- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Before the 2008 Rugby League World Cup I really only had one prediction that I was happy enough to shout to anyone within earshot.
That the ’08 English side was the best team to come out of the Mother country in 25 years, and that on the back of their fearsome forward pack and crafty halves they would steal the silverware from Australia.
Ah, moving along.
While perhaps slightly off the mark last time round, I’d still like to take it upon myself to offer up some watertight predictions for this year’s version of the tournament.
Here goes.
Best pool match – Group B Samoa versus Papua New Guinea, Craven Park, Hull
While the opening match between Australia and England is stealing much of the limelight and is of significant importance because of the ‘Kiwi’ factor come the semis, there’s another match that has stolen my eye.
The game between the Kumuls and Samoa will be crucial as both scramble for second place in pool B, with the team finishing third being ‘rewarded’ with a likely match against England or Australia in the quarters.
Both sides will be eyeing the match as winnable, and there will also be a clash of styles as the NRL-heavy Samoans come up against an unpredictable Papua New Guinea squad stacked with talent from their local comp.
Oh yeah, and the match will possibly feature more big hits in Hull than the time the Beatles crossed the Humber bridge.
Top point scorer – Shaun Johnson
While Sonny Bill Williams may be the Kiwis’ Trojan horse, there is little doubt Johnson will be the man pulling the strings for the New Zealand side.
With a bit more leeway around the rucks under one referee, a favourable draw and a fresh pair of legs, Johnson could absolutely run riot for the next month.
He has been known to kick a goal too.
Crowd favourite – Konrad Hurrell
As a big man with a big smile who looks like a fridge running at 80km an hour, it’s very difficult to dislike Konrad Hurrell.
Unless you’re playing against him, in which case you might not sleep for a week beforehand.
While he might be tucked away playing for Tonga in sleepy Pool C, the Hurrell-cane is sure to feature prominently on the tournament’s highlight reels, and come the quarter finals it’ll be the turnstiles that will be spinning out of control as the locals come to see the big marn.
Most disliked – the Bruise Brothers
By default this award has to to be an Australian, and more than likely one who will spend much of his time moaning to the refs or saying something rude about Tesco microwave dinners.
Under this criteria I can’t split Paul Gallen and Greg Bird, however if Bird does decide to bring back his patchy facial hair then he might just nudge his way into favouritism.
Over achievers – The Cook Islands
While they may have been lapped in their warm-up match, I like the look of the young Cook side and if Isaac John fires, they’re capable of winning their pool.
Underachievers – Samoa
Their captain got left at the airport, their coach just got the sack from Parramatta and they insist on playing Ben Roberts in the halves.
That sort of preparation would make NSW blush, fellas!
Player of the tournament – Daly Cherry-Evans
Booo!
Scandal – Gareth Hock does something stupid
Tick!
World Cup winners – England
On the back of their fearsome forward pack and crafty halves….but I have been wrong before!
Any more predictions Roarers?
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.