England have not followed Australia’s lead of issuing World Cup jersey numbers based on experience, sticking with the traditional system for the tournament.
Coach Shaun Wane has indicated what his starting 13 is likely to be for the tournament opener this weekend against Samoa in Newcastle with Jack Welsby and George Williams set to line up in the halves after being handed jerseys six and seven.
Star second-rower John Bateman, who will serve a suspension this weekend, is in No.12 alongside his old Canberra teammate Elliott Whitehead (11) with Victor Radley set to start at lock with the No.13 on his back.
The Kangaroos have caused a kerfuffle by selecting their jersey numbers based on when players made their debut with captain James Tedesco getting the No.1 jersey as captain because they did not think it was fair to designate a first-choice team before the tournament kicked off.
“I’m very excited, I can’t wait to get started with the game on Saturday,” Wane said. “It’s been better than what I expected working with this group of talented players. When I wrote the 24 out I did think to myself this is a good team.
“When I get them out to train it’s just a different level of session because your players are that good, I really enjoyed it.”
England squad: 1 Sam Tomkins, 2 Tommy Makinson, 3 Kallum Watkins, 4 Herbie Farnworth, 5 Ryan Hall, 6 Jack Welsby, 7 George Williams, 8 Tom Burgess, 9 Michael McIlorum, 10 Luke Thompson, 11 Elliott Whitehead, 12 John Bateman, 13 Victor Radley, 14 Dom Young, 15 Morgan Knowles, 16 Matty Lees, 17 Mike Cooper, 18 Chris Hill, 19 Andy Ackers, 20 Mike McMeeken, 21 Marc Sneyd, 22 Joe Batchelor, 23 Mikolaj Oledzki, 24 Kai Pearce-Paul.
If Mal Meninga seals a third-straight Rugby League World Cup title for Australia in England over the next six weeks he ought to thank Billy Slater for the inspiration.
The Kangaroos begin their defence of the World Cup on Sunday (AEDT) against Fiji at Headingley in Leeds, with Slater’s State of Origin tactics providing a blueprint for how Meninga’s squad will look to attack.
In his first year as Maroons coach Slater, who played in eight Origin series under Meninga, deployed two hookers which allowed Queensland to unleash a fast and spontaneous style.
Ben Hunt would start, taking the sting out of the game early before Harry Grant came on and weaved his magic.
“I was really happy with the way they were utilised (in Origin) and it would have been pretty hard to leave them out,” the Kangaroos coach told AAP.
“They did extremely well for the Maroons and we’ve also got Reuben Cotter who can back up there.
“Having Benny also gives us flexibility, because we know if someone else in our spine goes down he can cover us there.”
Billy Slater and Ben Hunt celebrate. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Queensland’s rapid ruck was so good it forced NSW into attempting to copy it and Meninga hopes by reuniting the one-two punch of Grant and Hunt, Australia can be on the front foot from the word go.
Hunt has enjoyed one of his best seasons as a halfback at St George Illawarra – finishing third in the race for the Dally M medal.
His on-field chemistry with Grant cost the incumbent Australia Test No.9 Damien Cook his spot on the plane to England.
“It’s a pretty straightforward role for me, whether I’m starting or coming off the bench,” Hunt told AAP.
“Every time I see Mal he says to me, ‘Make sure you’ve got the shoulder pads and you’re ready to tackle’.”
Hunt might need them in Australia’s opening game against Fiji, who fielded an understrength side when they were smashed 50-0 by tournament hosts England in a friendly match last week.
With the likes of Maika Sivo and Hunt’s Dragons teammate Mikaele Ravalawa returning the ball from the backfield, Fiji promise to be a handful.
“I’ve got to stay out of (Ravalawa’s) way, that’s for sure,” Hunt said.
“There’s a couple of big boys like that who bring the ball back hard so I am really going to have to hope Mika stays on his wing.
“In a way, we kind of got the experience playing against Papua New Guinea in the Prime Minister’s XIII game.
“We know what it takes to stop those big guys getting a roll on and we will have to stand up to them defensively.”
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Fiji’s preparations for this weekend’s clash with Australia have hit a major hurdle with coach Joe Rabele hospitalised after falling ill.
Former St George Illawarra and Parramatta centre Wise Kativerata has flown to England to take the helm of the Bati after ex-Leeds coach Brian McDermott deputised for Rabele in the 50-0 warm-up loss to England last weekend.
Fiji are also depleted on the field with St George Illawarra winger Mikaele Ravalawa, Manly’s Pio Seci and Redcliffe’s Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu out injured. Ravalawa is returning home due to an ongoing hamstring injury while Seci and Ratuvakacereivalu copped knocks last weekend which will rule them out of the Kangaroos tussle.
“We have had a few knocks,” Kativerata said. “But we have got a good side, so we will just focus on ourselves and when we play Australia on Saturday we will see.
“Rugby league is a simple sport, you keep the ball, you kick long, you force them to make mistakes and when you get the opportunity you score.”
Buoyed by his first return to Papua New Guinea in 14 years, Melbourne flyer Xavier Coates says the Kumuls can be disruptors at the Rugby League World Cup and go deep into the tournament.
The Port Moresby-born winger had an injury-affected debut season with the Storm and rated his first year under Craig Bellamy as a “six or seven” out of 10.
Still boasting 16 tries in 17 NRL games this year, the 21-year-old will form part of a formidable Kumuls backline that includes South Sydney’s Alex Johnston and Melbourne teammate Justin Olam.
PNG are in a group with Cook Islands, Wales and Tonga and enter the tournament full of confidence after knocking off Great Britain and Fiji in their two most-recent outings.
A fixture against the Tongans in St Helens next Wednesday (AEDT) looms as the biggest obstacle to the Kumuls finishing top.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
“At the last World Cup we got to the quarter-finals and our goal is to go one step further and get into the semi-finals,” Coates told AAP.
“All of the boys are really invested in the World Cup and we are in the running to finish in top spot.
“We’re confident in ourselves and that if we get the little things right I feel like we can accomplish that.”
The Kumuls are based in Warrington after undergoing a camp in Papua New Guinea.
Coates hadn’t been back to birthplace since he was a seven-year-old and said he was taken aback at the rockstar’s welcome afforded to Olam.
“To experience it firsthand and then see the reaction ‘Juzzie’ got when he walked out of the airport – everyone loved it – and there’s pictures of him all over the billboards in Port Moresby,” Coates said.
“It was pretty emotional for me too, because I don’t remember too much from when I was a little kid running around.”
Prior to his ankle injury Coates may well have been in the reckoning for Mal Meninga’s squad but said the chance to add to his solitary Kumuls cap was a burning ambition.
“One day I do want to represent my dad’s side but I felt like this World Cup was pretty important to play for PNG,” he said.
“When I sing the (PNG) national anthem (it feels special). Growing up I always followed the Kumuls like crazy.”
Counter Terrorism Police have issued a warning to fans at the Rugby League World Cup to be alert and “trust your gut” as they work with tournament organisers to help keep supporters safe.
With thousands of players, officials and fans flocking to the 18 host venues over the next month, police have reminded everyone involved to remain vigilant while also pointing out there is no specific threat or intelligence linked to the tournament.
National Coordinator for Protect and Prepare, Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Orchard, said “the UK is a proud rugby league nation and to be able to welcome people from across the world to these fantastic venues is absolutely fantastic.
“We’re working closely with organisers and local police forces to make sure that everything is in place to protect people; whether they have tickets to a game or are planning a night out to a nearby pub to soak up the atmosphere.
“However, there is also a role for the public to play in reporting anything that doesn’t feel right. We need fans to trust their instincts. If you’re not sure about something, tell a steward or a police officer, and they will do the rest.
“A huge amount of work goes into preparing for an event like this. Security measures are well tested and in place to keep you safe, so please respect them and the staff who are there to help you.”
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