The 2008 Rugby League World Cup featured the national teams (selected from twenty-four-man squads) of ten nations: Australia, England, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, France, Scotland, Ireland, Samoa, and Tonga.[1][2]

Pool A

Australia

Head coach: Ricky Stuart Australia
Assistant coaches: John Cartwright and Allan Langer[3]

Player Games Points Position Club
Darren Lockyer (capt) 4 8 FE Brisbane Broncos
Darius Boyd1 1 0 WG Brisbane Broncos
Terry Campese 1 0 FE Canberra Raiders
Petero Civoniceva 4 0 PR Penrith Panthers
Craig Fitzgibbon 3 0 SR Sydney Roosters
Israel Folau 5 8 CE Melbourne Storm
Paul Gallen 5 4 SR Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Kurt Gidley 1 0 UB Newcastle Knights
Karmichael Hunt1 3 0 FB Brisbane Broncos
Greg Inglis 4 24 UB Melbourne Storm
Brent Kite 5 0 PR Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Anthony Laffranchi 4 8 SR Gold Coast Titans
Joel Monaghan 5 16 CE Canberra Raiders
Josh Perry 3 0 PR Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Steve Price 4 0 PR New Zealand Warriors
Scott Prince 2 24 HB Gold Coast Titans
Billy Slater 4 28 FB Melbourne Storm
Cameron Smith 5 2 HK Melbourne Storm
Glenn Stewart 4 0 SR Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Brent Tate 4 8 CE New Zealand Warriors
Johnathan Thurston 4 50 HB North Queensland Cowboys
Anthony Tupou2 5 4 SR Sydney Roosters
Anthony Watmough 2 0 SR Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
David Williams 2 16 WG Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

1 Replaced originally selected Brett Stewart and Justin Hodges who withdrew on 16 October.[4]

2 Replaced originally selected Michael Crocker who withdrew due to injury on 9 October.[5]

England

Head coach: Tony Smith Australia/England
Assistant coach: Steve McNamara

Player Games Points Position Club
Jamie Peacock (capt) 4 4 PR Leeds Rhinos
Rob Burrow 4 22 SH Leeds Rhinos
Mark Calderwood 3 0 WG Wigan Warriors
Gareth Ellis 4 0 SR Leeds Rhinos
Maurie Fa'asavalu 2 0 PR St. Helens
Ade Gardner 3 8 WG St. Helens
Martin Gleeson 4 12 CE Warrington Wolves
James Graham 3 0 PR St. Helens
Mickey Higham 2 4 HK Warrington Wolves
Gareth Hock 4 0 SR Wigan Warriors
Jamie Jones-Buchanan 1 0 SR Leeds Rhinos
Jamie Langley 1 0 LF Bradford Bulls
Danny McGuire 3 8 FE Leeds Rhinos
Adrian Morley 4 0 PR Warrington Wolves
Leon Pryce 3 0 SO St. Helens
Rob Purdham 2 0 LF Harlequins RL
James Roby 3 4 HK St. Helens
Keith Senior 4 0 CE Leeds Rhinos
Kevin Sinfield 3 8 LK Leeds Rhinos
Lee Smith 2 12 WG Leeds Rhinos
Paul Sykes 1 0 CE Bradford Bulls
Paul Wellens 4 0 FB St. Helens
Ben Westwood 1 0 SR Warrington Wolves
Jon Wilkin 3 0 SR St. Helens

New Zealand

Head coach: Stephen Kearney New Zealand
Assistant coach: Wayne Bennett Australia

Player Games Points Position Club
Nathan Cayless (capt) 4 0 PR Parramatta Eels
Adam Blair 5 8 PR Melbourne Storm
Greg Eastwood 5 4 LK Brisbane Broncos
David Fa'alogo 4 4 SR South Sydney Rabbitohs
Nathan Fien 5 4 UH New Zealand Warriors
Dene Halatau 1 0 HK Wests Tigers
Bronson Harrison1 3 4 SR Wests Tigers
Lance Hohaia 5 16 UH New Zealand Warriors
Krisnan Inu 1 10 UB Parramatta Eels
David Kidwell 1 0 SR South Sydney Rabbitohs
Thomas Leuluai 5 0 HB Wigan Warriors
Issac Luke 4 16 HK South Sydney Rabbitohs
Simon Mannering 5 8 SR New Zealand Warriors
Sika Manu 4 4 PR Melbourne Storm
Benji Marshall 5 14 FE Wests Tigers
Steve Matai 2 2 CE Manly Sea Eagles
Jason Nightingale2 1 4 WG St. George Illawarra Dragons
Sam Perrett 4 12 UB Sydney Roosters
Sam Rapira 4 0 PR New Zealand Warriors
Jerome Ropati 5 16 CE New Zealand Warriors
Setaimata Sa 1 0 CE Sydney Roosters
Jeremy Smith 5 12 SR Melbourne Storm
Evarn Tuimavave2 1 0 PR New Zealand Warriors
Manu Vatuvei 5 16 WG New Zealand Warriors

1 Replaced originally named Iosia Soliola who withdrew due to injury on 21 October.[6]

2 Replaced originally named Brent Webb and Jeff Lima who withdrew due to injury on 7 October.[7]

Papua New Guinea

Head coach: Adrian Lam Papua New Guinea[8][9]

Player Games Points Position Club
John Wilshire (capt) 3 10 UB Salford City Reds
David Moore 3 0 WG Gold Coast Titans
George Keppa 2 8 WG Norths Devils
Stanley Gene 3 0 LK Hull Kingston Rovers
Keith Peters 3 0 HB Penrith Panthers
Charlie Wabo 2 0 PR Papua New Guinea MMabey & Johnson Muruks
Rodney Pora 1 0 PR Papua New Guinea Mabey & Johnson Muruks
George Moni 2 0 SR Papua New Guinea MMabey & Johnson Muruks
Nickson Kolo 1 0 CE Papua New Guinea Masta Mark City Rangers
Paul Aiton 3 4 HK Penrith Panthers
Jessie Joe Parker 3 0 FE Papua New Guinea Masta Mark City Rangers
Makali Aizue 2 0 PR Hull Kingston Rovers
Trevor Exton 3 0 SR Ipswich Jets
Neville Costigan 3 0 SR Canberra Raiders
James Nightingale 3 0 LK Penrith Panthers
Rod Griffin 3 4 LK Northern Pride
Larsen Marabe 0 0 FB Papua New Guinea Agmark Gurias
Kevin Prior 1 0 CE Wentworthville Magpies
Jay Aston 1 0 SR Melbourne Storm
Tu'u Maori 3 0 WG Sydney Roosters
Menzie Yere 1 4 FE Papua New Guinea Agmark Gurias
Jason Chan 3 4 CE Windsor Wolves
Nico Slain 1 0 HK Papua New Guinea Bintangor Lahanis
Anton Kui 1 0 HB Papua New Guinea Bingtangor Lahanis

Pool B

Fiji

Head coach: Joe Dakuitoga Fiji

Player Games Points Position Club
Wes Naiqama (capt) 4 32 WG Newcastle Knights
Nick Bradley-Qalilawa 4 0 WG Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Jayson Bukuya 4 8 CE Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Iowane Divavesi 2 4 PR Terrigal Sharks
Aaron Groom 4 0 HB Bulldogs RLFC
Jarryd Hayne 4 12 FB/WG/FE Parramatta Eels
Sevania Koroi 4 0 CE/LK Western Suburbs Magpies
Josua Koroibulu 0 0 Australia Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs
Jone Macilai 1 0 CE/FB/WG Fassifern RLFC
Daryl Millard 3 0 CE Bulldogs RLFC
Vula Louis Dakuitoga Naqau 0 0 Terrigal Sharks
Kaliova Nauqe 2 0 Fassifern RLFC
Alipate Noilea 3 0 FE Parkes Spacemen
Josateki Ravueta Sawtell Panthers
Osea Sadrau 4 0 PR Fassifern RLFC
Ashton Sims 4 0 PR Brisbane Broncos
James Storer 3 0 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Nemani Suguturaga 0 0 Nabua Broncos
Waisale Sukanaveita 4 0 HK Terrigal Sharks
Semi Tadulala 4 8 WG Bradford Bulls
Semisi Tora 4 4 LK Parkes Spacemen
Malakai Yalimaiwai Tuiloa Australia Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs
Akuila Uate 4 20 WG Newcastle Knights
Ilisoni Vonomateiratu 4 0 PR Lautoka Crushers
Jone Wesele 2 0 Australia Darlington Point

France

Head coach: John Monie Australia[10]

Player Games Points Position Club
Jérôme Guisset (capt) 3 12 PR Catalans Dragons
Éric Anselme 2 0 CE Leeds Rhinos
Jean-Philippe Baile 1 0 CE Catalans Dragons
Jean-Christophe Borlin 1 0 FR Saint-Gaudens Bears
Thomas Bosc 3 16 FE Catalans Dragons
Laurent Carrasco 2 0 LK Villeneuve Leopards
Rémi Casty 2 0 PR Catalans Dragons
Olivier Elima 3 0 SR Catalans Dragons
Jamal Fakir 3 0 SR Catalans Dragons
Adel Fellous 2 0 PR Lézignan Sangliers
Maxime Grésèque 2 0 HB Pia Donkeys
Mathieu Griffi 1 0 FR Catalans Dragons
Christophe Moly 3 4 UH/UB AS Carcassonne
Grégory Mounis 3 0 LK Catalans Dragons
Justin Murphy 2 0 WG Catalans Dragons
Dimitri Pelo 2 0 WG Catalans Dragons
Sébastien Planas 1 4 WG Toulouse Olympique
Sébastien Raguin 3 4 SR Catalans Dragons
Julien Rinaldi 1 0 HB Harlequins RL
Teddy Sadaoui 3 0 CE AS Carcassonne
Jared Taylor 3 4 FB Lézignan Sangliers
John Wilson 3 8 CE Catalans Dragons
James Wynne 2 0 HB Lézignan Sangliers

Scotland

Except for Edinburgh Eagles stand-off Paddy Couper, all of the Scottish team's players were selected under the grandparent rule.[11]

Head coach: Steve McCormack England

Player Games Points Position Club
Danny Brough (capt) 2 12 HB Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Chris Armit 3 0 PR Bulldogs RLFC
Dean Colton 1 4 WG Doncaster
Paddy Coupar[12] 1 0 HB/CE Edinburgh Eagles
Gavin Cowan 2 0 CE Easts Tigers
John Duffy 3 0 HB Widnes Vikings
Ben Fisher 2 0 HK Hull Kingston Rovers
Andrew Henderson 3 0 HK Castleford Tigers
Ian Henderson 3 0 HK New Zealand Warriors
Kevin Henderson 3 0 CE Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Jack Howieson 1 0 PR Sheffield Eagles
Paul Jackson 2 0 PR Huddersfield Giants
Wade Liddell 2 0 FB Easts Tigers
Scott Logan 3 0 PR Canberra Raiders
Neil Lowe 1 0 SR Keighley Cougars
Dave McConnell 1 0 HK Leigh Centurions
Duncan MacGillivray 2 0 SR Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Iain Morrison 3 0 SR Widnes Vikings
Gareth Morton 1 0 CE Oldham
Mick Nanyn 3 0 CE Oldham
Lee Paterson 1 0 FE Widnes Vikings
Michael Robertson 3 4 WG Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Jon Steel 2 8 WG Hull Kingston Rovers
Oliver Wilkes 3 8 PR Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

Pool C

Ireland

Head coach: Andy Kelly England

Player Games Points Position Club
Scott Grix (capt) 3 4 FB Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Ross Barbour 0 0 CE Carlow Crusaders
Bob Beswick 3 0 LK Halifax
Damien Blanch 3 20 WG Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Mick Cassidy 1 0 SR Barrow Raiders
Ged Corcoran 1 0 PR Sheffield Eagles
Lee Doran 3 0 SR Widnes Vikings
Liam Finn 3 4 HB Dewsbury Rams
Simon Finnigan 3 4 SR Huddersfield Giants
Karl Fitzpatrick 3 0 FB Salford City Reds
Stevie Gibbons 0 0 WG London Skolars
Sean Gleeson 3 4 CE Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Brendan Guilfoyle 0 0 PR Ireland Treaty City Titans
Gareth Haggerty 3 0 PR Harlequins RL
Ben Harrison 3 0 PR Warrington Wolves
Graham Holroyd 0 0 FE Halifax
Wayne Kerr 1 0 PR London Skolars
Stuart Littler 3 0 CE Salford City Reds
Michael McIlorum 3 0 HK Wigan Warriors
Shayne McMenemy 0 0 SR WA Reds
Eamon O'Carroll 3 0 PR Wigan Warriors
Michael Platt 3 4 FB Bradford Bulls
Pat Richards 3 28 WG Wigan Warriors
Ryan Tandy 3 0 PR Wests Tigers

Samoa

Head coach: John Ackland New Zealand

Player Games Points Position Club
Nigel Vagana (capt) 2 8 CE South Sydney Rabbitohs
George Carmont 3 8 WG/CE Wigan Warriors
David Faiumu 0 0 HK North Queensland Cowboys
Harrison Hansen 3 0 SR Wigan Warriors
Ali Lauitiiti 3 0 SR Leeds Rhinos
Tuaalagi Lepupa 0 0 Marist Saints
Kylie Leuluai 2 0 PR Leeds Rhinos
Wayne McDade 2 0 PR Auckland Vulcans
Francis Meli 3 8 WG St Helens R.F.C.
Joseph Paulo 3 4 SR/FE Penrith Panthers
Frank Puletua 3 4 PR Penrith Panthers
Tony Puletua 3 0 SR Penrith Panthers
Ben Roberts 3 18 HB/FE Bulldogs RLFC
Tangi Ropati 1 0 FB Easts Tigers
Smith Samau 3 0 WG Gold Coast Titans
Lagi Setu 2 0 SR St. George Illawarra Dragons
Terrence Seu Seu 3 0 HK Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
David Solomona 2 4 SR Bradford Bulls
Willie Talau 2 0 CE St Helens R.F.C.
Alby Talipeau 2 0 HB Souths Logan Magpies
Misi Taulapapa 2 8 WG Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Ben Te'o 1 8 SR Wests Tigers
Tupu Ulufale 0 0 Marist Saints
Matt Utai 3 8 WG Bulldogs RLFC

Tonga

Head coach: Jim Dymock Australia

Player Games Points Position Club
Lopini Paea (capt) 3 0 PR Sydney Roosters
Andrew Emelio 1 0 CE Bulldogs RLFC
Richard Fa'aoso 2 0 SR Newcastle Knights
Awen Guttenbeil 1 0 SR Castleford Tigers
Michael Jennings 3 12 CE Penrith Panthers
Antonio Kaufusi 3 0 SR Melbourne Storm
Toshio Laiseni 1 0 FB Newtown Jets
Stephen Latu 100 3,015 WG Parramatta Eels
Epalahame Lauaki 3 0 SR New Zealand Warriors
Tevita Leo-Latu 3 4 HK Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Willie Manu 3 0 SR Hull F.C.
Manase Manuokafoa 2 0 SR South Sydney Rabbitohs
Feleti Mateo 3 4 SR Parramatta Eels
Sam Moa 3 0 PR Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Eddie Paea 2 6 HB South Sydney Rabbitohs
Mickey Paea 1 0 SR Sydney Roosters
Fetuli Talanoa 3 4 WG South Sydney Rabbitohs
Joel Taufa'ao 1 4 HB South Sydney Rabbitohs
Esikeli Tonga 2 4 FB Gold Coast Titans
Etuate Uaisele 3 8 WG Parramatta Eels
Kim Uasi 2 0 HK Auckland Vulcans
Cooper Vuna 3 12 WG Newcastle Knights
Tony Williams 3 24 WG Parramatta Eels

Welcome to Country

As part of the official opening of the World Cup on 26 October, an exhibition game was played between an Aboriginal selection and a New Zealand Māori side.[18]

Indigenous Dreamtime Team

Head coach: Neil Henry Australia

Player Games Points Position Club
Rhys Wesser 1 8 FB Penrith Panthers
Justin Carney 1 4 WG Canberra Raiders
Maurice Blair 1 0 CE Penrith Panthers
Jamal Idris 1 0 CE Bulldogs RLFC
Ty Williams 1 0 WG North Queensland Cowboys
Jamie Soward 1 10 FE St George Illawarra Dragons
Preston Campbell (capt) 1 0 HB Gold Coast Titans
Carl Webb 1 0 PR North Queensland Cowboys
Ian Lacey 1 0 HK Ipswich Jets
George Rose 1 0 PR Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Daine Laurie 1 0 SR Wests Tigers
Derrick Watkins 1 0 SR Brisbane Broncos
Dean Widders 1 0 LK South Sydney Rabbitohs
Chris Sandow 1 0 HB South Sydney Rabbitohs
Rod Jensen 1 8 UB Huddersfield Giants
Yileen Gordon 1 4 CE South Sydney Rabbitohs
Peter Jensen 1 0 UB CRL
Denis Moran 0 0 HB Narwan Eels

New Zealand Māori

Head coach: Luke Goodwin New Zealand[19][20]

Player Games Points Position Club
Bronx Goodwin 1 4 FB,WG Canberra Raiders
Jordan Rapana 1 4 WG Gold Coast Titans
Chase Stanley 1 6 CE St George Illawarra Dragons
Karl Johnson 1 0 CE Central Comets
Shaun Kenny-Dowall 1 4 WG,CE Sydney Roosters
Arana Taumata 1 4 FE Bulldogs RLFC
Rangi Chase 1 0 HB,FE St George Illawarra Dragons
Weller Hauraki 1 0 PR Parramatta Eels
Ben Ellis (capt) 1 0 HK St George Illawarra Dragons
Sam McKendry 1 4 FR Penrith Panthers
Wairangi Koopu 1 0 S1 New Zealand Warriors
Craig Smith 1 0 S2 Unattached
Lee Te Maari 1 0 LF,S1 Bulldogs RLFC
Charlie Herekotukutuku 1 0 FB,WG,HB South Sydney Rabbitohs
Joseph Cahill 1 0 Sydney Roosters
Chance Bunce 1 0 Cronulla Sharks
James Tamou 1 0 HK Sydney Roosters
Kevin Proctor 0 0 SR Melbourne Storm

Notes and references

Positions

Further information: Rugby league positions
Northern Hemisphere terms Southern Hemisphere terms
  • FB – Fullback
  • WG – Wing
  • CE – Centre
  • SO – Stand-off
  • SH – Scrum-half
  • PR – Prop
  • HK – Hooker
  • SR – Second-Row
  • LF – Loose-forward
  • UB – Utility Back
  • N/A
  • FB – Fullback
  • WG – Wing
  • CE – Centre
  • FE – Five-Eighth
  • HB – Halfback
  • PR – Prop
  • HK – Hooker
  • SR – Second-Row
  • LK – Lock
  • UB – Utility Back
  • UH – Utility Half

References

  1. ^ Two More Vodafone Warriors in World Cup Teams[permanent dead link] NZ Warriors, 8 October 2008.
  2. ^ Fiji, Ireland, Samoa, Scotland and Tonga sides Archived 11 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine Official RLWC08 site, 8 October 2008.
  3. ^ skysports.com (9 November 2008). "Evergreen Gene bows out". Sky Sports. UK: BSkyB. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  4. ^ Broncos duo join Kangaroos Archived 6 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine NRL Official Site, 16 October 2008
  5. ^ a b Tupou a Kangaroo again, replaces Crocker Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine NRL Official website, 9 October 2008
  6. ^ Geenty, Mark (22 October 2008). "League: Shattered Soliola out of World Cup". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  7. ^ Tuimavave becomes Seventh Vodafone Warrior in Kiwis World Cup Squad[permanent dead link] NZ Warriors, 9 October 2008.
  8. ^ PNG will shock big guns, says Costigan Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine NRL Official site, 13 October 2008
  9. ^ Kumuls get Pidgin lesson Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine NRL Official site, 21 October 2008
  10. ^ "France name official squad". RLWC2008. 24 September 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  11. ^ Roberts, Chris (25 October 2008). "Scotland side for Rugby League of Nations has one home-bred Scot". Scottish Daily Record. Scotland. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
  12. ^ Paddy Coupar a true Braveheart Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine @ NRL Official Site, 17 October 2008
  13. ^ White withdraws from Ireland WCup squad Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine @ NRL Official website, 9 October 2008
  14. ^ Ireland seething over treatment @ NZ Herald, 14 October 2008.
  15. ^ Ireland suffer White injury blow @ BBC, 9 October 2008
  16. ^ Moimoi, Tuiaki cannot play for Tonga Archived 11 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine @ NRL Official website, 11 October 2008
  17. ^ Tonga welcome court ruling on NRL duo Archived 31 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine @ RLWC Official Website, 28 October 2008
  18. ^ Indigenous Dreamtime team named Archived 1 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine Official RLWC08 site, 11 October 2008.
  19. ^ NZ Maori name coaching staff for World Cup curtain raiser @ RL World Cup, 14 June 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2009. Archived 2009-07-23.
  20. ^ Maori side to play Indigenous[permanent dead link] @ RLWC08 Official Site, 22 October 2008.

External links

2008 Rugby League World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
2008 in rugby league
Categories