2013 Rugby League World Cup Teams

Here is a look at the teams that will be competing in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Australia
Group: A
Coach: Tim Sheens
Squad: Greg Bird, Darius Boyd, Daly Cherry-Evans, Boyd Cordner, Cooper Cronk, Robbie Farah, Andrew Fifita, Paul Gallen, Jarryd Hayne, Greg Inglis, Michael Jennings, Luke Lewis, Brett Morris, Josh Morris, Nate Myles, Josh Papalii, Corey Parker, Matthew Scott, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, James Tamou, Brent Tate, Sam Thaiday, Johnathan Thurston
Comment: After losing the 2008 World Cup Final Australia will be looking to regain the trophy and avenge their loss to New Zealand.

Cook Islands
Group: D
Coach: David Fairleigh
Squad: Tinirau Arona, Sam Brunton, Daniel Fepuleai, Jonathon Ford, Anthony Gelling, Isaac John, Drury Low, Keith Lulia, Lulia Lulia, Hikule’o Malu, Sam Mataora, Joseph Matapuku, Dylan Napa, Dominique Peyroux, Rea Pittman, Jordan Rapana, Tupou Sopoaga, Zeb Taia, Brad Takairangi, Adam Tangata, Chris Taripo, Zane Tetavano, Tyrone Viiga
Comment: A real enigma in international Rugby League. How they go in the World Cup will be anyone’s guess. They have named some very handy players in their side and they always seem to punch above their weight.

England
Group: A
Coach: Steve McNamara
Squad: Carl Abblett, Tom Briscoe, George Burgess, Sam Burgess, Tom Burgess, Rob Burrow, Josh Charnley, Rangi Chase, Leroy Cudjoe, Liam Farrell, James Graham, Ryan Hall, Zak Hardaker, Chris Hill, Gareth Hock, Michael McIlorum, Lee Mossop, Sean O’Loughlin, James Roby, Kevin Sinfield, Sam Tomkins, Kallum Watkins, Ben Westwood, Gareth Widdop
Comment: As one of the hosts of the 2013 World Cup England will be looking to erase disastrous memories of the 2008 tournament when they only managed to win one game!

Fiji
Group: A
Coach: Rick Stone
Squad: Peni Botiki, Jayson Bukuya, Petero Civoniceva, Kane Evans, Aaron Groom, Ilisavani Jegesa, Marika Koroibete, Apisai Koroisau. Daryl Millard, Ryan Millard, Kevin Naiqama, Waisale Naiqama, Alipate Noilea, Tikiko Noke, Vitale Junior, Ashton Sims, Korbin Sims, Tariq Sims, James Storer, Kaliova Nauqe, Akuila Uate, Eloni Tui Michael Vunakece, Sisa Ledua, Semi Radradra Turagasoli Waqavatu
Comment: Semi finalists in 2008, Fiji are a side that has a lot more NRL quality talent in their lineup this time around. The development of a number of their players since 2008 has been extraordinary and if they can gel as a team they will be a very dangerous side in this tournament.

France
Group: B
Coach: Richard Agar
Squad: Jean Philippe Baile, William Barthau, Andrew Bentley, Kane Bentley, Thomas Bosc, Damien Cardace, Remi Casty, Vincent Duport, Olivier Elima, Morgan Escare, Theo Fages, Jamal Fakir, Benjamin Garcia, Tony Gigot, Clint Greenshields, Younes Khattabi, Kevin Larroyer, Antoni Maria, Gregory Mounis, Eloi Pelissier, Sebastian Raguin, Mickael Simon, Cyril Stacul, Frederic Vaccari
Comment: They were without doubt the disappointment of the 2008 World Cup. Anything they do this time around would be better than that disaster. They are a bit of an unknown quantity, not because they don’t have talent, but you just don’t know whether they will turn up!

Italy
Group: C
Coach: Carlo Napolitano
Squad: Christophe Calegari, Terry Campese, Joel Celerino, Chris Centrone, Fabrizio Ciaurro, Cameron Ciraldo, Ben Falcone, Sam Gardel, Aidan Guerra, Ryan Ghetti, Craig Gower, Gavin Hiscox, Anthony Laffranchi, Vic Mauro, Anthony Minichiello, Mark Minichiello, Joshua Mantellato, Dean Parata, Joel Riethmuller, Brenden Santi, James Saltonstall, James Tedesco, Ryan Tramonte, Paul Vaughan.
Comment: The team that qualified for the World Cup shares little resemblance to the team that will take part in the tournament. This is a side mostly filled with players selected under the ridiculous “grandparent rule” and as such has little to no connection to the strength of Rugby League in Italy. It is basically a team of Australia’s with Italian names.

Ireland
Group: A
Coach: Mark Aston
Squad: Dave Allen, Luke Ambler, Bob Beswick, Damien Blanch, Danny Bridge, Ben Currie, Liam Finn, Simon Finnigan, Scott Grix, Simon Grix, Kurt Haggerty, James Hasson, Rory Kostjasyn, Stuart Littler, Tyrone McCarthy, James Mendeika, Anthony Mullally, Eamon O’Carroll, Apirana Pewhairangi, Pat Richards, Colton Roche, Marc Sneyd, Joshua Toole, Brett White.
Comment: With no players in the squad that play in the local Irish competition, or who even currently live in Ireland, this isn’t so much an Irish side as it is a side of people pretending to be Irish.

New Zealand
Group: B
Coach: Stephen Kearney
Squad: Jesse Bromwich, Greg Eastwood, Kieran Foran, Alex Glenn, Bryson Goodwin, Josh Hoffman, Krisnan Inu, Shaun Johnson, Sam Kasiano, Thomas Leuluai, Kevin Locke, Issac Luke, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Sam Moa, Jason Nightingale, Frank-Paul Nu’uausala, Frank Pritchard, Elijah Taylor, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Manu Vatuvei, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dean Whare, Sonny Bill Williams
Comment: The reigning World Cup holders, New Zealand have shown they rise to the occasion in tournament competition. They have slipped nicely under the radar leading into the World Cup despite their incredible amount of depth and their ability to pick a number of the games form players.

Papua New Guinea
Group: B
Coach: Adrian Lam
Squad: Josiah Abavu, Paul Aiton, Dion Aiye, Wellington Albert, Ase Boas, Jason Chan, Neville Costigan, Israel Eliab, Richard Kambo, Roger Laka, Enoch Maki, Larsen Marabe, Bosam McDonald, David Mead, Mark Mexico, Jessie Joe Nandye, Sebastien Pandia, Francis Paniu, James Segeyaro, Jason Tali, Ray Thompson, Charlie Wabo, Menzie Yere
Comment: They were thrown into the deep end in 2008 and they will be expected to step up to a similar level this time around. I have a feeling we will see PNG take a bit of a step backwards in the World Cup.

Samoa
Group: B
Coach: Matt Parish
Squad: Roy Asotasi, David Fa’alogo, Pita Godinet, Harrison Hansen, Masada Iosefa, Faleniu Iosi, Tim Lafai, Joseph Leilua, Teofilo Lepou, Reni Maitua, Penani Manumeasili, Mose Masoe, Suaia Matagi, Arden McCarthy, Anthony Milford, Junior Moors, Edward Purcell, Ben Roberts, Iosia Soliola, Sauaso Sue, Mark Taufua, Ionatana Tino, Daniel Vidot, Antonio Winterstein
Comment: people are expecting big things out of Samoa with the squad they have named. I truly believe that Samoa will be in that second group of teams with the likes of England, Fiji and Tonga. With a bit of form they could easily secure themselves a place in the semi finals.

Scotland
Group: C
Coach: Steve McCormack
Squad: Danny Addy, Sam Barlow, Danny Brough, Brett Carter, Luke Douglas, Dale Ferguson, Ben Fisher, Ian Henderson, Ben Hellewell, Andrew Henderson, Alex Hurst, Ben Kavanagh, Kane Linnett, Gareth Moore, Brett Phillips, Matt Russell, David Scott, Mitchell Stringer, Alex Szostak, Adam Walker, Jonathan Walker, Peter Wallace, Oliver Wilkes.
Comment: A team mostly made up of Englishmen, the Scottish side has named a few decent players but they are not expected to go very far.

Tonga
Group: C
Coach: Charlie Tonga
Squad: Sosaia Feki, Mahe Fonua, Daniel Foster, Glen Fisi’iahi, Siliva Havili, Konrad Hurrell, Brent Kite, Samisoni Langi, Siuatonga Likiliki, Sika Manu, Willie Manu, Nesiasi Mataitonga, Fuifui Moimoi, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Mickey Paea, Pat Politoni, Nafe Seluini, Ukuma Ta’ai, Jason Taumalolo, Peni Terepo, Jorge Taufua, Daniel Tupou, Siosaia Vave
Comment: A very strong squad that will destroy some of the European teams they face, Tonga should be aiming for a semi finals berth at the very least.

United States Of America
Group: D
Coach:
Squad: Mark Cantoni, Andrew Durutalo, Bureta Faraimo, Gabriel Farley, Kristian Freed, Mike Garvey, Roman Hifo, Danny Howard, Stephen Howard, Luke Hume, Judah Lavulo, Joel Luani, David Marando, Ryan McGoldrick, Clint Newton, Mark Offerdahl, Joseph Paulo, Junior Paulo, Craig Priestly, Matt Petersen, Tui Samoa, Matt Shipway, Les Soloai, Lelauloto Tagaloa.
Comment: This squad has very few players in it that qualified for the World Cup and who have been playing regular games for the U.S.A. in recent years. It has little if anything to do with Rugby League in the United States.

Wales
Group: D
Coach: Iestyn Harris
Squad: Neil Budworth, Ross Divorty, Gil Dudson, Ben Flower, Rhodri Lloyd, Jake Emmitt, Jordan James, Ben Evans, Elliot Kear, Rhys Evans, Rhys Williams, Dan Fleming, James Geurtjens, Danny Jones, Craig Kopczak, Larne Patrick, Peter Lupton, Rob Massam, Christiaan Roets, Matt Seamark, Anthony Walker, Ian Webster, Lloyd White.
Comment: While they may have qualified for the Four Nations a couple of years ago Wales struggle to put together a side that is all that strong. Most players qualify for the squad via extremely questionable eligibility rules.