Up to now, six teams competing in this years world cup have announced their provisional squads. They are the Australians and the Irish (see below) as well as the Tongans, Samoans, Fijians and Papa New Guinea.
PNG have announced two sets of players, those who play their trade overseas and those who compete in the PNG domestic competition. What’s promising is that only twenty-two of the forty-nine man squad are those playing abroad, meaning the other twenty-nine are born, bred and are a credit to the domestic competition. However, the international line up consists of Stanley Gene, John Wilshire and Macali Aizu, all of who compete in the UK, as well as three NRL players and one Toyota Cup selection.
Meanwhile the Samoans seem to be reaching for the stars with a squad consisting of players that may well be selected elsewhere, but qualify through Samoa by birth and other countries by residency. Of the thirty-nine players selected on both sides of the world, only four are not playing top flight rugby league in either the NRL or Super League. Philip Leulua’i is playing for Salford (guaranteed a SL spot next season) while one player is competing for the Auckland Vulcans, and two others play for East Tigers in the Queensland Cup. Household names in the entire squad include George Carmont and Harrison Hansen (Wigan), Ali, Kyle and Philip Leulua’I (Leeds and Salford), Dave Faiumu (Huddersfield), Steve Matai (Manly), Francis Meli (Leeds), Frank and Tony Puletua (Penrith), Jerome and Tangi Roparti (NZ Warriors and East Tigers), David Solomona (Bradford), Chase Stanley ( St George), Sam Tagataese, (Melbourne), Wille Talau (St Helens), Motu Tony (Hull FC), Matt Utai (Canterbury) and finally, Nigel Vagana (Souths).
Staying in the Pacific, Tonga have named Feleti Mateo as their spearhead for the Pacific Islander’s campaign. The thirty-six-man squad consists of thirty-three SL and NRL stars including the three Anderson brothers, Fraser, Vinnie and Louis (Cronulla and Warrington), Richard Fa’aoso (Newcastle), Brent Kite (Manly), Willie Manu (Hull FC), Willie Mason (Sydney), as well as Anthony and Tame Tupou (Sydney and Bradford). The selection of Willie Mason is only if he is not selected for Australia, which for Tonga, is highly doubtful he won’t be.
Finally staying in the Pacific and heading further east, Fiji have already confirmed ten players will feature for them in the world cup, but have named and two other sets of players who will trial to book their place. One set will come from the Fijian domestic competition, the other set coming from abroad. Semi Tadulala, Ashton Sims and former London Bronco Nick Bradley-Qalilawa are confirmed. Meanwhile the Fijian residents are mostly coming from teams in the NSW Cup, Jim Beam Cup and Toyota Cup. Surprisingly, a large proportion are from Gateshead, who have recently been in the news as favourites to take out National League Two as well as a possible relocation to Newcastle, as well as London Skolars, also in NL2.
If these teams become a reality, then there is little doubt we will have an exciting competition on our hands, with Tonga and Samoa the likely contenders for a semi final spot providing they beat Group B favourites France.
PNG have announced two sets of players, those who play their trade overseas and those who compete in the PNG domestic competition. What’s promising is that only twenty-two of the forty-nine man squad are those playing abroad, meaning the other twenty-nine are born, bred and are a credit to the domestic competition. However, the international line up consists of Stanley Gene, John Wilshire and Macali Aizu, all of who compete in the UK, as well as three NRL players and one Toyota Cup selection.
Meanwhile the Samoans seem to be reaching for the stars with a squad consisting of players that may well be selected elsewhere, but qualify through Samoa by birth and other countries by residency. Of the thirty-nine players selected on both sides of the world, only four are not playing top flight rugby league in either the NRL or Super League. Philip Leulua’i is playing for Salford (guaranteed a SL spot next season) while one player is competing for the Auckland Vulcans, and two others play for East Tigers in the Queensland Cup. Household names in the entire squad include George Carmont and Harrison Hansen (Wigan), Ali, Kyle and Philip Leulua’I (Leeds and Salford), Dave Faiumu (Huddersfield), Steve Matai (Manly), Francis Meli (Leeds), Frank and Tony Puletua (Penrith), Jerome and Tangi Roparti (NZ Warriors and East Tigers), David Solomona (Bradford), Chase Stanley ( St George), Sam Tagataese, (Melbourne), Wille Talau (St Helens), Motu Tony (Hull FC), Matt Utai (Canterbury) and finally, Nigel Vagana (Souths).
Staying in the Pacific, Tonga have named Feleti Mateo as their spearhead for the Pacific Islander’s campaign. The thirty-six-man squad consists of thirty-three SL and NRL stars including the three Anderson brothers, Fraser, Vinnie and Louis (Cronulla and Warrington), Richard Fa’aoso (Newcastle), Brent Kite (Manly), Willie Manu (Hull FC), Willie Mason (Sydney), as well as Anthony and Tame Tupou (Sydney and Bradford). The selection of Willie Mason is only if he is not selected for Australia, which for Tonga, is highly doubtful he won’t be.
Finally staying in the Pacific and heading further east, Fiji have already confirmed ten players will feature for them in the world cup, but have named and two other sets of players who will trial to book their place. One set will come from the Fijian domestic competition, the other set coming from abroad. Semi Tadulala, Ashton Sims and former London Bronco Nick Bradley-Qalilawa are confirmed. Meanwhile the Fijian residents are mostly coming from teams in the NSW Cup, Jim Beam Cup and Toyota Cup. Surprisingly, a large proportion are from Gateshead, who have recently been in the news as favourites to take out National League Two as well as a possible relocation to Newcastle, as well as London Skolars, also in NL2.
If these teams become a reality, then there is little doubt we will have an exciting competition on our hands, with Tonga and Samoa the likely contenders for a semi final spot providing they beat Group B favourites France.
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