To celebrate one year until the 2013 Rugby League World Cup final (30th November 2013), I will pick the starting team and squads for each of the fourteen countries participating in the World Cup. I will also give a four-year cycle, going forward, for the RLIF and its member organisations to work towards. All this and more in a special international edition of the blog of cheese.
Earlier this year, Cronulla Sharks chairman Damian Irvine tweeted what the Fijian backline could look like with the abundance of quality outside backs in the NRL. That single tweet started the most significant project I have ever undertaken. To begin with, I went through the 2012 NRL season guide to find out who qualified for Fiji based on birth. Whilst going through the season guide, I noticed the amount of other pacific players in the games, so I decided to try to make a Samoan and Tongan team, and that was the end, or so I thought, until the release of Rugby League Live 2.
For those who have not played the video game Rugby League Live 2, it lacks international teams. It only includes the “big three” of Australia, New Zealand and England. So I decided to create teams for each of the other eleven countries that would take part in the World Cup. To do this, I consulted Wikipedia to give me a squad list for each country. Rugby League Live 2 has squad lists for the; NSW Cup, QLD Cup, Coopratieve Championship, Cooperative Championship 1, and the NRL and Super League. Unfortunately, Wikipedia does not correctly list most of these players’ current clubs or positions. I then decided to consult rugby league project, which has a huge statistical database that covers the NRL, Super League, Challenge Cup and various international competitions. I could search for a player and hopefully find his current club. Many players who are eligible for one reason or another did not play in that country’s most recent international. So my next step was to head back to Wikipedia and to look through several tournaments, including the: 2000 and 2008 Rugby League World Cups, qualification for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, the 2009 Pacific Cup, the 2010 and 2011 Four Nations as well as the 2010 and 2012 European Cups. In some countries, players who had played in previous tournaments were better than incumbents; however, they did not play in any of the above competitions, which required me to Google the players to find if they were still active.
Considering I had this wealth of information, I decided to put it to use (besides a video game). I then decided to pick a twenty-five-man squad for each of the teams in the World Cup. Doing this proved a more challenging task than I had imagined. I now understand what tough job selectors have in picking between players. Thankfully most of the European teams had participated in internationals, so all I had to do was go to the country’s website, find the most recent squad, add anyone who would make the squad who was not playing in the tournament, and then choose a top seventeen. I based this on their most recent international games. Unfortunately for me, the Cooks Islands, Fiji, Italy, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and USA’s Wikipedia page’s didn’t have up-to-date squad lists. This made the task a lot harder as I had to search for recent squad lists for internationals and try and build a team around that. Some of the countries mentioned above have a lot of players in certain positions, though they struggle in others which added to the frustration.
As stated in a previous post about State Of Origin eligibility, I do not consider playing State Of Origin ties a player to play Australia. For example, Michael Jennings hasn’t played for Australia since 2009, which would make him eligible for Tonga, despite him playing State Of Origin this year. During the promotion of the World cup, ex-Australian captain Darren Lockyer and ex-England captain Jamie Peacock both suggested that if a player was eligible for more than one country and was not selected to play for the country he had aligned himself to play, he could play for the second country, for example; Ian Henderson has said that he wants to play for England if he is not selected in the England squad for the World Cup he could play for Scotland. The RLIF may allow this to happen for the World Cup, but as it is not RLIF law, I did not select any player with these circumstances. It should be noted that Samoa does not have a coach at this stage due to Daniel Anderson being appointed referees coach. So below, I give you my 2013 World Cup Squads (my complete list of players eligible for which country will follow at the bottom of the post.
From the outside looking in, the RLIF seem to lack foresight in setting up tournaments, except regarding the big three and the World Cup. The RLEF, however, takes care of its member nations with competitions for its member nations held biennially. The rest of the Rugby League World is left on its own to form tournaments, with the last Pacific Cup (before it was used as a Four Nations Qualifier) in 2006, a far cry from the European-based competitions. It is no wonder countries like Canada, Jamaica, and to a lesser extent, Lebanon wants to join the RLEF. If the RLIF was to use the World Cup as a starting point and went on a four-cycle of tournaments, in the three years between World Cups, a lot of players would stick with the smaller nations as they know they would have regular international games. The Atlantic Cup (Atlantic Rugby League) and the Asia-Pacific Cup (APRLC) should be held in the same years as the European competitions. I agree with Dr Daniel Andruczyk of Rugby League International Scores, who suggests that the Middle East and Africa should form a governing body for their region (MEARL).
In the first year, I would play the Four Nations between Australia, New Zealand, England and the other semi-finalist from the World Cup. Also, this year, I would play the cups mentioned above. Having the other semi-finalists compete in the Four Nations would reward that country for doing well in the World Cup and the chance to participate in a tournament with the best sides in the world.
The Pacific Games are set to be held during year two; I would suggest that Rugby League 9’s be played at this tournament. Having Rugby League 9’s being played at the Pacific Games will expose the game to Pacific countries unfamiliar with the sport and strengthen the existing Pacific Rugby League playing countries. I would bring back the Great Britain Lions to tour the Pacific. Having Great Britain playing during the Rugby League cycle would stop players from the smaller British countries from joining England to play Rugby League at a high level against quality opposition. Also, during the second year, the winners of the European Cup, Atlantic Cup, Asia-Pacific Cup and Middle East-Africa Cup would play off in a four-team tournament with the winner joining the big three in the Four Nations in year three. The second year would also have World Cup qualifiers. It is hard to say before the 2013 Rugby League World Cup is played to determine if it should be expanded to include more countries 2017. It is more likely to stay at fourteen teams and have casual growth instead of growing too fast, which would reduce the quality of the tournament. I would only have six sides that automatically, for the 2017 tournament, the countries would be the top six ranked by the RLIF. I would give three spots to the RLEF, three sports to the APRLC, one to the ARL and one to the MEARL. The number of places is based on the RLIF world rankings.
The third year would be the second of the biennial tournaments, with one of the tournaments having one less country due to them playing in the Four Nations. If Australia and/or New Zealand decide that they will have a rest year in the fourth year, then they should be punished by the RLF with a fine and a loss of rankings points. The final year of the cycle consists of the Rugby League World Cup and qualification for the biennial tournaments, which will take place the following year. The process does not remove the need for other internationals, such as the Bill Kelly Memorial Cup; it just gives all Rugby League countries a plan going forward, as well as regular competition to improve their standard of play besides the occasional international/World Cup.
So if we applied the four-year cycle from next year, it would look like this going forward:
- Year 0 (2013) World Cup, Qualification for the Rugby League European Federation Cup, the Asia-Pacific Cup, the Atlantic Cup and the Middle East-Africa Cup
- Year 1 (2014) Four Nations, RLEF Cup, APRLC Cup, Atlantic Cup and MENARLF Cup
- Year 2 (2015) Pacific Games (9’s) Great Britain tour, Four Nations qualifying tournament (RLEF APRLC, Atlantic MEARL), World Cup qualifying
- Year 3 (2016) RLEF Cup, APRL Cup, Atlantic Cup and MENARLF Cup, Four Nations
- Year 4 (2017) World Cup, Qualification for the Rugby League European Federation Cup, the Asia-Pacific Cup, the Atlantic Cup and the Middle East-Africa Cup
And Another Thing: I was glad that the ARLC finally appointed a new CEO to run the game. Hopefully, with a new CEO, the ARLC will take on a more significant role with the APRLC, developing the game in the region.
Quote of the Week: Channel Nine boss David Gyngell on female rugby league commentators: “It hasn’t worked. I don’t see women calling rugby league. Unless there’s somebody that comes up, but I’ve never seen one who does. It’s not sexist; I just don’t see it happening.”
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This a reminder this list is far from conclusive; it is more of a guide. The club listed is the most recent known. If you are aware of any changes to the players club status, contact me via any of the three methods above, as I will keep an updated database. This list does not include players who play in their country’s respective domestic competitions; otherwise, the list would be endless.
Cook Islands
Neccrom Areaiiti (Souths)
Tinirau Arona (Sydney)
Samuel Brunton (Cabramatta)
Aaron Cannings (Tweed Heads)
Geoff Daniela (Penrith)
Daniel Fepuleai (Mounties)
Byron Ford (Newtown)
Johnathan Ford (Toulouse)
Terry Glassie (Mounties)
Anthony Gelling (Wigan)
Issac John (Wakefield)
Drury Low (Canterbury)
Keith Lulia (Bradford)
Fred Makimare (Melbourne)
Sam Mataora (Canberra)
Dylan Napa (Sydney)
Jeremiah Nia (Gold Coast)
Aaron Nootai (Auckland)
Leon Panapa (Easts Tigers)
Nathaniel Peteru-Barnett (Warriors)
Dominique Peyroux (Warriors)
John Puna (Norths)
Nathaniel Peteru (Warriors)
Tupou Sopoaga (Cronulla)
Zeb Taia (Catalans)
Brad Takairangi (Sydney)
Adam Tangata (Mounties)
Karl Temata (London)
Zane Tetevano (Newcastle)
Monikura Tikinau (Redcliffe)
Japeth Vaoa (Gold Coast)
Tyrone Viiga (Cronulla)
Fiji:
Jason Bukuya (Cronulla)
Peni Botiki (Illawarra)
Tabua Cakacaka (Gateshead)
Petero Civoniceva (Redcliffe)
Sarafu Fatiaki (Redcliffe)
Aaron Groom (Asquith)
Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta)
Hamilton Hughes (Burwood)
Marika Koroibete (Wests)
Josefa Lasagavubau (Windsor)
Daryl Millard (Catalans)
Ryan Millard (Parkes)
Kevin Naiqama (Newcastle)
Wes Naiqama (Penrith)
Henry Raiwalui (Illawarra)
Junior Rika (Wentworthville)
Paul Rokolati (Sydney)
Junior Roqica Canterbury)
Ashton Sims (Nth QLD)
Korbin Sims (Newcastle)
Tariq Sims (Nth QLD)
John Sutton (Souths)
Netani Suka (Wentworthville)
Etuate Tagicakibau (Tumbarumba)
Lote Tuqiri (Wests)
Semisi Tora (Nyngan)
Joe Ulubau (Burwood)
Sisa Waqa (Melborune)
Timoci Yauvoli (Tumbarumba)
France
Jason Baitieri (Catalans)
William Barthau (Catalans)
Thoms Bosc (Catalans)
Julian Bousquet (Catalans)
Damien Cardace (Catalans)
Remi Casty (Catalans)
Vincent Duport (Catalans)
Olivier Elima (Catlans)
Jamal Fakir (Catalans)
David Ferriol (Catalans)
Glint Greenshields (North Queensland)
Kevin Larroyer (Catalans)
Antoni Maria (Catalans)
Greg Mounis (Catalans)
Mathias Pala (Catalans)
Eloi Pelissier (Catalans)
Sebastien Raguin (Catalans)
Mickael Simon (Catalans)
Cyril Stacul (Catlans)
Ireland
Luke Ambler (Leeds)
Kyle Amor (Wakefield)
Tim Bergin (University of Gloucestershire)
Bob Beswick (Leigh)
Ryan Boyle (Salford)
Danny Bridge (Warrington)
Callum Casey (Halifax)
Elliot Cosgrove (Dewsbury)
Liam Finn (Featherstone)
Simon Finnigan (Widnes)
Sean Gleeson (Salford)
Jason Golden (London Broncos)
Tommy Goulden (Leigh)
Scott Grix (Huddersfield)
Simon Grix (Warrington)
Kurt Haggerty (Barrow)
Matthew Haggerty (Barrow)
Paul Handforth (Halifax)
Ben Harrison (Warrington)
Liam Harrison (Barrow)
Sean Hesketh (Keighley)
Stuart Littler (Leigh)
Tyrone McCarthy (Warrington)
Michael McIllorum (Wigan)
Greg McNally (Leigh)
James Mendeika (Warrington)
Joe Mulhern (Oldham)
Jamie O’Callaghan (London Broncos)
Eamon O’Carroll (Widnes)
John O’Donnell (London)
Michael Platt (Bradford)
Colton Roche (Sheffield)
Pat Richards (Wigan)
Carl Sice (Whitehaven)
Pat Smith (Sheffield)
Joshua Toole (Mounties)
Brett White (Canberra)
Italy
Shaun Berrigan (Canberra)
Dom Brunetta (Wentworthville)
Terry Campese (Canberra)
Cameron Ciraldo (Penrith)
Dario Esposito (Dewsbury)
Ben Falcone (Redcliffe)
Ryan Ghetti (Northern Pride)
Craig Gower (London Broncos)
Aiden Guerra (Sydney)
Anthony Laffranchi (St Helens)
Rhys Lenarduzzi (Wests)
Josh Mantellato (Newcastle)
Jonathan Marcinczak (West Bowling)
Vic Mauro (Manly)
Anthony Minichiello (Sydney)
Mark Minichello (Gold Coast)
Alex Ranieri (North Sydney)
Joel Riethmuller (North Queensland)
Kade Snowden (Newcastle)
Ben Stewart (Windsor)
James Tedesco (Wests)
Rocky Trimarchi (Wests)
Josh White (Burleigh)
PNG
Paul Ation (Cronulla)
Makal Aizue (Dewsbury)
Joe Bond (Brisbane)
Jason Chan (Huddersfield)
Neville Costigan (Newcastle)
Rod Griffin (Tweed Heads)
Tu’u Maori (Ipswich)
Tyson Martin (North Queensland)
David Mead (Gold Coast)
Glen Nami (Whitehaven)
Keith Peters (Newtown)
Jessie Joe Parker (Whitehaven)
James Segeyaro (North Queensland)
Ryan Tongia (Gold Coast)
Menzie Yere (Sheffield)
Samoa:
Jack Afamasaga (Wests-Newcastle)
Patrick Ah Van (Widnes)
Roy Asotasi (Souths)
Kirisome Auva’a (Melbourne)
Dane Chang (Melbourne)
David Faiumu (Huddersfield)
Pita Godinet (Warriors)
Harrison Hansen (Wigan)
Masada Iosefa (Wests)
Willie Isa (Widnes)
Richard Kennar (Melbourne)
Tim Lafai (Canterbury)
Ali Lauitiiti ( Wakefield)
Kylie Leuluai (Leeds)
Phillip Leuluai (Lezignan)
Jeff Lima (Souths)
Reni Maitua (Parramatta)
Chanel Mata’utia (Newcastle)
Pat Mata’utia (Newcastle)
Peter Mata’utia (Newcastle)
Sione Mata’utia (Newcastle)
Steve Matai (Manly)
Josh McGuire (Brisbane)
Francis Meli (St Helens)
Constantine Mika (Hull KR)
Penani Manumalealii (Cronulla)
Eddy Pettybourne (Wests)
Tony Puletua (S t Helens)
Ben Roberts (Parramatta)
Tangi Ropati (Featherstone)
Smith Samau (Ipswich Jets)
Junior Sau (Melbourne)
Lagi Setu (Melbourne Storm)
Terence Seu Seu (Cessnock)
Tim Simona (Wests)
David Solomona (Warrington)
Chase Stanley (St George)
Kyle Stanley (St George)
Jorge Taufua (Manly)
Sam Tagataese (Cronulla)
Mark Taufua (Cronulla)
Martin Taupau (Canterbury)
Taulima Tautai (Parramatta)
Misi Taulapapa (Sheffield)
Ben Te’o (Souths)
Junior Tia-Kilifi (Penrith)
Quentin Togaga’e (Sheffield)
Young Tonumapea (Melbourne)
Rodger Tuivasa-Sheck (Sydney)
Evarn Tuimavave (Hull KR)
Matt Utai (Wests)
Daniel Vidot (St George)
Antonio Winterstein (North Queensland)
Frank Winterstein (Widnes)
Scotland
David Arnot (London Skolars)
Josh Barlow (Swinton)
Sam Barlow (Halifax)
Brett Carter (Workington)
Garreth Carvell (Warrington)
Chris Clarke (Swinton)
John Duffy (Leigh)
Dale Ferguson (Huddersfield)
Ben Fisher (London Broncos )
Lee Gilmour (Castleford)
Darren Hawkyard (Swinton)
Richard Hawkyard Swinton)
Ben Hellewell (Featherstone)
Andrew Henderson (Sheffield)
Kevin Henderson (Wakefield)
Graeme Horne (Hull KR)
Richard Horne (Hull FC)
Liam Hood (Leeds)
Jack Howieson (Sheffield)
Alex Hurst (London Broncos)
Paul Jackson (Castleford)
Wade Liddell (Souths Logan)
Shae Lyon-Fraser (Wigan)
Dave McConnell North Wales)
Crawford Matthews (Hull FC)
Gareth Moore (Batley)
Lee Paterson (Whitehaven)
Michael Robertson (London Broncos)
David Scott (Hull KR)
Jack Stearman (York City)
Mitch Stringer (Sheffield)
Alex Szostak (Sheffield)
Adam Walker (Huddersfield)
Jonathan Walker (Castleford)
Joe Wardle (Huddersfield)
Oliver Wilkes (Wakefield)
Tonga
Paki Afu (Wentworthville?)
Louis Anderson (Catalans)
Vinnie Anderson (Salford)
Richard Fa’aoso (Manly)
Mahe Fonua (Melbourne)
Andrew Fifita (Cronulla)
David Fifita (FC Lezigan)
David Hala (Brisbane)
Konrad Hurrell (Warriors)
Michael Jennings Penrith)
Sinbad Kali (Entrance)
Antonio Kaufusi (London Broncos)
Brent Kite (Manly)
Sione Kite (?)
Taniela Lasalo (Parramatta)
Sam Latu (Sydney)
Epalahame Lauaki (Wigan)
Tevita Leo-Latu (Auckland)
Siuatonga Likiliki (Newcastle)
Toka Likiliki (Newcastle)
Sam Lousi (Warriors)
Sione Lousi (Warriors)
Willie Manu (St Helens)
Manase Manuokafoa (Bradford)
Rodney Mason (Newcastle)
Willie Mason (Newcastle)
Willie Mataka (Avingnon)
Feleti Mateo (Warriors)
Sam Moa (Sydney)
Sonie Paasi (Wests)
Lopini Paea (Catalans)
Mickey Paea (Hull KR)
Visesio Setefano (Warriors)
Joel Taufa’ao (Auburn)
Ukuma Ta’ai (Huddersfield)
Fetuli Talaona (Souths)
David Tangata-Toa (Windsor)
Esikeli Tonga (Manly)
Willie Tonga (Parramatta)
Sione Tovo (Auburn)
Anthony Tupou (Cronulla)
Etu Uaisele (Penrith)
Eliakim Uasi (New Zealand)
Siosaia Vave (Melbourne)
Atelea Vea (St George)
USA
Cory Blair (Tweed Heads)
Mark Cantoni (Pia)
Tyrone Coppedge (Sunshine Coast)
Kristian Freed (Sunshine Coast)
Mike Filimona (Penrith)
Michael Garvey (Ipswich)
Danny Howard (Wentworthville)
Steven Howard (Tuggeranong)
David Marando (Belrose)
Ryan McGoldrick (Castleford)
Clint Newton (Penrith)
Mark Offerdahl (Carcassonne)
Joseph Paulo (Parramatta)
Junior Paulo (Penrith)
Kevin Pease (Burleigh)
Matt Peterson (Gympie)
Jayson Rego (Ipswich)
Josh Rice (Ipswich)
Tui Samoa (Redcliffe)
Mitchell Stephens (?)
Wales
Andy Bracek (Halifax)
Owain Brown (North Wales)
Joe Burke (South Wales)
Michael Channing (London Broncos)
Ben Davies (Widnes)
Courtney Davies (South Wales)
Ross Divorty (Halifax)
Gil Dudson (Wigan)
Jacob Emmitt (Castleford)
Ben Evans (Bradford)
Rhys Evans (Warrington)
Daniel Fleming (Castleford)
Ben Flower (Wigan)
Andrew Gay (Mackay)
Alex James (?)
David James (South Wales)
Jordan James (Salford)
Matt James (Wakefield)
Alex Jones (South Wales)
Danny Jones (Barrow)
Elliot Kear (Braford)
Craig Kopczak (Huddersfield)
Rhodri Lloyd (Wigan)
Peter Lupton (Workington Town)
Rob Massam (North Wales)
Craig Moss (Keighley)
Steve Parry (South Wales)
Osian Phillips (South Wales)
Jack Pring (Leeds)
Rhys Pugsley (Wigan)
Lewis Reece (South Wales)
Christiaan Roets (North Wales)
Matt Seamark (Wynnum)
Ian Watson (Swinton)
Ian Webster Central)
Lloyd White (Widnes)
Lee Williams (Mackay)
Rhys Williams (Warrington)