World Cup Group A preview: schedule, teams and players to watch – TotalRL.com | Rugby League Express
SETUP AND TV COVERAGE
Saturday October 15England v Samoa, St. James Park, Newcastle2:30 p.m.
monday october 17France v Greece, Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster7:30 p.m.
Saturday October 22England against France, Bolton University Stadium5 p.m.
Sunday October 23Samoa vs Greece, Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster5 p.m.
Saturday October 29England versus Greece, Bramall Lane, Sheffield2:30 p.m.
Sunday October 30Samoa v France, Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington5 p.m.
ENGLAND
Crew: Andy Ackers (Salford Red Devils), Joe Batchelor (St Helens), John Bateman (Wigan Warriors), Tom Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Mike Cooper (Wigan Warriors), Herbie Farnworth (Brisbane Broncos), Ryan Hall (Hull KR) , Chris Hill (Huddersfield Giants), Morgan Knowles (St Helens), Matty Lees (St Helens), Tommy Makinson (St Helens), Michael McIlorum (Catalans Dragons), Mike McMeeken (Catalans Dragons), Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos), Kai Pearce-Paul (Wigan Warriors), Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters), Marc Sneyd (Salford Red Devils), Luke Thompson (Canterbury Bulldogs), Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons), Kallum Watkins (Salford Red Devils), Jack Welsby (St Helens), Elliott Whitehead (Canberra Raiders), George Williams (Warrington Wolves), Dominic Young (Newcastle Knights).
Team colours: White shirt with blue shoulders and chevron
The Head Coach: Shaun Wane
Captain: Sam Tomkin
Most Capped Team Member: Ryan Hall (38)
Players with previous World Cup experience: John Bateman, Tom Burgess, Mike Cooper, Ryan Hall, Chris Hill, Morgan Knowles (for Wales), Michael McIlorum, Mike McMeeken, Kallum Watkins, Elliott Whitehead, George Williams
Shooting star: Andy Ackers has had a great season with Salford Red Devils and if he is lucky enough to make his England debut, he will surely cause a lot of problems for the opposition defences.
Host city: Manchester
Odds (Betfred): 9/1
FRANCE
Crew: Lambert Belmas (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Alrix Da Costa (Catalans Dragons), Jordan Dezaria (Catalans Dragons), Morgan Escaré (Salford Red Devils), Benjamin Garcia (Catalans Dragons), Tony Gigot (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Mickaël Goudemand (Catalans Dragons), Benjamin Jullien (Catalan Dragons), Matthieu Laguerre (Catalan Dragons), Samisoni Langi (Catalan Dragons), Corentin Le Cam (Catalan Dragons), Paul Marcon (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Anthony Marion (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Arthur Mourgue (Catalan Dragons), Eloi Pelissier (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Maxime Puech (Albi RL XIII), Arthur Romano (Catalan Dragons), César Rougé (Catalan Dragons), Justin Sangaré (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Paul Séguier (Catalan Dragons), Gadwin Springer (Featherstone Rovers), Maxime Stefani (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Louis Jouffret (Halifax Panthers), Fouad Yaha (Catalans Dragons).
Team colours: Blue shirts with red and white chevron
The Head Coach: Laurent Frayssinous
Captain: Benjamin Garcia
Most Capped Team Member: Eloi Pelissier (18)
Players with previous World Cup experience: Benjamin Garcia, Benjamin Jullien, Eloi Pelissier, Fouad Yaha.
Shooting star: Justin Sangaré has had a great season for Toulouse Olympique and he will join the Leeds Rhinos in 2023. As he approaches his prime, he will relish the opportunity to do battle with the English and Samoan packs.
Host city: Bolt
Odds (Betfred): 250/1
GREECE
Crew: Lachlan Ilias (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Stefanos Bastas (Midlands Hurricanes), Nikolaos Bosmos (Rhodes Knights), Terry Constantinou (Sunbury Tigers), Aris Dardamanis (Aris Eagles), Nick Flocas (Ipswich Jets), Myles Gal (alone), Jake Kambos (Wests Magpies), Kosta Katsidonis (Rhodes Knights), Greg Koutsimporgiorgos (Aris Eagles), Billy Magoulias (Newtown Jets), Peter Mamouzelos (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Jordan Meads (Sunshine Coast), John Mitsias (Wests Magpies), Nick Mougios (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Thodoris Nianiakas (Woolston Rovers), Ionnis Nake (unattached), Chaise Robinson (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Ionnis Rousoglou (Aris Eagles), Sebastian Sell (Mittagong Lions), Liam Sui Tin (unattached) , Vasili Tsikrikas (Canterbury Bulldogs), Robert Tuliatu (London Broncos), Adam Vrahnos (London Broncos), Mitchell Zampetides (Wests Magpies).
Team colours: Blue and white
The Head Coach: Steve Georgallis
Captain: Jordan Meads
Most Capped Team Member: Stefanos Bastas (14)
Players with previous World Cup experience: None
Shooting star: Lachlan Ilias has established himself as a regular starter at fullback for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and he will be one to watch as he guides an inexperienced side on the pitch against strong opposition.
Host city: Sheffield
Odds (Betfred): 2000/1
SAMOA
Crew: Josh Aloiai (Manly Sea Eagles), Fa’amanu Brown (Wests Tigers), Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers), Mathew Feagai (St George-Illawarra Dragons), Braden Hamlin-Uele (Cronulla Sharks), Chanel Harris-Tavita (New- Zealand Warriors), Royce Hunt (Cronulla Sharks), Oregon Kaufusi (Parramatta Eels), Spencer Leniu (Penrith Panthers), Danny Levi (Huddersfield Giants), Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers), Taylan May (Penrith Panthers), Tyrone May (Catalans Dragons), Anthony Milford (Newcastle Knights), Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders), Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels), Ligi Sao (Hull FC), Jaydn Su’a (St George-Illawarra Dragons), Joseph Suaalii (Sydney Roosters), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (North Queensland Cowboys), Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers), Martin Taupau (Manly Sea Eagles), Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers), Kelma Tuilagi (Wests Tigers).
Team colours: Blue jersey with a white V
The Head Coach: Matt Parish
Captain: Anthony Milford
Most Capped Team Member: Paolo Junior (9)
Players with previous World Cup experience: Fa’amanu Brown, Jarome Luai, Josh Papalii
Shooting star: Joseph Suaalii is still a teenager, but the Roosters winger is a bright prospect who has given up the right to play for Australia in this year’s tournament to represent his father’s birthplace. He could cause a sensation at the end of the World Cup.
Host city: Doncaster
Odds (Betfred): 11/1
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