The five year wait is over and the pinnacle of International rugby league is almost here, with the best rugby league nations in the world finally getting a chance to compete to World Champions. The competition looks more open than ever before, so the Rugby League World Cup Squads to take you through each nations squad.
With the Pacific nations able to attract genuine NRL superstars over playing for Australia, and the European nations adding NR quality, the Rugby League World Cup Squads have never been more interesting.
We have all the team listed below, and the squads that have been named, and will add the new ones as they are available. We’ve also thrown in some quick stats for each group.
Rugby League World Cup Squads & Stats
RLWC 2022 GROUP A
ENGLAND
Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons) – captain
Andy Ackers (Salford Red Devils)
Joe Batchelor (St Helens)
John Bateman (Wigan Warriors)
Tom Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Mike Cooper (Wigan Warriors)
Herbie Farnworth (Brisbane Broncos)
Ryan Hall (Hull KR)
Chris Hill (Huddersfield Giants)
Morgan Knowles (St Helens)
Matty Lees (St Helens)
Tommy Makinson (St Helens)
Michael McIlourm (Catalans Dragons)
Mike McMeeken (Catalans Dragons)
Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos)
Kai Paul-Pearce (Wigan Warriors)
Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters)
Marc Sneyd (Salford Red Devils)
Luke Thompson (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Kallum Watkins (Salford Red Devils)
Jack Welsby (St Helens)
Elliott Whitehead (Canberra Raiders)
George Williams (Warrington Wolves)
Dom Young (Newcastle Knights)
Thoughts: The quality of the English squad has been lost in the hype of the impressive line ups of the Pacific nations, with the NRL’s best English players available, plus a great selection of locally based players. Not forgetting that this side more than most will be used to playing in the conditions and at these grounds.
Victor Radley will make his English debut after his well publicised switch to England and will be a great inclusion given his form with the Roosters this season when not injured and in the sin bin.
SAMOA
Josh Aloiai (Manly Sea Eagles)
Fa’amanu Brown (Wests Tigers)
Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers)
Mathew Feagai (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Chanel Harris-Tavita (New Zealand Warriors)
Braden Hamlin-Uele (Cronulla Sharks)
Royce Hunt (Cronulla Sharks)
Oregon Kaufusi (Parramatta Eels)
Luciano Leilua (Wests Tigers)
Spencer Leniu (Penrith Panthers)
Danny Levi (Huddersfield Giants)
Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers)
Taylan May (Penrith Panthers)
Tyrone May (Catalan Dragons)
Anthony Milford (Newcastle Knights)
Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders)
Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels)
Jaydn Su’A (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Joseph Suaalii (Sydney Roosters)
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (North Queensland Cowboys)
Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers)
Martin Taupau (Manly Sea Eagles)
Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers)
Kelma Tuilagi (Wests Tigers)
Thoughts: Regarded as real dark horses for the Rugby League World Cup, and it isn’t hard to see why. Including winners from the most dominant side in the NRL since Covid means that Samoa have a squad of quality never seen before.
Jarome Luai, Brian To’o and co from Penrith headline, but Samoa also calls upon State of Origin quality in dual wrecking balls Josh Papalii and Junior Paulo. Woof, what a solid top two props that is.
Throw in one of rugby league’s brightest young prospects in Joseph Suaalii, the speed of forgotten Cowboy Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and Anthony Milford in the halves and you can see why many are predicting big things for Samoa.
FRANCE
Lambert Belmas (Toulouse Olympique XIII)
Alrix Da Costa (Dragons Catalans)
Jordan Dezaria (Dragons Catalans)
Morgan Escaré (Salford Red Devils)
Benjamin Garcia (Captain) (Dragons Catalans)
Tony Gigot (Toulouse Olympique XIII)
Mickaël Goudemand (Dragons Catalans)
Benjamin Jullien (Dragons Catalans)
Matthieu Laguerre (Dragons Catalans)
Samisoni Langi (Dragons Catalans)
Corentin Le Cam (Dragons Catalans)
Paul Marcon (Toulouse Olympique XIII)
Anthony Marion (Toulouse Olympique XIII)
Arthur Mourgue (Dragons Catalans)
Eloi Pelissier (Toulouse Olympique XIII)
Maxime Puech (Albi RL XIII)
Arthur Romano (Dragons Catalans)
César Rougé (Dragons Catalans)
Justin Sangaré (Toulouse Olympique XIII)
Paul Séguier (Dragons Catalans)
Gadwin Springer (Featherstone Rovers)
Maxime Stefani (Toulouse Olympique XIII)
Louis Jouffret (Halifax Panthers)
Fouad Yaha (Dragons Catalans).
Thoughts: A good mix of the UK’s French Connections of Catalans and Toulouse, so combinations are big for the French, who are light on for NRL stars.
GREECE
Jordan Meads (Captain) (Sunshine Coast)
Lachlan Ilias (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Stefanos Bastas (Coventry Bears)
Nikolaos Bosmos (Rhodes Knights)
Terry Constantinou (Sunbury Tigers)
Aris Dardamanis (Aris Eagles)
Nick Flocas (Ipswich Jets)
Myles Gal (-)
Jake Kambos (Wests Magpies)
Kosta Katsidonis (Rhodes Knights)
Greg Koutsimporgiorgos (Aris Eagles)
Billy Magoulias (Newtown Jets)
Peter Mamouzelos (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
John Mitsias (Wests Magpies)
Nick Mougios (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Thodoris Nianiakas (Woolston Rovers)
Ionnis Nake (TBC)
Chaise Robinson (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Ionnis Rousoglou (Aris Eagles)
Sebastian Sell (Mittagong Lions)Liam Sui Tin (TBC)
Vasili Tsikrikas (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Robert Tuliatu (London Broncos)
Adam Vrahnos (London Broncos)
Mitchell Zampetides (Wests Magpies)
Thoughts: Pleading ignorance for most of the squad, but the inclusion of Lachlan Ilias is excellent, as the Rabbitohs halfback has had a great first season in the NRL.
A player to watch is the underrated Billy Magoulias, who we can see working his magic for Greece. Skills-a-plenty and tough, he will be the star for Greece at the World Cup.
RLWC 2022 GROUP B
AUSTRALIA
James Tedesco (c) (Sydney Roosters)
Cameron Murray (vc) (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Isaah Yeo (vc) (Penrith Panthers)
Josh Addo-Carr (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Matt Burton (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Parramatta Eels)
Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos)
Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles)
Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters)
Reuben Cotter (NQ Cowboys)
Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans)
Campbell Graham (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm)
Valentine Holmes (NQ Cowboys)
Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers)
Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm)
Jeremiah Nanai (NQ Cowboys)
Murray Taulagi (NQ Cowboys)
Jake Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles)
Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders)
Standby List:
Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers)
Nicho Hynes (Cronulla Sharks)
Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Thoughts: Despite the many defections to Pacific nations, Australia have named as strong a side as you’d expect. It’s so strong there’s no room for the Dally M player of the year, and the best player on Grand Final night, and arguably at least the second best fullback this season. Dylan Edwards particularly unlucky given the lack of a specialist backup fullback.
A few selections in the Kangaroos from outside the State of Origin, but hard to argue against their inclusion.
One battle of interest will be who will be the starting halfback. Surely form beats loyalty this time with Nathan Cleary getting the nod, especially after Manly’s woeful end to the season.
The forward pack looks more like a lot of hard grafters than explosive powerhouses, but the backline will more than make up for that. Latrell Mitchell in particular is due for a big tournament.
Australia should be in the mix as ever, the beauty is with this year’s Rugby League World Cup is they will have to work even harder for it in 2022.
FIJI
Waqa Blake (Parramatta Eels)
Tui Kamikamica (Melbourne Storm)
Vuate Karawalevu (Sydney Roosters)
Viliame Kikau (Penrith Panthers)
Apisai Koroisau (Penrith Panthers)
Lamar Manuel Liolevave (Tweed Seagulls)
Joe Lovodua (Hull FC)
Isaac Lumelume (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Netane Masima (Wests Magpies)
Laitia Moceidreke (NQ Cowboys)
Sitiveni Moceidreke (London Broncos)
Taane Milne (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Marcelo Montoya (NZ Warriors)
Kevin Naiqama (Sydney Roosters)
Ben Nakubuwai (Leigh Centurions)
Jason Qareqare (Castleford Tigers)
Mikaele Ravalawa (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Taniela Sadrugu (NQ Cowboys)
Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
Jacob Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
Pio Seci (Manly Sea Eagles)
Korbin Sims (Hull KR)
Tariq Sims (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Maika Sivo (Parramatta Eels)
Penioni Tagituimua (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Sunia Turuva (Penrith Panthers)
Joseph Vakacereivalu (Redcliffe Dolphins)
Semi Valemei (Canberra Raiders)
King Vuniyayawa (Salford Reds)
Ratu Inoke Vasuturaga (Kinoya Eagles)
Brandon Wakeham (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Siua Wong (Sydney Roosters)
Thoughts: Fiji have named a strong side as ever, but let’s not forget that most of this side was beaten by the mighty Kumuls earlier in the year.
Not playing that night was Api Koroisau, and he will make a world of difference for Fiji.
They have enough firepower in Viliame Kikau, Maika Sivo, Tui Kamikamica and the star from the Kumuls clash – Sunia Turuva – but Koroisau just provides that extra polish that will make Fiji harder to beat in the World Cup.
ITALY
Daniel Atkinson (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
Nathan Brown (Parramatta Eels)
Joey Tramontana (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles)
Cooper Johns (Melbourne Storm)
Ryan King (Whitehaven)
Jake Maizen (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
Luca Moretti (Parramatta Eels)
Luke Polselli (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
Jack Campagnolo (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Alec Susino (Penrith Panthers)
Luke Hodge (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles)
Kyle Pickering (Cronulla Sharks)
Jack Colovatti (Parramatta Eels)
Ethan Natoli (Newtown Jets)
Rinaldo Palumbo (London Broncos)
Nicholas Tilburg (Wentworthville Magpies)
Gieole Celerino (Racing Saint Gaudens)
Simone Boscolo (RC Salon XIII)
Giordano Arena (Catania Bulls)
Ippolito Occhialini (Lignano Sharks)
Alex Rojatto (Lignano Sharks)
Dean Parata (London Broncos)
Brenden Santi (Keighly)
Anton Iaria (Barrow)
Richard Lepori (Swinton)
Thoughts: The big name in this squad is Cooper Johns, who will at least ensure that the Matthew Johns factor at the World Cup is still high.
But for us the player to watch is the excellent Jack Campagnolo. He has been an outstanding player in Queensland Cup for years, and was quite handy at the 2017 World Cup for the Italian side. He will form a strong halves with Johns and could produce an upset.
Battling Johns for the least sounding Italian name is Nathan Brown who used the NRL Grand Final as a warm up for the World Cup.
SCOTLAND
Euan Aitken (New Zealand Warriors)
Luke Bain (Parramatta Eels)
Logan Bayliss-Brow (Brisbane Broncos)
James Bell (St Helens Saints)
Ryan Brierley (Salford Red Devils)
Keiran Buchanan (Batley Bulldogs)
Lewis Clarke (Edinburgh Eagles)
Davey Dixon (Dewsbury Rams)
Charlie Emslie (Barrow Raiders)
Dale Ferguson (Dewsbury Rams)
Calum Gahan (London Broncos)
Guy Graham (Whitehaven RLFC)
Bailey Hayward (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Ben Hellewell (Featherstone Rovers)
Liam Hood (Wakefield Trinnity)
Kane Linnett (Hull KR)
Bayley Liu (Sheffield Eagles)
Sam Luckley (Salford Red Devils)
Matty Russell (Toulouse)
Kyle Schneider (Mackay Cutters)
Jack Teanby (York City Knights)
Shane Toal (Barrow Raiders)
Alex Walker (London Broncos)
Lachlan Walmsley (Halifax Panthers)
Thoughts: Another side where we don’t know a great deal of the players, which tells us we need to see more UK Super League next season.
RLWC 2022 GROUP C
NEW ZEALAND
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm)
Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne Storm)
Kenneath Bromwich (Melbourne Storm)
Dylan Brown (Parramatta Eels)
James Fisher-Harris (Penrith Panthers)
Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles)
Peta Hiku (North Queensland Cowboys)
Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne Storm)
Sebastian Kris (Canberra Raiders)
Moses Leota (Penrith Panthers)
Isaac Liu (Gold Coast Titans)
Joseph Manu (Sydney Roosters)
Jeremy Marshall-King (Canterbury Bulldogs
Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla Sharks)
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Canberra Raiders)
Briton Nikora (Cronulla Sharks)
Marata Niukore (Parramatta Eels)
Isaiah Papali’i (Parramatta Eels)
Jordan Rapana (Canberra Raiders)
Brandon Smith (Melbourne Storm)
Scott Sorensen (Penrith Panthers)
Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders)
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters)
Thoughts: The beauty of the modern day World Cup for neutrals is that Tonga and Samos have never been stronger. Sadly for Kiwi fans that means their national team has been depleted, but you would hardly know given a look at their 2022 squad.
Joey Manu will be the superstar, like he was against Tonga earlier in the season, and like he is every time he plays fullback or five eighth for the Roosters. Jahrome Hughes is pretty handy in the halves too.
The forward pack includes some of the best performed forwards in the NRL this season in Raiders prop Joseph Tapine and Eels second rower Isaiah Papali’I and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has had one of his best seasons, so the Kiwis have plenty of go forward and are almost forgotten with all the hoopla of the Samoa and Tonga squads.
LEBANON
Jalal Bazzaz (Wests Illawarra)
Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers)
Hanna El-Nachar (Penrith Panthers)
Toufic El-Hajj (American University of Beirut)
Elie El-Zakhem (Parramatta Eels)
Atef Hamdan (Wolves, Lebanon)
Kayne Kalache (Newtown Jets)
Andrew Kazzi (Western Suburbs Magpies)
Jacob Kiraz (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Bilaal Maarbani (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles)
Anthony Layoun (St Marys Saints)
Josh Mansour (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Josh Maree (Wentworthville United)
Tony Maroun (Ryde-Eastwood Hawks)
Abbas Miski (Wigan Warriors)
Brandon Morkos (Canberra Raiders)
Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)
Jaxson Rahme (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Khalil Rahme (Mt Pritchard Mounties)
Khaled Rajab (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Reece Robinson (unattached)
James Roumanos (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
Mikey Tannous (Wests Tigers)
Charbel Tasipale (Newtown Jets)
Thoughts: Lebanon may be a side that will go under the radar, but they have a bloody good pair of halves for the big tournament in Adam Doueihi and Mitchell Moses, both no doubt keen to wash away the sins of the 2022 NRL season. We also say that Jacob Kiraz could be one of the stars of Group C and continue on his excellent season at the Bulldogs in 2022. There’s not many familiar names outside of that trio, perhaps they won’t need many more than that.
IRELAND
James Bentley – Leeds Rhinos
Keanan Brand – Leigh Centurions
Liam Byrne – Wigan Warriors
Ed Chamberlain – Leigh Centurions
Josh Cook – Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Frankie Halton – Hull KR
James Hasson – South Sydney Rabbitohs
Jaimin Jolliffe – Gold Coast Titans
Luke Keary – Sydney Roosters
Joe Keyes – Halifax Panthers
Toby King – Wigan Warriors (loan from Warrington Wolves)
George King (captain) – Hull KR
Ben Mathiou – Featherstone Rovers
James McDonnell – Wigan Warriors
Ronan Michael – York City Knights
Robbie Mulhern – Warrington Wolves
Richie Myler – Leeds Rhinos
Dan Norman – St Helens
Brendan O’Hagan – York City Knights
Henry O’Kane – West Tigers
Harry Rushton – Huddersfield Giants
Innes Senior – Huddersfield Giants
Louis Senior – Hull KR
Michael Ward – Batley Bulldogs
Thoughts: Ireland return to be World Cup filler, and we’ll have to excuse our own ignorance at not knowing more players. Richie Myler is a name we know from the Super League and Josh Cook could be a point of interest as the only Cook to make a squad for the World Cup after Damian Cook missed out for Australia.
JAMAICA
Jordan Andrade (unnattached)
Mo Agoro (Keighley Cougars)
Chevaughn Bailey (Duhaney Park Red Sharks)
Joe Brown (Workington Town)
Jy-Mel Coleman (Unattached)
Joel Farrell (Sheffield Eagles)
Ashton Golding (Huddersfield Giants)
Bradley Ho (Keighley Cougars)
Greg Johnson (Batley Bulldogs)
Aaron Jones-Bishop (Cornwall RLFC)
Ben Jones-Bishop (Sheffield Eagles)
Michael Lawrence (Huddersfield Giants)
Abevia McDonald (London Skolars)
Khamisi McKain (Duhaney Park Red Sharks)
Jacob Ogden (York City Knights)
Ross Peltier (Dewsbury Rams)
Kieran Rush (Huddersfield Giants)
Andrew Simpson (Duhaney Park Red Sharks)
Marvin Thompson (Duhaney Park Red Sharks)
Keenen Tomlinson (Dewsbury Rams)
Renaldo Wade (Duhaney Park Red Sharks)
AJ Wallace (Bradford Bulls)
James Woodburn-Hall (Halifax Panthers)
Alex Young (Workington Town)
Thoughts: We’re going to have to concede we know absolutely nothing about the Jamaican side, but we did at least google that the Duhaney Park Red Sharks are indeed a side from Jamaica. And that there is a side in England called Cornwall RLFC But that’s the beauty of the rugby league world cup, we may know a lot more of them by the end.
RLWC 2022 GROUP D
TONGA
Talatau Amone (St George Illawarra Dragons)
David Fifita (Gold Coast Titans)
Addin Fonua-Blake (New Zealand Warriors)
Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans)
Siliva Havili (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
William Hopoate (St Helens)
Kobrad Hurrell (St Helens)
Isaiya Katoa (Penrith Panthers)
Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks)
Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm)
Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Tolutau Koula (Manly Sea Eagles)
Tuimoala Lolohea (Huddersfield Giants)
Soni Luke (Penrith Panthers)
Ben Murdoch-Masila (New Zealand Warriors)
Tesi Niu (Brisbane Broncos)
Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Sea Eagles)
Will Penisini (Parramatta Eels)
Moses Suli (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Siosifa Talakai (Cronulla Sharks)
Tevita Tatola (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters)
Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
Thoughts: What a squad Tonga have assembled, one that is being talked up as a genuine title contender, and they do have a load of firepower.
In Jason Taumalolo, David Fifita, Siosifa Talakai, Haumole Olakau’atu Tonga have loads of go forward and line breaking ability, and superb finishers in Daniel Tupou, William Hopoate and Will Penisini, but the question mark is the halves.
Isaiya Katoa has loads of promise, and perhaps the World Cup will show Wayne Bennett went big on the Penrith star.
PLAYER TO WATCH – We have one outside the very big names – Keaon Koloamatangi. He could be one of the stars under the radar for Tonga after a huge season for the Rabbitohs where he was one Souths’ vert best all season.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Wellington Albert (London Broncos)
Jacob Alick (Gold Coast Titans)
Keven Appo (PNG Hunters)
Watson Boas (Doncaster)
Xavier Coates (Melbourne Storm)
Edene Gebbie (Townsville Blackhawks)
Edwin Ipape (Leigh Centurions)
Zev John (Central Queensland Capras)
Alex Johnston (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Lachlan Lam (Leigh Centurions)
Kyle Laybutt (Townsville Blackhawks)
Nene Macdonald (Leigh Centurions)
Rhyse Martin (Leeds Rhinos)
Sylvester Namo (PNG Hunters)
Jeremy Ngutlik (Western Suburbs Magpies)
Justin Olam (Melbourne Storm)
Nixon Putt (Central Queensland Capras)
Daniel Russell (Brisbane Tigers)
Jeremiah Simbiken (Redcliffe Dolphins)
Rodrick Tai (PNG Hunters)
Sherwin Tanabi (PNG Hunters)
Wesser Tenza (PNG Hunters)
Emmanuel Waine (PNG Hunters)
McKenzie Yei (Central Queensland Capras)
Thoughts: PNG have named as strong a squad as they could probably come up with, possibly could have selected James Segeyaro for experience and Liam Horne who has featured in a double premiership winning Norths Devils and did well for the Kumuls in June. It’s easy to say in hindsight of course, but a place could have been found for either at the expense of Hunters players for impact from Segeyaro and winning experience for Horne. But the squad is what it is and we will be behind it 100%.
The squad will be underrated by most for a lack of NRL names, and in all honesty Quarter Finals is probably the ceiling, but we feel they could be a real surprise.
Overlooking most of the flogging handed down by the Prime Ministers XIII – the very under strength Kumuls outscored the Australian side 14-0 for 25 minutes, and they held their own up the middle and in attack. <Read our Full Report here>
Thankfully for the World Cup the flanks are being reinforced by the inclusion of NRL weapon Justin Olam. Throw in the always excellent Rhyse Martin, and the big presence of Nene McDonald and they are much stronger on the edges.
Attack-wise, the added quality of Alex Johnston is an undeniable plus, and Xavier Coates may have his detractors, but there’s hardly a finer target out wide for kicks in rugby league. Add to that mix the inclusion of livewire Edwin Ipape, who was the UK’s second tier player of the season, and the Kumuls are building a decent arsenal to surprise some rugby league nations.
Their side of the draw means playing Tonga in the group stages, and either England or Samoa in the next round if they are lucky enough to proceed. On paper they won’t beat any of those teams, but look to how a weaker Kumuls side outplayed Fiji earlier in the season and you’ll know that the Kumuls are not to be underestimated.
PLAYERS TO WATCH – Alex Johnston, Edwin Ipape, Nixon Putt.
WALES
Caleb Aekins (Leigh Centurions)
Bailey Antrobus (York City Knights)
Gavin Bennion (Rochdale Hornets)
Joe Burke (West Wales Raiders)
Chester Butler (Bradford Bulls)
Mike Butt (Swinton Lions)
Connor Davies (Workington Town)
Curtis Davies (Whitehaven)
Ben Evans (Bradford Bulls)
Kyle Evans (Wakefield Trinity)
Rhys Evans (Bradford Bulls)
Will Evans (Whitehaven)
Dan Fleming (Featherstone Rovers)
Matty Fozard (Widnes Vikings)
Dalton Grant (London Broncos)
Tom Hopkins (Barrow Raiders)
Elliot Kear (captain – Bradford Bulls)
Rhodri Lloyd (Swinton Lions)
James Olds (Valley Diehards)
Ollie Olds (Valley Diehards)
Josh Ralph (Mounties)
Luis Roberts (Leigh Centurions)
Anthony Walker (Bradford Bulls)
Rhys Williams (Salford Red Devils)
Thoughts: Like a few squads, our lack of knowledge of the English game will cost us an opinion here. We could make Mike Butt the butt of some joke but we’re better than that. This time.
Good to see local Brisbane club Valley Diehards supplying players for the Rugby League World Cup though.
COOK ISLANDS
Tevin Arona (Auckland)
Tinirau Arona (Wakefield Trinity)
Geoffrey Daniela (St Marys Saints)
Johnathon Ford (Featherstone Rovers)
Anthony Gelling (Auckland)
Kayal Iro (Cronulla Sharks)
Makahesi Makatoa (Parramatta Eels)
Steven Marsters (Thirroul Butchers)
Esan Marsters-Siavale (Huddersfield Giants)
Davvy Moale (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Tepai Moeroa (Melbourne Storm)
Dylan Napa (Catalan Dragons)
Ruatapu Ngatikaura (Wests Tigers)
Moses Noovao-McGreal (Norths Devils)
Pride Pettersen-Robati (NZ Warriors)
Dominique Peyroux (Toulouse Olympique)
Brendan Piakura (Brisbane Broncos)
Reuben Porter (Tweed Heads Seagulls)
Vincent Rennie (Newtown Jets)
Reubenn Rennie (Newtown Jets)
Brad Takairangi (Hull Kingston Rovers)
Aaron Teroi (CQ Capras)
Zane Tetevano (Leeds Rhinos)
Paul Ulberg (London Broncos)
Stand-by players:
Adam Tangata (Halifax)
Malachi Morgan (Southport Tigers).
Thoughts: Bit of a shame that Gurgler favourite Xavier Willison isn’t part of the squad after doing a super job for Cook Islands in the Pacific Test earlier in the year. There’s still a few of his fellow Broncos/Norths Devils team mates in the Cook Islands squad – like Brendan Piakura.
Some may notice Dylan Napa, who will give it his all as ever. Brad Takairangi and Esan Marsters-Siavale will provide some firepower in the middle.
But will they be enough to get past Tonga and PNG as the odds suggest. Probably not.
