hosts England in a must-win quarterfinal in Wigan in what shapes as a clash for the ages with both countries desperate to keep their tournaments alive.

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