Rugby League World Cup 2017: Round 1 Team Lists

Wayne Bennett has confirmed his 21-man England squad for the opening game of the World Cup against Australia and he has gone with Jonny Lomax at full-back and John Bateman at centre.

The Three Lions will be led by a strong forward pack, with Gareth Widdop and Luke Gale starting in the halves.

George Williams, Mike McMeeken and Stefan Ratchford are the three to miss out in the squad.

Winger Dane Gagai and forwards Wade Graham and Jordan McLean are set to make their debuts for the Kangaroos debuts on Friday.

However, the teams may change slightly ahead of kick-off.

Brad Takairangi, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Danny Levi are also set to make their Test debuts for New Zealand against Samoa, with Wigan Warriors star Tommy Leuluai given the No. 9 shirt.

Castleford Tigers half-back Ben Roberts will start at scrum-half for Samoa while former Hull FC ace Frank Pritchard will captain the side from the back-row.

As expected, Tonga have included all the NRL household names including Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita for their opener against Scotland, with Hull FC star Sika Manu leading the team from the pack.

Danny Brough will captain the Bravehearts while new Catalans Dragons signing Lewis Tierney will start at full-back and Warrington’s Matty Russell on the wing.

Wakefield Trinity half-back Liam Finn will captain Ireland in their match against Italy, with the Wolfhounds boasting a strong starting pack in Brad Singleton, Micky McIlorum, Kyle Amor, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Oliver Roberts and George King.

NRL sensation James Tedesco is set to start for the Azzurri along with Paul Vaughan, Nathan Brown, Jack Johns and Terry Campese.

Garry Lo, who has signed for Castleford Tigers for 2018, has been handed the No. 5 jersey for Papua New Guinea in their game against Wales. Paul Aiton will play at loose forward, with Kurt Baptiste and James Segeyaro also named in the Kumuls side.

Craig Kopczak will captain Wales with St Helens young trio Regan Grace, Ben Morris and Morgan Knowles also being named in the starting 13.

Jarryd Hayne will start for Fiji in their opening game against the United States alongside Kevin Naiqama, Akuila Uate and Toronto Wolfpack’s new recruit Ashton Sims.

And Toronto star Ryan Burroughs will start on the wing for the USA Hawks while former Wigan forward Eddy Pettybourne play alongside captain Mark Offerdahl in the front-row.

New South Wales ace Robbie Farah will lead the Lebanon team against France in the halves alongside Parramatta Eels’ Mitchell Moses.

And for France, St Helens’ Theo Fages will captain the side while new Leigh Centurions signing Ilias Bergal will start on the wing with Toulouse Olympique’s Mark Kheirallah at full-back.

TEAM LISTS:

AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND (Friday 27 October, 10am BST)

AUSTRALIA: 1. Billy Slater, 2. Dane Gagai, 3. William Chambers, 4. Josh Dugan, 5. Valentine Holmes, 6. Michael Morgan, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Cameron Smith (C), 10. David Klemmer, 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Jake Trbojevic.

Interchange: 14. Wade Graham, 15. Jordan McLean, 16. Joshua McGuire, 17. Tyson Frizell.

Reserves: 18. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 19. Ben Hunt, 20. Tom Trbojevic, 21. Felise Kaufusi.

ENGLAND: 1. Jonny Lomax, 2. Jermaine McGillvary, 3. Kallum Watkins, 4. John Bateman, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Gareth Widdop, 7. Luke Gale, 8. Chris Hill, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. James Graham, 11. Sam Burgess, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Sean O’Loughlin (C).

Interchange: 14. Alex Walmsley, 15. Chris Heighington, 16. Tom Burgess, 17. James Roby.

Reserves: 18. Ben Currie, 19. Kevin Brown, 20. Mark Percival, 21. Scott Taylor.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA v WALES (Saturday 28 October, 6am BST)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: 1. David Mead (C), 2. Justin Olam, 3. Kato Ottio, 4. Nene MacDonald, 5. Garry Lo, 6. Ase Boas, 7. Watson Boas, 8. Stanton Albert, 9. Wartovo Puara, 10. Luke Page, 11. Rhyse Martin, 12. Rod Griffin, 13. Paul Aiton.

Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste, 15. Willie Minoga, 16. James Segeyaro, 17. Enock Maki.

Reserves: 18. Lachlan Lam, 19. Stargroth Amean, 20. Wellington Albert, 21. Moses Meninga.

WALES: 1. Elliot Kear, 2. Rhys Williams, 3. Michael Channing, 4. Andrew Gay, 5. Regan Grace, 6. Courtney Davies, 7. Matt Seamark, 8. Craig Kopczak (C), 9. Steve Parry, 10. Phil Joseph, 11. Rhodri Lloyd, 12. Ben Morris, 13. Morgan Knowles.

Interchange: 14. Matty Fozard, 15. Sam Hopkins, 16. Ben Evans, 17. Chester Butler.

Reserves: 18. Josh Ralph, 19. Dalton Grant, 20. Christiaan Roets, 21. Matthew Brown.

NEW ZEALAND v SAMOA (Saturday 28 October, 08:10am BST)

NEW ZEALAND: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. Dallin Watene Zelezniak, 3. Gerard Beale, 4. Bradley Takairangi, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. Martin Taupau, 9. Tommy Leuluai, 10. Adam Blair (C), 11. Kenny Bromwich, 12. Joseph Tapine, 13. Simon Mannering.

Interchange: 14. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 15. Russell Packer, 16. Isaac Liu, 17. Danny Levi.

Reserves: 18. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 19. Peta Hiku, 20. Te Maire Martin, 21. Addin Fonua-Blake.

SAMOA: 1. Young Tonumaipea, 2. Peter Mata’utia, 3. Timoteo Lafai, 4. Joseph Leilua, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Joseph Paulo, 7. Ben Roberts, 8. Junior Paulo, 9. Jazz Tevaga, 10. Sam Lisone, 11. Josh Papalii, 12. Frank Pritchard (C), 13. Leeson Ah Mau.

Interchange: 14. Pita Godinet, 15. Herman Ese’ese, 16. Suaia Matagi, 17. Bunty Afoa.

Reserves: 18. Zane Musgrove, 19. Ricky Leutele, 20. Frank Winterstein, 21. Fa’amanu Brown.

FIJI v USA (Saturday 28 October, 10:40am BST)

FIJI: 1. Kevin Naiqama (C), 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Taane Milne, 4. Akuila Uate, 5. Marcelo Montoya, 6. Jarryd Hayne, 7. Henry Raiwalui, 8. Ashton Sims, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. Kane Evans, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Korbin Sims, 13. Tui Kamikamica.

Interchange: 14. Joe Lovodua, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 16. Eloni Vunakece, 17. Petero Benjamin Nakubuwai.

Reserves: 18. Brayden Wiliame, 19. James Storer, 20. Junior Roqica, 21. Pio Seci.

USA: 1. Corey Makelim, 2. Ryan Burroughs, 3. Junior Vaivai, 4. Jonathan Alley, 5. Bureta Faraimo, 6. Kristian Freed, 7. Matthew Walsh, 8. Eddy Pettybourne, 9. David Marando, 10. Mark Offerdahl (C), 11. Danny Howard, 12. Matt Shipway, 13. Nicholas Newlin.

Interchange: 14. Sam Tochterman-Talbott, 15. Andrew Kneisley, 16. Steve Howard, 17. Gabriel Farley.

Reserves: 18. Charles Joseph Cortalano, 19. Joe Eichner, 20. David Ulch, 21. Joshua Rice.

IRELAND v ITALY (Sunday 29 October, 4am GMT)

IRELAND: 1. Scott Grix, 2. Shannon McDonnell, 3. Ed Chamberlain, 4. Michael Morgan, 5. Liam Kay, 6. Api Pewhairangi, 7. Liam Finn (C), 8. Brad Singleton, 9. Micky McIlorum, 10. Kyle Amor, 11. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 12. Oliver Roberts, 13. George King.

Interchange: 14. Tyrone McCarthy, 15. James Hasson, 16. Joe Philbin, 17. Anthony Mullally.

Reserves: 18. Joe Keyes, 19. Will Hope, 20. Jack Higginson, 21. Matty Hadden.

ITALY: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Mason Cerruto, 3. Justin Castellaro, 4. Nathan Milone, 5. Josh Mantellato, 6. Terry Campese, 7. Jack Johns, 8. Paul Vaughan, 9. Ryan Ghietti, 10. Daniel Alvaro, 11. Joel Riethmuller, 12. Mark Minichiello (C), 13. Nathan Brown.

Interchange: 14. Colin Wilkie, 15. Brendan Santi, 16. Shannon Wakeman, 17. Jayden Walker.

Reserves: 18. Christophe Calegri, 19. Christopher Centrone, 20. Joe Tramontana, 21. Gavin Hiscox.

SCOTLAND v TONGA (Sunday 29 October, 06:15am GMT)

SCOTLAND: 1. Lewis Tierney, 2. Matty Russell, 3. Ben Hellewell, 4. Lachlan Stein, 5. Will Oakes, 6. Danny Brough (C), 7. Danny Addy, 8. Luke Douglas, 9. Kane Bentley, 10. Ben Kavanagh, 11. Frankie Mariano, 12. Dale Ferguson, 13. James Bell.

Interchange: 14. Callum Phillips, 15. Andrew Bentley, 16. Sam Brooks, 17. Johnny Walker.

Reserves: 18. Alex Walker, 19. Jarred Anderson, 20. Kieran Moran, 21. Brandan Wilkinson.

TONGA: 1. William Hopoate, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Konrad Hurrell, 5. Manu Vatuvei, 6. Tuimoala Lolohea, 7. Mafoa’aeata Hingano, 8. Andrew Fifita, 9. Siliva Havili, 10. Sio Siua Taukeiaho, 11. Manu Ma’u, 12. Sika Manu (C), 13. Jason Taumalolo.

Interchange: 14. Sione Katoa, 15. Sam Moa, 16. Peni Terepo, 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila.

Reserves: 18. Joe Ofahengaue, 19. Solomone Kata, 20. David Fusitua, 21. Samisoni Langi.

FRANCE v LEBANON (Sunday 29 October, 5am GMT)

FRANCE: 1. Mark Kheirallah, 2. Fouad Yaha, 3. Bastien Ader, 4. Damien Cardace, 5. Ilias Bergal, 6. Theo Fages (C), 7. William Barthau, 8. Antoni Maria, 9. Eloi Pelissier, 10. Julian Bousquet, 11. Benjamin Garcia, 12. Benjamin Jullien, 13. Jason Baitieri.

Interchange: 14. Clement Boyer, 15. Nabil Djalout, 16. Thibault Margalet, 17. Lucas Albert.

Reserves: 18. John Boudebza, 19. Olivier Arnoud, 20. Mickael Rouch, 21. Romain Navarrete.

LEBANON: 1. Anthony Layoun, 2. Travis Robinson, 3. James Elias, 4. Jason Wehbe, 5. Abbas Miski, 6. Mitchell Moses, 7. Robbie Farah (C), 8. Tim Mannah, 9. Michael Lichaa, 10. Alex Twal, 11. Chris Saab, 12. Ahmad Ellaz, 13. Nick Kassis.

Interchange: 14. Mitchell Mamary, 15. Elias Sukkar, 16. Jaleel Seve-Derbas, 17. Andrew Kazzi.

Reserves: 18. Adam Doueihi, 19. Bilal Maarbani, 20. Jamie Clark, 21. Danny Barakat.

Please note that the teams can change prior to the kick-offs. 

What are your predictions for the opening round of fixtures? Let us know in the comments below.