History will be made in St Helens on Monday night when Kasey Badger becomes the first woman to referee a men's Rugby League World Cup fixture. She takes charge of Tonga's crucial clash with Wales in Group D as the Mate Ma'a look to ease their path into the quarter-finals before their final first-phase match against the Cook Islands.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Monday’s action…
Tonga v Wales - Group D
Where: Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens.
When: 7:30pm (BST)
TV: BBC Two and BBC iPlayer
Referee: Kasey Badger (Australia)
Last meeting: N/A - First meeting
Tonga’s RLWC so far: Beat Papua New Guinea 24-18
Wales’ RLWC so far: Lost to Cook Islands 12-18
Kristian Woolf will be hoping his Tonga side can raise their level after a late, late win over Papua New Guinea in their opening fixture. The 2017 semi-finalists were highly fancied coming into the tournament, and they remain one of the favourites, but their first hit-out did not show them in their best light. Woolf has revealed that full-back Will Hopoate will not be playing a part at Langtree Park, telling reporters: “He won’t play this week but he has a real chance against Cook Islands. I know what class he’s got and at St Helens this year you’ve got to remember that we never lost a game when he played, so I think that speaks volumes of his class and his influence on a team.
“If he is ready to play against Cook Islands, he will play. If not it will be the quarter-finals.”
Cook Islands coach Tony Iro will be eager for his troops to back up their comeback win against Wales with a positive performance against the group leaders. With Papua New Guinea still to come in a potential decider for qualification for the last eight, points difference could play a deciding factor in Group D.
Sportsman stat: Wales have lost their last eight World Cup fixtures, to Australia (2000 semi-final), Italy, USA and Cook Islands (2013 groups), Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Ireland (2017 groups), and Cook Islands again last week.
Betfred odds: Tonga TBC, Wales TBC, draw TBC
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
