WIGAN – New Zealand are set to roll out their stellar spine for the first time at the World Cup against Ireland, with Jahrome Hughes and Dylan Brown slated to make injury returns at Headingley on Friday night (Saturday morning AEDT).
Hughes has missed both games so far with a thigh complaint while Brown was struck down by illness last week and missed the Kiwis comfortable win over Jamaica.
The combination of those two in the halves, plus Joey Manu at fullback and Brandon Smith at hooker, was seen as potentially the best at the tournament and proved far too much for Tonga in the midseason Test in Auckland.
The fearsome New Zealand pack will also have its big dog back, with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves named for a first international appearance since November 2019 in the famous black jumper.
He joins Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Joseph Tapine, James Fisher-Harris and the Bromwich brothers in one of the game’s best forward units.
Ireland need to win to progress, and will be hoping that they can counter the Kiwis power through the middle despite losing their starting front row to suspension.
Liam Byrne copped several charges and two bans from his performance against Lebanon and will sit Friday night out, but Jaimin Jolliffe, who was also banned, will fight his charge at the judiciary. Robbie Mulhern is also injured, causing a serious problem for Ireland in the middle.
It could see a first appearance for Ronan Michael, 18th man in both games so far, who is the only domestically-produced player in the Irish squad.
England have chosen to rest captain Sam Tomkins for their dead rubber with Greece in Sheffield on Saturday afternoon (Sunday night AEDT). Tomkins has been nursing a knee problem for several months and coach Shaun Wane has chosen not to risk his star man in a game that England are expected to win easily.
George Williams will captain the side in Tomkins’ absence, with several potential options for fullback. Tommy Makinson could move there from the wing, which would allow Ryan Hall to continue, or Jack Welsby, who came off the bench to great effect against France and played 6 against Samoa, is also able to cover.
Kallum Watkins, who was knocked out in an accidental head clash against France, also misses the game under the World Cup’s 11-day concussion stand down rules.
Into his place will come Kai Pearce-Paul, the giant winger centre/back row who is heavily linked with a move to the NRL in the near future, with Newcastle said to have already secured his signature.
Wane revealed that Pearce-Paul will play some minutes at centre as a potential option should he need to cover there later in the tournament.
Elliott Whitehead is rested, meaning St Helens star Joe Batchelor will get a Test debut in the back row and likely alternate with Pearce-Paul.
Whenever the Kumuls play, we are told that the whole nation of Papua New Guinea stops to watch. That has proven true, if one amazing photo is to be believed.
The image showed the University of Technology in Lae, where Melbourne Storm superstar Justin Olam and two-try hero Roderick Tai were educated, gathered around one TV to watch the Kumuls victory over the Cook Islands.
The game started at 4.30am PNG time, showing the dedication of fans to watch their side in one of the only two nations where rugby league is the national sport – the other being their opponents, the Cook Islands.
If that wasn’t enough, a video has emerged from Nukua’alofa, the capital of Tonga, showing their fans holding a street parade with flags and music to celebrate defeating Wales on Monday night (UK time).
What to look out for in this weekend's round of international footy.
Brad Fittler claims widening State of Origin eligibility rules to include Australian-raised New Zealand and England players will benefit both the domestic and international game.
If you followed the recent Rugby League World Cup, you’ll probably have noted that the tournament has both passionate supporters and vocal detractors.
Since the Super League War, Rugby League has failed to cement an international calendar. The historical tours disappeared – in part due to the war but also since the English game transferred to a summer season.
All the latest from the Rugby League World Cup.
With many spruiking that the pinnacle of our beloved sport is State of Origin, surely it’s time to make yet another amendment to the playbook and finally let New Zealand and English players in on the fun?
