The USA Hawks have qualified for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup after defeating rivals Canada Wolverines 34-24 at Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville.
It comes after the Americas qualifying tournament wrapped up on Saturday in Florida with the three-team competition featuring the USA, Canada and fan favourites Jamaica Reggae Warriors.
The first game went to the Hawks after the Brian McDermott-led nation held on to defeat Jamaica 20-14 in Jacksonville.
RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP FIXTURES
The Hawks started strong in the opening 20 minutes crossing for two tries through prop Mark Offerdahl and winger Taylor Howden.
The Reggae Warriors soon hit back, however, after Keighley Cougars star Ross Peltier crossed after 30 minutes. But what followed were two consecutive sin-bins.
Sam Carson was sin-binned at the 33-minute mark for attacking the legs of a kicker, with Omari Caro soon following after an off-the-ball incident just before the half-time siren.
The drama at the end of the first half was left behind once the second phase got underway with the Hawks taking advantage of their extra man and crossing through Danny Howard. Joel Farrell scored shortly after but just five minutes later American fullback Corey Makelim put his country further in front after some brilliant ball work.
The Reggae Warriors weren’t about to give up with Peltier scoring his second try with just two minutes left on the clock, but it wasn’t enough in the end with the USA going away with a win.
Jamaica returned four days later to meet Canada in DeLand with the Reggae Warriors starting strong.
Lock forward Lamont Bryan kicked off proceedings with a try in the 21st minute with Joe Brown following and putting the pressure on Canada to come back from 12-0 down at half-time.
Fullback Wayne Rettie extended the Reggae Warriors’ lead before Sunshine Coast Falcons recruit and star Canadian Ryley Jacks put the Wolverines in the game through a 63rd minute try after Jamaican Tyrone Rowe was sin-binned.
The score remained at 18-6 until four minutes to go when Robin Legault kept Canada’s tournament hopes alive by scoring.
Legault backed up just a minute before the siren sounded to level the scores at 18-18 and give Canada a chance at qualifying for their first World Cup.
A large, passionate crowd turned out at Jacksonville for the final game of the qualifying tournament and the game that followed was closer than expected.
Canada started off slow which saw Central Florida winger Taylor Alley cross for the Hawks and open scoring.
The Hawks crossed again just minutes later through Alley with Valley Warriors star Adam Timler following by making his way to the try line only for the attempt to be called back after he was found to have stepped in touch.
The momentum stayed with the Canadians after Jamie Kelly found his way under the posts to close the gap to just two points at 8-6 to the Hawks.
Kelly came close again but was denied due to a forward pass, however Jacks ensured the visitors took the lead by scoring two tries just before half-time to put the Wolverines in front 18-14 at the break. The only other hiccup came with four minutes remaining in the first half after a defensive misunderstanding due to American football posts cost Canada a try.
Alley soon crossed once again to level the scores at 18-a-piece before he went over on the right wing 20 minutes later to put the hosts in front. Alley continued his dominance by scoring another two tries.
The Hawks’ streak was broken when Jacks got a hat-trick after scoring with just over 10 minutes remaining but Canada couldn’t hold on. The Hawks came out victorious 34-24.
Just three spots remain with the European qualifying to take place in October and November 2016. Wales, Serbia and Italy will compete against one another in Group A while Russia, Ireland and Spain go at it in Group B.
The winners will go through with the runner-ups from each group competing for the final slot.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Rodney .Sometimes I wonder whether it is worth it ,spending my waking hours offering a point of view on a sport I follow ,then finding it under moderation. Everything goes if you want to have a shot at rl unfettered.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Paulie .Seriously mate your "there is no domestic comp for league in the US" is a blatant falsehood. Fourteen teams must be playing duelling banjoes based on your silly assertion. The Jacksonville Axeman have had a crowd of 2k at their games on occasions.Sometimes it pays to dig a little deeper,to find pay dirt.
Rodney Olsen
Guest
Thankyou even if you did chop the most important part out at the end. Use your own name, stand by it and still censored. Shakes head.
Rodney Olsen
Guest
Paulie, why lie? I have watched the USA team live in the flesh, I have streamed live club games from the United States involving clubs from up and down the Eastern seaboard. I have seen the game in the USA go from a few blokes playing touch footy in a park to having 14 semi pro teams streaming live games and having crowds at these club games anywhere up to 2k. I deal in facts as I can’t stand lies.
Paulie
Guest
Cannot wait for Iceland to qualify..really usa league [Yawn] why not just be called American Samoa there is no domestic comp for league in the US leaguies trying to think they are up there with the Rugby world cup
Rodney Olsen
Guest
I wouldn't be surprised in the least if they do Sleiman, they haven't been that far off, just need to play out the full 80 minutes.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
There is absolutely no reason why the upcoming World Cup should not be a success, on all fronts. I'm putting it on the line and saying that England will win it. :)
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
As it will be played in 3 countries PNG/Australia and NZ,I'm sure there will be also plenty of Kiwis and New Guineans as well as plenty of Aussies watching.Which adds further to the colour.
Rodney Olsen
Guest
Yeah A Dave, the Canadians got the jump on them earlier in the year and I was thinking they were going to get through, so happy to see such close games tho, even if it's not the highest standard yet, it always looks much better when both teams are competitive and having the 3 of them being around the same level bodes well for the future in and around the Americas. Lets hope they can get a few more neighbours involved.
Rodney Olsen
Guest
Sorry can't agree with you Riley, teams like France, PNG, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Wales and Italy outside the top 3 would smash all others even with a few expats thrown in here and there, they are indeed improving, but there is no way any of those nations would trouble any of the teams mentioned above, they just have too much experience, too many professional players and can and do get to show their wares more than once every 4 years against teams that are above them tier wise. They would not add anything to the RLWC competitively talking plus having to sell the game to the people knowing they'll be cannon fodder, 20 teams is way too much, 16 sounds about right and probably the maximum a sport like RL should aspire too. The gap is closing yet the top 3 seem as far away as ever, I was hoping France would have stepped up a bit more by now, they seem to be run so poorly though, a decent coach like Bennett or someone for a few seasons would get them a lot closer than they are now. (would love to be proved wrong and see all those teams step up in the next decade)
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
16 teams is still too few, 20 teams would be better. Cook Islands, Canada, Jamaica and three of Wales, Ireland, Italy, Serbia, Russia and Spain will miss out. All are capable of putting on a show against any team outside of the big three.
Rodney Olsen
Guest
They have been playing the game for two decades in the united states, they have made their second world cup, I see no reason at all why League can not grow in the USA while you think that boring game of Union has a massive future. Got this weekends Powerball numbers you spruce goose? Tripod, yeah missing something that's for sure.
Rodney Olsen
Guest
Oi Pat, do you have anything nice to say about the game or anything else, or just another sly backhanded complement? Well done USA Hawks, I was hoping for a Jamaica win but very happy with the way the tournament went in regards to results, looks like the 3 countries are pretty even atm. Been interested in watching the USA grow since about 2002-3 when it was the amnrl, quite a change since the USARL took over, all for the better though.
Horace
Guest
Kenya flogged USA in the Sevens but yes the USA does have a strong Sevens RU team...So there were lots of Aussies in the team....last time interesting...
Horace
Guest
And plenty of Aussies...
American Dave
Guest
Happy the lads qualified, I was more than a little worried after the fiasco known as the Colonial Cup 2015.
Fred
Guest
Olympic funding also drives synchronised swimming and weightlifting... The thrashings of the American union team by second string Australian and Kiwi sides in Chicago show that American union is nowhere near competitive with the top union countries. League can and will do very well in the US now that the two warring competitions have come together. A lot of people within American league were furious at the number of Australian based heritage players in their team at the last world cup, and argued that too many quality domestic players were overlooked (from memory this included Apple Pope from the Jacksonville Axemen).
Johnno
Guest
16-teams in 2021 is the way to go.
tripod
Guest
I cant see the USA ever being any thing but a side salad for those interested in International rugby league it has next to zero chance of competing with rugby union. which has an exceptional development program in schools , colleges and clubs. If any one watched the HSBC 7s World Series last 2 weeks would know the USA is now one of the top 4 teams and defeats New Zealand, Fiji , England , Sth Africa etc regularl.They also have plenty of professional players in France, England and Ireland as well With Olympic federal funding now driving Rugby it is impossible for league to fight financially or for exposure and any player that is developed by league will surely get picked off by the new 10 team pro Rugby comp starting next year. It is good to see them qualify but unless they play a team of Australian based players like they did in the last World Cup they will be involved in some horrendous defeats
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Well done to the Yanks.A close tournament ,pity the others missed out,but at least it is a genuine qualifying tournament for the RLWC played in Nth America with overwhelming born and bred Americans. Even SBS and the Telegraph acknowledged the result.Hail Obama!! Looking forward to the 2017 RLWC,should have plenty of colour and enjoyable matches,