Saturday’s men’s Rugby League World Cup opener between England and Samoa could hardly be more crucial. While no group fixture is win or bust, Shaun Wane’s side have the closest thing lying in wait at St James’ Park this weekend.
Because while they have been handed a favourable draw in this year’s event, avoiding both Australia and New Zealand in their half of the competition, the last thing they need is to be scratching and clawing their way out of Group A only to find a resurgent Tonga standing in their path come quarter-final time.
After just about seeing off the Mate Ma’a on their way to the World Cup final five years ago, England know from bitter experience that Kristian Woolf’s side will present a huge obstacle in the knockout stage. But if they are to delay a rematch until the semis, they are going to have to upset the odds in beating Samoa on opening day.
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A runners-up spot would see them head to the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington for a probable quarter-final with Tonga, who England would surely fancy their chances against more with a 60,000-strong home backing in the semi-final at the Emirates Stadium the following weekend?
The path to the final does look pretty foreboding, particularly if they were to lose on Saturday…
ROUTE TO THE RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP FINAL
Group A
Samoa (5/6 with Betfred to win the group)
England (Evens)
France (100/1)
Greece (500/1)
Likely path for group winners:
QF: Papua New Guinea (at Wigan)
SF: Tonga (at Emirates Stadium)
Final: Australia (at Old Trafford)
Likely path for runners-up:
QF: Tonga (at Warrington)
SF: Group A winners (at Emirates Stadium)
Final: Australia (at Old Trafford)
Group B
Australia (1/200 to win the group)
Fiji (12/1)
Italy (100/1)
Scotland (100/1)
Likely path for group winners:
QF: Lebanon (at Huddersfield)
SF: New Zealand (at Elland Road)
Final: Samoa, Tonga or England (at Old Trafford)
Group C
New Zealand (1/200 to win the group)
Lebanon (20/1)
Ireland (25/1)
Jamaica (250/1)
Likely path for group winners:
QF: Fiji (at Hull)
SF: Australia (at Elland Road)
Final: Samoa, Tonga or England (at Old Trafford)
Group D
Tonga (1/16 to win the group)
Papua New Guinea (7/1)
Wales (66/1)
Cook Islands (66/1)
Likely path for group winners:
QF: England (at Warrington)
SF: Samoa (at Emirates Stadium)
Final: Australia (at Old Trafford)
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
