With the World Cup fast approaching, NRL.com takes a look at how each Group shapes up and who are the key men who have to stand up if their nation is to progress to the knockout stages...
Group B (Australia, Fiji, Italy, Scotland)
The lowdown
Despite fielding the most inexperienced Kangaroos squad in World Cup history, title holders Australia still enter this year’s tournament as favourites to retain their crown.
However, they will face some challenges along the way, with Fiji posing the biggest threat in their pool, having selected one of their strongest sides, including Panthers premiership winners Viliame Kikau and Apisai Koroisau.
Italy gave Kangaroos captain James Tedesco his first international representative opportunity in 2013 and will be hoping to unearth another superstar while giving plenty of home-grown talent a chance to shine.
Although Scotland may not have the same big names having lost their most high-profile recruit in Campbell Graham, with the in-form Rabbitohs centre earning selection for the Kangaroos, there is plenty of pride on the line for the side who will be working hard to improve on their last World Cup showing.
The games
* all times are AEDT
Sunday, October 16
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Australia v Fiji at 5.30am - Emerald Headingley Stadium, Leeds
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Scotland v Italy at 12.30am - Kingston Park, Newcastle
Saturday, October 22
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Australia v Scotland at 5.30am - Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry
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Fiji v Italy at 12.30am - Kingston Park, Newcastle
Sunday, October 30
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Fiji v Scotland at 3.00am - Kingston Park, Newcastle
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Australia v Italy at 5.30am - Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helen's
The teams
Australia
Squad: Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs), Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys), Angus Crichton (Roosters), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs), Harry Grant (Storm), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Ben Hunt (Dragons), Liam Martin (Panthers), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Cameron Munster (Storm), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys), James Tedesco (Roosters), Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Jack Wighton (Raiders), Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
Key player: Such is the talent across the park, it is hard to pinpoint one player who will make the most difference in the group stage. There is also plenty of competition for places during the early matches, namely for the coveted halfback jersey. But one player to keep an eye on making their debut is this year’s Dally M Rookie of the Year Jeremiah Nanai who is expected to bring plenty of energy and enthusiasm to the forward pack.
Strengths: While the forward pack is strong and the backs as polished as ever, as has traditionally been the case for Australia, the spine is world class. Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans are competing for the halfback position, while five-eighth of the year Cameron Munster is in the form of his life. Throw in captain James Tedesco in at fullback and Harry Grant at hooker, plus the versatile Ben Hunt, you have an arguably unbeatable combination.
Kangaroos Debutants - Harry Grant
Weaknesses: Although they are missing a number of in-form players who pledged their allegiances to their countries of heritage, it is hard to find a glaring weakness. Despite the side’s relative inexperience, Campbell Graham is the only player to have never featured in State of Origin, so pressure and complacency may be the main factors to overcome during the group stages.
History at World Cup: As the current Cup holders, in this year's tournament Australia are aiming to claim their 12th win since 1954. Overall, while the Kangaroos are currently ranked fourth in the international standings, they still remain the team to beat this tournament.
Fiji
Squad: Jowasa Drodrolagi (Whitehaven), Tui Kamikamica (Melbourne Storm), Vuate Karawalevu (Sydney Roosters), Viliame Kikau (Penrith Panthers), Apisai Koroisau (Penrith Panthers), Pio Seci (Manly Sea Eagles), Lamar Manuel-Liolevave (Tweed Seagulls), Isaac Lumelume (Canterbury Bulldogs), Netane Masima (Wests Magpies), Kaylen Miller (Mounties), Laitia Moceidreke (North Queensland Cowboys), Sitiveni Moceidreke (London Broncos), Kevin Naiqama (Sydney Roosters), Ben Nakubuwai (Leigh Centurions), Henry Raiwalui (Mounties), Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu (Redcliffe Dolphins), Mikaele Ravalawa (St George Illawarra Dragons), Taniela Sadrugu (North Queensland Cowboys), Maika Sivo (Parramatta Eels), Penioni Tagituimu (Redcliffe Dolphins), Sunia Turuva (Penrith Panthers), Semi Valemei (Canberra Raiders), King Vuniyayawa (Salford Reds), Brandon Wakeham (Canterbury Bulldogs), Josh Wong (Sydney Roosters)
Key player: The Bati feature two players from this year’s premiership-winning Penrith Panthers side with Apisai Koroisau and Viliame Kikau lining up for the squad. Gun outside back Sunia Turuva, who also played on NRL grand final day for the club’s lower grade side, has also been named and will be aiming to put his best foot forward before being promoted to the club's top 30 for 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Sunia Turuva shines for the Bati
Strengths: As well as Turuva, the Bati boast an enviable backline filled with try scorers. Both Maika Sivo and Mikaele Ravalawa love to cross for four-pointers in the NRL, while Isaac Lumelume and Laitia Moceidreke from the respective state Cup competitions are no slouches either.
Weaknesses: While Fiji has some experience talent up front and out wide, they do struggle with finding experience in the halves. Kevin Naiqama - who is normally a centre or winger - has filled in as five-eighth before, but much will be expected from Brandon Wakeham, who played four games in the NRL for the Bulldogs this year.
History at World Cup: The Fiji Bati have been impressive in their past three World Cup appearances, making it past the pool stages to feature in the semi-finals. They famously defeated New Zealand 4-2 in thrilling quarter-final in the last tournament in 2017, their biggest scalp.
Italy
Squad: Giordano Arena (Catania Bulls), Daniel Atkinson (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Simone Boscolo (RC Salon XIII), Nathan Brown (Parramatta Eels), Jack Campagnolo (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Gieolo Celerino (Racing Saint Gaudens), Jack Colovatti (Parramatta Eels), Luke Hodge (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles), Anton Iaria (Barrow Raiders), Radean Robinson (Central Queensland Capras), Ryan King (Whitehaven), Richard Lepori (Swinton Lions), Jake Maizen (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Luca Moretti (Parramatta Eels), Ethan Natoli (Newtown Jets), Ippolito Occhialini (Lignano Sharks), Rinaldo Palumbo (London Broncos), Dean Parata (London Broncos), Kyle Pickering (Cronulla Sharks), Luke Polselli (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Alex Rojatto (Lignano Sharks), Brendan Santi (Keighley Cougars), Alec Susino (Penrith Panthers), Nicholas Tilburg (Wentworthville), Joseph Tramontana (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles)
Key Player: Parramatta powerhouse Nathan Brown will provide key go-forward and a hard edge to the side that will also draw on the experience of hooker Dean Parata and second rower Brandon Santi who is adding to his 11 caps for the Azzuri.
Strengths: While halfback Cooper Johns has withdrawn from the squad (replaced by Radean Robinson from Central Queensland Capras), they will still have a skilled operator in the halves in Jack Campagnolo who was the QRL’s five-eighth of the year in 2021, while one-time Melbourne Storm and current Sunshine Coast Falcons half Daniel Atkinson and the club’s player of the year in fullback Luke Polselli will be looking to step up in the spine.
Weaknesses: There’s no denying that Italy will field a fairly inexperienced team, especially in their forward pack, Nathan Brown aside. However, they won't be short on passion and will be pushing to cause an upset or two.
History at World Cup: This will be the third appearance for Italy in the Rugby League World Cup, with the Azzurri finishing third in their group in 2013 and second in 2017.
Scotland
Squad: Euan Aiken (Warriors), Luke Bain (Parramatta Eels), Logan Bayliss (Brisbane Broncos), James Bell (St Helens), Ryan Brierley (Salford Red Devils), Keiran Buchanan (Batley Bulldogs), Lewis Clarke (Edinburgh Eagles), Davey Dixon (Dewsbury Rams), Charlie Emslie (Barrow Raiders), Dale Ferguson (Dewsbury Rams), Calum Gahan (London Broncos), Guy Graham (Whitehaven RLFC), Bailey Hayward (Canterbury Bulldogs), Ben Hellewell (Featherstone Rovers), Liam Hood (Wakefield), Kane Linnett (Hull KR), Bayley Liu (Sheffield Eagles), Sam Luckley (Salford Red Devils), Matty Russell (Toulouse), Kyle Schneider (Mackay Cutters), Jack Teanby (York City Knights), Shane Toal (Barrow Raiders), Lachlan Walmsley (Halifax Panthers), Alex Walker (London Broncos)
Key Player: While Euan Aiken is the only current NRL player in the squad, the are also a number of former and fringe players in the experienced Kane Linnett and emerging Logan Bayliss who will provide plenty of impact. However, someone to watch is Lewis Clark, who is the only player to be selected from a Scotland-based club, with the Edinburgh Eagles captain no doubt pushing to play in the match against Australia, having spent a season Down Under with Moore Park Broncos.
Aitken with perfect line running
Strengths: While the Bravehearts are down on troops due to a number of untimely injuries, they do have some experienced Cup campaigners in the side who know the challenge ahead in Matty Russell, Ryan Brierley and captain Dale Ferguson. While the squad found the going tough in the intense heat of north Queensland in their past World Cup outing, with temperatures more suited to rugby league, the side will be hoping to put on their best display of the game.
Weaknesses: Much like Italy, it is the lack of experience at the top level that will be the main undoing for Scotland. A strong resolve to put the pain of their last World Cup campaign behind them however will ensure the squad all play with pride and they will be looking to not only aim up against the big guns in the pool in Australia and Fiji, but snag a win against the Azzurri.
History at World Cup: The Bravehearts' best-ever finish at a World Cup came in 2013 when they reached the quarter-finals. This will be their fifth appearance at a World Cup, having also finished fourth in their group in 2000, eighth in 2008 and fourth in their group in 2017.
Stats courtesy David Middleton - League Information Services