NRL 2022: Rugby League World Cup, Australia, favourites, New Zealand, chances, England, Samoa, Tonga, who will win, knockout stages, finals, groups

Australia are the favourites for the 2022 Rugby League World Cup. England are determined to avenge their loss in the 2017 final. Tonga was the surprise packet at the last tournament thanks to some high-profile defections. Samoa has taken their mantle as the most talent-littered Pacific Island side. Fiji and Papua New Guinea won't go down without a fight. Lebanon have picked their strongest halves pairing in years and look a huge chance to make the knockout stages.

Foxsports.com.au's World Cup power rankings are Australia, New Zealand, England, Samoa, Tonga, who will win, knockout stages, finals, groups.

Australia are favourites to win the Rugby League World Cup in 2022. They are expected to comfortably top Group B and then play New Zealand in the semi-final. There are 13 debutants in their squad, including breakout Cowboys stars Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai and Murray Taulagi.

New Zealand are the favourites for the Rugby League World Cup in 2022. New Zealand have six NRL grand finalists in their squad. They beat Leeds 74-0 in a warm-up match. New Zealander are expected to finish on top of Lebanon, Jamaica and Ireland in Group C.

Samoa is the third team in the Rugby League World Cup 2022. They are favourites to beat host nation England in their opening match on Sunday AEST. Samoa have a lot of NRL stars in a squad including Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai, Junior Paulo and Joseph Suaalii.

The host team England are determined to break a 50-year World Cup drought. They lost the 2017 final to Australia 6-0. The bookies don't even expect England topping their pool. Samoa are $1.60 favourites to win the tournament opener.

Tonga lost to England in the 2017 World Cup semi-finals. They are the clear favourite to win the tournament in 2022. Their team is filled with NRL stars, including Felise Kaufusi and Daniel Tupou.

Papua New Guinea are confident after their win over Fiji in June. They are in Group D with Tonga, Cook Islands and Wales. David Mead announced his NRL retirement last month. He will captain the side in what will be his final games as a professional.

Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau are the only players from Australia to play for Fiji. Maika Sivo, Mikaele Ravalawa, Sunia Turuva and Tui Kamikamica are other players who could play a key role in Fiji's campaign. Brandon Wakeham has been nominated for the Golden Boot in 2019.

Lebanon are on the rise. They have a good team with a few promising players. Michael Cheika is the coach. They are playing in the Rugby League World Cup in 2022.

Cook Islands are the second lowest ranked nation in the Rugby League World Cup. Dylan Napa, Zane Tetevano, Makahesi Makatoa and Tepai Moeroa will play for Cook Islands.

Ireland are heading into their fifth Rugby League World Cup. Luke Keary, Jaimin Joliffe, James Hasson and Josh Cook are in the squad. Ireland have made it to the quarterfinals twice and could achieve the similar feat this year.

There are a few NRL players in the Italy squad for the 2022 Rugby League World Cup. Nathan Brown, Cooper Johns and Joseph Tramontana are among them. Alec Susino is free to play for Italy after taking a suspension. The tournament starts on 11th June 2022.

Rabbitohs duo Lachlan Ilias and Peter Mamouzelos, Newtown's 2019 premiership hero Billy Magoualis, Nick Mougias, Billy Tsikrikas and eight players from Greece's domestic competition are included in the Greece squad. Greece missed out in 2017 but beat Serbia at the end of 2019 to book a ticket to the postponed 2021 World Cup. They take on France first in what will be there easiest match-up of the tournament.

France didn't win a game in the 2017 competition. They have 20 players from both Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique XIII. Tullouse finished at the bottom of the Super League, while Catalan finished fourth. Trent Robinson will be the new director of rugby for France.

Wales were unable to win a game in the 2017 World Cup. They are in Group D with Papua New Guinea and Ireland. Wales have never progressed past the group stages since their debut tournament in 2000.

Scotland's hopes of winning the 2022 Rugby League World Cup rest on the shoulders of Dolphins recruit Euan Aitken. Scotland were unable to record a win in 2017 in a group with Tonga, Samoa and New Zealand.

Jamaica are the only Caribbean nation to qualify for every Rugby League World Cup. They have three Super League players in their squad: Ashton Golding, Kieran Rush and Michael Lawrence.