| Pool | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | France | 8 | 12 | Lebanon |
| Women | England | 25 | 4 | PNG |
| B | England | 25 | 4 | Wales |
| C | Tonga | 7 | 30 | Cook Islands |
| C | Samoa | 32 | 17 | Fiji |
| Women | Australia | 22 | 8 | New Zealand |
| A | Australia | 25 | 12 | New Zealand |
| A | PNG | 27 | 10 | USA |
The Rugby League Nines World Cup has arrived, with Friday night our first chance to see all eight men’s and four women’s teams in action. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of each match on Day 1 from 6:20pm (AEDT).
The Nines have been on the scrapheap since they were canned as a club competition, but return in an international format at the end of the 2019 season with a busy couple of weeks ahead for international sides.
This tournament will see twelve men’s teams split across three pools of four teams each, and one women’s pool of four teams.
In the men’s tournament, all the usual suspects are the favourites, with strong squads named right across the board.
Tournament hosts Australia come in as favourites and rightly so, with the class of Kalyn Ponga, Daly Cherry-Evans and Wade Graham to be joined by exciting youngsters Ryan Papenhuyzen, AJ Brimson and Josh Addo-Carr in a side which is dripping with talent and speed.
They will be hard to slow down, but New Zealand, who they play on the opening night of competition, will be equally up for the challenge to create one of the games of the tournament, with Shaun Johnson back in the Nines format.
Pool A also features Papua New Guinea and the USA, who seemingly have little chance of advancing.
England and France will be the favourites to move through from Pool B, but it could be Pool C which carries the most intrigue, and opening-night matches will play a big role in the final outcomes of the group.
Tonga and Fiji might be the favourites to push out of the group stage, but the Cook Islands and Samoa aren’t just going to lie down without a fight.
Fiji’s clash with Samoa could be a cracker, with Fiji chock full of strong outside backs, including Maika Sivo and Suliasi Vunivalu, while Tonga will unleash the likes of John Asiata, Andrew Fifita and Jason Taumalolo on the Nines concept – and they are hard enough to slow down in the 13-man a side game.
On the women’s side of things, Australia come in as the favourites, but we will find out exactly how they are matching up against their likely finals opponents in New Zealand in the opening game, while England and Papua New Guinea will also look to give themselves a springboard to launch off heading into a busy Saturday.
Be sure to join us here on The Roar from 6:20pm (AEDT) for live coverage of the opening session at the 2019 Rugby League Nines World Cup and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Start time: 6:20pm (AEDT)
Venue: Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta
TV: Live, Fox League 502
Online: Live, Kayo Sports, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now
Day 1 match schedule
Men’s
6:20pm: Pool B – France vs Lebanon
7:10pm: Pool B – England vs Wales
7:35pm: Pool C – Tonga vs Cook Islands
8:10pm: Pool C – Samoa vs Fiji
9pm: Pool A – Australia vs New Zealand
9:25pm: Pool A – Papua New Guinea vs United States of America
Women’s
6:45pm: England vs Papua New Guinea
8:35pm: Australia vs New Zealand
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Was entertaining to an extent but a lot of one sided games. Seems if you get a couple of early tries it's very hard to get back. Cook Islands were fantastic and some big hits in PNG vs England womens game. Steve Masters looked great for Cook Islands and would surely have played NRL by now at any other club
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening for Day 1 of the Rugby League Nines World Cup. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. Tomorrow, things kick-off at 11:30am (AEDT). Stuart Thomas will be in the chair for Round 2 and the finals, and Jacob Blakeney will be here for Round 3. I'll be back next Friday for the Junior Kangaroos vs France, Jillaroos vs Ferns, and Kangaroos vs Kiwis in a huge afternoon and evening of international rugby league. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on Day 1 of the Nines Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that was good fun. Over 50 tries, and eight games of fast-paced footy. You'd have to say that Australia are looking the top side in both the men's and women's tournament at the moment, but some surprise results will keep them on their toes. In the men's competition, Samoa and the Cook Islands springing upsets over Fiji and Tonga were the big shocks, while England looked fairly solid against Wales. Lebanon also alive after beating France earlier. In the women's, Australia have beaten New Zealand, who now need to win both of their games tomorrow, while England looked really strong against Papua New Guinea. Full results Pool A Australia 25 defeat New Zealand 12 Papua New Guinea 27 defeat United States of America 10 Pool B Lebanon 12 defeat France 8 England 25 defeat Wales 4 Pool C Cook Islands 30 defeat Tonga 7 Samoa 32 defeat Fiji 17 Women England 25 defeat Papua New Guinea 4 Australia 22 defeat New Zealand 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Just enough time for a restart, but nothing happens from it, and Papua New Guinea have a big win to keep themselves alive and kicking into tomorrow, with their match against the Kiwis likely to decide second spot in Pool A. A very good win here though for the Kumuls. Papua New Guinea 27 United States of America 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
18' - CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL Papua New Guinea 27 United States of America 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
18' - TRY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The USA go to the left off the restart and it' Washington for Vaivai who flicks an offload to Mulitalo, and he forces one back infield as Eichner is tackled. Now in the middle and Mulitalo chips across the park for Faraimo to score. Papua New Guinea 27 United States of America 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
17' - Into the final two minutes of this one, and unfortunately, with the exception of the opening game this evening, ther has been nothing bordering a close contest. Anyway, penalty for the USA as they bring it out of their own end now. Papua New Guinea 27 United States of America 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
16' - CONVERSION MISSED Papua New Guinea 27 United States of America 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
16' - TRY PAPUA NEW GUINEA Daniel Russell now running to the line on the left for Papua New Guinea as they attack the short side, and it's Russell who grubbers ahead, regathers and scores. Papua New Guinea 27 United States of America 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
15' - And a mistake for the Tomahawks now. Papua New Guinea 23 United States of America 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
14' - CONVERSION MISSED Papua New Guinea 23 United States of America 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
14' - TRY PAPUA NEW GUINEA Mulitalo trying something now for the USA as he chips over the top, but Papua New Guinea come up with it, find some space and Watson Boas charges away for another try. Papua New Guinea 23 United States of America 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
13' - CONVERSION MISSED Papua New Guinea 19 United States of America 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
12' - TRY PAPUA NEW GUINEA The Kumuls inside the 20 now, before they swing it left and Lo is almost through there, but stopped by Burrows. Gebbie has a run now, but then there is space everywhere on the left and Amean is over. Papua New Guinea 19 United States of America 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
11' - The USA now struggling out of their own end through Offerdahl and Washington, then they swing it left and turn it over, before Olam throws an offload forward. We will come back for the original mistake and no advantage. Papua New Guinea 15 United States of America 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION MISSED Papua New Guinea 15 United States of America 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
10' - Back underway here as the Tomahawks get us going again. Papua New Guinea field the kick-off, then wing it out to the left and Olam dops it back inside to the speedy Garry Lo who races away to score. Papua New Guinea 16 United States of America 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yes, I'd advise you do some research before making any further comment.
Scott Pryde
Expert
HALFTIME The Tomahawks starting to fall apart here as the first half runs down in this must-win encounter. Into the final seconds go the Kumuls, and they will have the final play from 20 out. Martin to Meninga, then it' Wapi and he grubbers, but the ball is dropped and that'll do us. Papua New Guinea 11 United States of America 4