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Under pressure on biggest stage: The 13 who face make or break situation at World Cup

David Fifita (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Editor
13th October, 2022
7

There is plenty of excitement building for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup but there are few people who will be starting to feel nervous as they head into the tournament under a mountain of pressure.

Players out to prove their worth. Coaches desperately holding onto their titles. Stars carrying the weight of a nation on their shoulders.

These guys will be relieved if everything goes according to plan over in England, otherwise they may not be around the next time their team takes to the field in the international arena.

Unlike previous editions of the World Cup, there are probably five teams with a genuine chance of lifting the trophy in next month’s final with Samoa and Tonga now considered legitimate rivals to the established powerhouse trio of Australia, New Zealand and England.

Mal Meninga

There is always pressure when in possession of the titles of ‘reigning champions’ and ‘outright favourites’, but Meninga heads into this World Cup with a lot more stress than most.

Coaching the hotly favoured Australian side comes with a high level of expectation, and after a less then successful year as High-Performance Senior Advisor (whatever that is) at the Gold Coast Titans, all eyes will be on Meninga to lead the Kangaroos to their third straight title.

Michael Maguire

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Another coach with the weight of expectations on his shoulders. After getting the boot from the Tigers, Maguire has managed to keep his job as head coach of the New Zealand Test side.

And what a side it is. Madge is at the helm of a stacked Kiwis team that many are saying could go all the way this World Cup. He will surely be feeling the heat if they don’t have a successful campaign.

Tigers head coach Michael Maguire

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

David Fifita

Oh man, this guy. He should be one of the best players on the planet.

Seems to constantly be in cruise control and only every now and then decides to show us what we all know he is capable of. His poor form saw him snubbed by both the Maroons and the Kangaroos, and Tonga are now hoping he will help lead the to greatness in this World Cup.

All of that on top of wanting to secure an NRL contract as he heads into the final year of his lucrative Titans deal.

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George Williams

After bombing out of the NRL when he claimed homesickness to walk away from the Canberra Raiders, Williams has followed it up with a terrible season for the Warrington Wolves.

And now with star halfback Jonny Lomaz missing the entire World Cup due to injury, it’s up to Williams to steer the English side while wearing the No.7 jersey.  

Jarome Luai

Just relax, this has nothing to do about attitude.

Off the back of double premiership success with the Penrith Panthers, Luai is stepping out of the shadows of Nathan Cleary and ready to show the world he is no one’s back-up dancer.

He was just a raw rookie back in 2017 but is now seen as one of the biggest stars and leaders of the Samoan side.

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Will he be able to live up to the hype?

Daly Cherry-Evans

This poor guy must feel like everything is tumbling down around him.

With his club coach given the boot back home, DCE needs to put all his emotions to the side as he fights for his spot as Kangaroos halfback.

The incumbent playmaker has been pushed hard by Cleary, and despite leading the Maroons to victory in this year’s State of Origin, he remains second on the current list.

He will be doing all he can to impress during the opening match against Fiji with the Panthers half being rested before having his chance next week against Scotland.

Daly Cherry-Evans. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

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Viliame Kikau

After a stellar year at Penrith securing back-to-back premierships, he is seen by many as one of the best left edge forwards in the competition. But some view him as being very good at running over the little guys and leaving the hard stuff to his teammates.

As the biggest name to represent Fiji, they will be looking to him to lead the way. But just like his mate Luai, will he be as successful as he hopes without the usual suspects around him?

Luke Keary

The Roosters playmaker turned down the chance to be chosen for the Kangaroos and pledged his allegiance to Ireland.

While proud to represent his heritage on his dad’s side, he is being held up as a bit of a White Knight for the Irish. Well and truly the star of the side, all of their hopes seem to now rest on his shoulders.

Nathan Brown

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What a topsy-turvy year it has been for this guy.

He has gone from being an enforcer at the Eels to being on the outer. Told he can look elsewhere, then received a late call-up for a brief cameo in the Grand Final.

With no James Tedesco in the side, Brown is now the biggest NRL star playing for Italy. With the hopes of a nation also weighing him down, he will want to produce the goods so someone will offer him a contract when he gets home.

Mitchell Moses

With all the attention on the battle between DCE and Cleary in the halves, Moses is a bit of a forgotten child.

One of the best halfbacks in the NRL, the Eels star was never in the mix to play in Origin or represent the Kangaroos, but he will be wanting to prove he can rival the top dogs when he leads Lebanon out once more.

Alex Johnston

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I know, I know – the much loved Bunnies winger took out the Ken Irvine Medal again for the most tries scored this season, and he now holds the record for the leading try scorer in South Sydney history.

But once again, is it him, or is it the team around him that makes him so successful? While out injured back in round 8, replacement winger Richard Kennar bagged a hat-trick while standing in Johnston’s spot.

Playing fullback for PNG, Johnston will be out to prove that he is not just the winger who just scores tries off the back of a great Souths backline.

(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Nelson Asofa-Solomona

The Melbourne giant is known to cause carnage whenever he is on the field, leaving trampled bodies in his wake. But sometimes he does things that people aren’t…umm.. fond of, yet the NRL judiciary system seems fine with.

And only fines him.

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But it’s international rules now, and the Kiwis need him if they are going to go all the way. NAS can’t afford to get suspended and needs to be on his best behaviour.

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Matt Parish

There has been much noise around Parish, speculating that he is close to walking the plank when it comes to overseeing the Samoan Test side.

He comes into the World Cup already nervous about his future, and knowing how high the expectations are surrounding his side full of NRL talent will only be adding to his blood pressure.

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