And then there were four. Australia, Fiji, England and Tonga will fight for the right to contest the final of what has been a thrilling World Cup campaign, even if it is dragging on a bit.
Australia have been good without being great throughout their undefeated campaign thus far, with Mal Meninga tinkering with his side on a weekly basis – something I’m not a huge fan of, but they’ve rarely been challenged.
Their opponents on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium, Fiji, are all emotion and raw power. How good is it to see them playing so well – the tears on Kevin Naiqama’s face after their amazing 4-2 win over New Zealand was something special.
If the Bati can stay in the contest with Australia, they will fancy themselves late in the match.
England beat Papua New Guinea but again looked fairly ordinary in doing so. The 36-6 scoreline might suggest a comfortable win, but the Poms completed just 57 per cent of their sets and scored a flurry of late tries to blow the game open.
On current form, I’m backing Tonga to get the job done in Auckland on Saturday night in what would be a watershed moment for international rugby league. Led by Jason Taumololo, the Tongans have been sensational and thoroughly deserved their famous victory over Lebanon on the weekend.
NRLPhotos/Scott Davis
Of the teams that were eliminated, Lebanon and Papua New Guinea can at least hold their heads high after impressive performances, and it’s vital they play more Test matches before the next World Cup in 2021.
Samoa were simply terrible, lacking in any kind of cohesion despite a wealth of NRL talent, and having them qualify for the next stage of the tournament, despite failing to win a game, was an embarrassment. You know you’re in trouble when Ben Roberts is your starting five-eighth.
Onto New Zealand and what can we say about them?
For a team lacking in leadership of any kind, you would think veteran winger Jason Nightingale would be one of the first players picked, but he featured just once as the Kiwis imploded. David Kidwell needs to go, he refused to pick Nightingale, opting instead for the error-prone and inconsistent Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, and even a rejuvenated Benji Marshall couldn’t get a look in.
Do they get relegated to tier two status now? Certainly the likes of Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Fiji and Lebanon are doing more for international rugby league at the moment.
Speaking of PNG, they were fantastic, and the crowds they got in Port Moresby were enough to convince me we need a Papua New Guinea-based side in the NRL sooner rather than later. Forget about a second Brisbane side or one in Perth, rugby league is the national sport in Papua New Guinea and we need them represented in the NRL.
They hit hard, run hard, and when they get whacked themselves, they get up and run even harder next time. I admit I don’t know too many of their players, outside of the likes of David Mead, James Segeyaro and Nene Macdonald, but they play an attractive brand of football and it would be great to see them grow as a rugby league nation.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
How much more can Tonga lift? I can only imagine a little bit more but I can see England with a lot more room for improvement. I think England will win, but really, who knows? Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory has been their way for a while now...
Justin Kearney
Guest
For tonga to beat the poms they are going to need to seriously lift a lot. Poms by 12. Aussies by 18.
Londoner
Guest
Agree 1. Freddy did well with the Lebanese team and deserves a shot at beating QLD. 2. PNG played well, and at home the crowd looks great. What is true though, is they had the 3 easiest games of the tournament in the group compared to any other side (Ireland was a contest, the other 2 games, opposed training sessions) Further they have a problem with discipline as seen against England. Leave them in the QLD cup, until theres at least 10 players in the NRL. the finances of an NRL team are huge.....16 might be fine, just move a sydney team to perth.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I never thought I would say this but well done to Fittler. Now if you could just keep him away from commentary, I'll be happy. I agree about PNG. Let them consolidate their Qld Cup existence and then see what happens.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I thought that New Zealand would be facing Australia this week and I honestly felt that they would make the final. The 'Kiwi style' of play just made sense to me since that kind of 'unstructured' play can cause lots of problems for teams drilled to the nth degree. But it didn't work out that way and boom, there you have it, Australia v Fiji. I think that England and Australia have better discipline than what New Zealand showed so I'm not so sure that Tonga will beat England. But really, I don't know.
matth
Guest
Two points: 1. Fittler just nailed down the NSW Origin spot. What a great job he did with Lebanon. 2. No need to put PNG in the NRL just yet. They are thriving in the QLD Cup and will be the reigning premiers this year. Let them consolidate that success and maybe have a few players taken up by NRL teams before taking the next step.
Christov
Guest
I don't think aus will be troubled by fijis attack. IT might have just been that type of match but it is pip gun at best. Aus by a lot in brisbane, take that you minnows
Adam
Guest
Nightingale is a proven performer at Test level and had a much better season than DWZ yet only featured once. Hopefully when Kidwell gets punted that will change
Carolyn
Guest
You're spot on about Jason Nightingale and NZ. Every week I would wait to see the team announced hoping that logic would prevail and every week (other than one) I would be disappointed to see far less talented and less influential players named on the wing in his place. With his experience, leadership, the respect the other players have for him and his natural talent, I believe the Tonga and Fiji games may both have had different results. The sad thing is, I suspect if Kidwell was to name the team again this week, he would still make the same inexcusable mistakes.
Fred
Guest
After the Samoa, Scotland and even Tonga games, people (including me) were saying NZ could go on to win the cup. I think what Tonga produced against NZ would be enough, with some luck, to also win against England or Australia. But England has had so many 'almosts' in recent years, surely it's time they got some good luck.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I think England will beat Tonga. But... I don't know who will win. Lebanon really tested Tonga and for all intents and purposes won the match. The played well and moved the Tonga forwards around. Fittler had them playing quite smart. Like Australia, England still have a lot of improving left in them. I don't know about Tonga. Can they play better than they did against New Zealand? Probably, but I'm not sure by much.
Fred
Guest
Fiji and Tonga beating NZ was incredible, but just imagine the hydrogen bomb that would be Fiji beating Australia! If I had to pick the winner of England v Tonga I'd say England, but this will be an unpredictable semi. It will have done Tonga the world of good to have had such a test from Lebanon.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Australia were challenged by England who with a tad more composure could have won that match. In an odd sort of way, they were also challenged by Lebanon who, while never looking like winning also never looked like letting Australia get away with the match. Still, the Kangaroos have a lot of improvement left in them.