After a year-long delay and a mountain of build-up, the Rugby League World Cup finally gets underway on Saturday with home interest in the opening game and a first hit-up for the 11-time winners later on. There will be a tournament welcome ceremony before kick-off at St James’ Park, but once the games begin we should be in for a cracker of a first day.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s action…
England v Samoa – Group A
Where: St James’ Park, Newcastle.
When: 2:30pm (BST)
TV: BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)
Last meeting: Samoa 10-30 England (Campbelltown, 2017)
England’s last five: WWWLL
Samoa’s last five: LWLLD
Shaun Wane has been waiting for this moment ever since he was unveiled as the new England head coach over two-and-a-half years ago. He appointment after the exit of Wayne Bennett was heralded as a great step back towards the heart of English rugby league but a chaotic spell for the sport due to Covid-19, countless changes to the domestic schedule and a delayed World Cup have hampered the former Wigan boss’ plans massively.
The Wall of White face a star-studded Samoa side who are well backed to go deep in this tournament, but if England can harness the support of the home crowd at St James’ Park then they could get their campaign off to a flying start.
Sportsman stat: England have lost their opening group game at the last two World Cups, both to Australia. Their last win in game one came against Papua New Guinea in Townsville in 2008 (32-22).
Betfred odds: England 11/10, Samoa 4/5, draw 20/1
Favourites for first tryscorer: Brian To’o (Samoa) 11/2, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Samoa) 13/2
Australia v Fiji – Group B
Where: Headingley Stadium, Leeds.
When: 7:30pm (BST)
TV: BBC Two and BBC iPlayer
Referee: Chris Kendall (England)
Last meeting: Australia 54-6 Fiji (Brisbane, RLWC 2017)
Australia’s last five: LWWLW
Fiji’s last five: LWWWL
Mal Meninga’s squad features 13 new caps due in large part to the Kangaroos’ lack of games in the last three years since Covid-19 hit the world. They remain massive favourites for a reason though, and they should be expected to continue their dominance over Fiji at World Cups with a big performance at Headingley on Saturday night.
Fiji are coming off the back of a chastening 50-0 warm-up defeat to hosts England in Salford last week, and while they have reached the last three semi-finals they will need to pick up at least one surprise win over an Australia or a New Zealand in order to match that trend this time around.
Sportsman stat: This is the seventh time the two teams have met in the six tournaments since the World Cup reverted to a finals format in 1995, with Australia winning every one of the previous half-dozen encounters at an aggregate margin of 336-16.
Betfred odds: Australia N/A, Fiji 28/1, draw 80/1
Favourites for first tryscorer: Josh Addo-Carr (Australia) 9/2, Murray Taulagi (Australia) 11/2
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
