Rugby League World Cup 2022: Michael Maguire, Australia Kangaroos vs New Zealand Kiwis, semi-final, Canberra Raiders, Ricky Stuart

Michael Maguire's decision to step down as Kiwis coach has certainly divided fans and former players, with the premiership-winning mentor expected to take over the vacant NSW Blues role for 2024. After helping lead New Zealand to an unlikely victory in the recent Pacific Championships tournament over Australia, the 49-year-old has walked out on the…

New Zealand gave Australia their heaviest ever defeat and a rugby league lesson for the ages in a record-breaking 30-0 Pacific Cup final win in Hamilton. It was the biggest losing margin in Australia's Test history, surpassing the 24-point gap in 1952 and 2005 in wins also by the Kiwis. From start to finish, and from fullback to the bench, the…

It shapes up as being a huge fortnight of international rugby league with Australia and New Zealand to face off in two successive weekends, and the Kiwis have fired off quite the warning shot to the Kangaroos. Samoa seemingly pulled the wrong rein with their halves combination as the Pacific Island nation weren't able to replicate the form that saw…

There are copious opinions flying around this morning but I am yet to hear yours, dear reader. What has to change in Australian rugby at this pivotal juncture? How do the great and powerfuls fix this mess? That's an obscene stat, really. As AAP's Ben McKay reports: You might expect New Zealand rugby supporters to be delighting in the Wallabies'…

Former Wigan Warriors star Jackson Hastings is reportedly set for a move from Wests Tigers to Newcastle Knights in a swap deal that would see prop David Klemmer move in the opposite direction. According to the Australian Daily Telegraph, Newcastle have earmarked Hastings as their long-term solution to their halfback dilemma after failing to replace…

What a morning of Test match rugby league as the Kangaroos scrape past the Kiwis 16-14 to book a spot in the Old Trafford final against either England or Samoa. Cameron Murray's second-half try, the only one after the break, proved the difference after New Zealand dominated the first stanza. You can read Michael Chammas' match report from Elland…

New Zealand were defying the odds in the World Cup final by leading 18-16 with 20 minutes left on the clock. They'd been afforded little chance beforehand of causing an upset, yet here they were against an opposition side packed with some of the game's true elite, including Darren Lockyer, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis. Benji…

World Cup bosses have reportedly booked the Kiwis a flight home the day after their sudden-death semi-final clash against Australia. The tournament's organisers were forced to predict when competing nations would be knocked out of the World Cup to put flights on hold according to the SMH. Michael Maguire's side have reportedly been informed of…

Former Kiwis captain Richie Barnett believes New Zealand have performed well short of their potential at the Rugby League World Cup but still have the capability to upset Australia in Saturday's semifinal at 8:30am. TheKiwis haven't got close to a full 80-minute display at this tournament and their inconsistency continued against Fiji on…

8) Sonny Bill Williams v Mark Hunt, Saturday night - Sky Sport Arena/Sky Sport Now Why are all pay-per-view combat events priced at $39.95? Come on people, not all bouts are created equal. I certainlywon't be paying that to watch these two heavyweight boxers. Yet if it was $10 you could count me in, in a flash. NRL/All Blacks star Sonny Bill…

Australia has brought 13 newcomers to the Rugby League World Cup starting this weekend. Even if all 24 players in the Kangaroos squad were uncapped, it still wouldn't matter. They are the raging favorite to engrave their name on the Paul Barriere Trophy after the Nov. 19 final at Old Trafford. Australia is already inscribed from eight of the last…

Australia are deserved favourites to defend their World Cup title, but New Zealand are a real chance of upsetting them in the semi-final on route to a first trophy since 2008. That is the opinion of Braith Anasta, Greg Alexander and Cooper Cronk, who believe Australia's collision course with New Zealand at the semi-final stage will decide the 2022…

Australia coach Mal Meninga has named 13 debutants in the Kangaroos squad for the World Cup. (AP PHOTO) BREAKDOWN OF THE 2022 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP TEAMS:- POOL A (top two teams from each pool advance to knockout stages) Head coach Shaun Wane has waited a lifetime for this job and will take nothing less than coming out of the group on top. Even…

Australia has brought 13 newcomers to the Rugby League World Cup starting this weekend. Even if all 24 players in the Kangaroos squad were uncapped, it still wouldn't matter. They are the raging favorite to engrave their name on the Paul Barriere Trophy after the Nov. 19 final at Old Trafford. Australia is already inscribed from eight of the last…

As an Englishman playing in Australia, Elliott Whitehead is used to hearing his home nation being written off whenever an international rugby league tournament comes around. Along with reigning champions Australia and the other member of the sport's'big three' New Zealand being talked up ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup, 2017 semi-finalists…

Here are your Rugby League World Cup evening headlines for Tuesday October 11, 2022. With nations beginning to name their squads, let us take you through the big stories of today as we start the countdown to this year's tournament which begins on Saturday with England taking on Samoa at St James' Park in Newcastle. Jason Taumalolo has lifted the…

If the Kiwis have any injuries in the halves or at hooker over the next few weeks at the Rugby League World Cup, don't be surprised if Thomas Leuluai gets drafted in. The 37-year-old worethe No 7 jersey one last time on Sunday, a guest player for the Kiwis during their 74-0 win over Leeds in their tournament warm up match at Headingley. It was a…

For many Australian rugby fans the enduring image of Michael Cheika is of a scowling figure in the coach's box, railing at the heavens as the national team crashed to yet another defeat. These days, however, Cheika is finding it hard to wipe the smile from his face. "Right now I'm really loving what's going on with my footy," he tells Australian…

OPINION: If you're splashing some hard-earned cash on a New Zealand team to win a World Cup, then the Kiwis men's side seems a better bet than the All Blacks or Black Ferns. The Rugby League World Cup doesn't get the attention or respect it deserves from the New Zealand sporting public. It is every bit as competitive as the rugby union version and…

The first international rugby league in almost three years saw some emphatic performances over the weekend ahead of the World Cup in October. New Zealand threw down a marker to World Cup favourites Australia after thrashing Tonga, as Joey Manu played the Test of his life. Anthony Milford delivered for Samoa against the Cook Islands, while Fiji fell…

Rugby League fans will be treated to a sneak preview of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) this weekend, with three intriguing Pacific nations clashes scheduled across a Super Saturday of international matches on Fox. Six countries will be looking to build some confidence and momentum ahead of the 2021 RLWC in England, which was postponed till…

AUSTRALIA Women head coach Brad Donald insists that his side have an "open-door policy" on their training methods and programmes. Australia have recorded two emphatic victories so far in the Women's Rugby League World Cup at the LNER Community Stadium, beating Cook Islands 74-0 last Wednesday and thrashing France by a competition record 92-0…