Super League World Cup round-up

Laying down a marker

Super League stars sparkled as England got their Rugby League World Cup campaign off to the perfect start with an emphatic 60-6 win over pre-match favourites Samoa on Saturday.

Influential half-backs Jack Welsby and George Williams caused their opponents endless problems in a team performance that laid down a significant marker at St James' Park.

Betfred Super League Young Player of the Year Welsby opened the scoring after excellent build-up work from Sam Tomkins and Williams, before then producing the final pass for two Dom Young tries before the break.

Super Jack ?

2?? assists & a try in that first half for @England_RL ? #SuperLeague #RLWC2021 pic.twitter.com/wpXFA4dODV
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 15, 2022

Then Williams took control after the restart, scoring and creating in a completely immersed performance that thrilled the 43,119 crowd at the same venue as 2023's Magic Weekend.

Salford Red Devils centre Kallum Watkins and St Helens winger Tommy Makinson also touched down, with NRL trio Herbie Farnworth, Elliott Whitehead and Tom Burgess completing the list of scorers.

Elsewhere in Shaun Wane's side, Huddersfield prop Chris Hill helped set a platform up front that was continued by the front rowers off the bench, while Michael McIlorum was typically industrious at hooker and his Catalans team-mate Tomkins provided several moments of class.

It sets England up perfectly for their second game against an all-Super League France on Saturday as the competition's players begin to stamp their mark on the tournament.

That was evident on Sunday when the likes of George and Toby King, Wigan prop Liam Byrne and back rowers James Bentley and Frankie Halton all impressed in Ireland's comprehensive 48-2 win over Jamaica.

The Irish Kings ?

Which King brother had a better game in Ireland's Men's @RLWC2021 opening match? pic.twitter.com/CPjoZmyBXV
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 17, 2022

Wingers Louis and Innes Senior, Leigh's Ed Chamberlain and Wigan's James McDonnell also touched down, with Huddersfield youngster Kieran Rush kicking Jamaica's historic first World Cup points with a first half penalty.

It was more difficult for Scotland's Super League contingent as despite gutsy efforts from Sam Luckley, James Bell and others, the Bravehearts went down to a 28-4 defeat to Italy.

Mitieli Vulikijapani (Hull FC), King Vuniyayawa (Salford Red Devils) and Ben Nakubuwai (Leigh Centurions) were all part of the Fiji team that battled admirably before going down 42-8 to tournament favourites Australia.

Wigan winger Abbas Miski then scored the last Super League try of the weekend for Lebanon in their Sunday night 34-12 defeat to New Zealand.

Super League Player of the Week 

Warrington Wolves' George Williams produced a dominant half-back display against Samoa in Newcastle, causing England's opponents constant issues with his direct running at the line.

An electric start to the Men's @RLWC2021 for @WarringtonRLFC @George7Williams ??? pic.twitter.com/YUv63T0klf
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 16, 2022

Super League Team of the Week 

1 Sam Tomkins (England)
2 Louis Senior (Ireland)
3 Kallum Watkins (England)
4 Toby King (Ireland)
5 Tommy Makinson (England)
6 Jack Welsby (England)
7 George Williams (England)
8 Liam Byrne (Ireland)
9 Ashton Golding (Jamaica)
10 Sam Luckley (Scotland)
11 James Bentley (Ireland)
12 Frankie Halton (Ireland)
13 George King (Ireland)

Quote of the Week

"We've had it rammed down our throats what Samoa can do, that we cannot manage them. We showed people we can play." - A defiant England coach Shaun Wane after his side's head-turning opening win at St James' Park.

Ones to Watch this week

France are set to name an entire Super League 2022 line-up when they kick off their Rugby League World Cup campaign against Greece in Doncaster tonight (Monday).

Laurent Frayssinous' side will be looking to lay down a marker ahead of their much-anticipated clash with England in Bolton just five days later.

Opponents in #SuperLeague ? Teammates at #RLWC2021 ?

France kick off their Men's @RLWC2021 campaign against Greece tonight ?? pic.twitter.com/Kfw3Zes2W0

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 17, 2022

Tonga's Tui Lolohea will be Tonga's sole Super League representative in the mouth-watering meeting with Papua New Guinea in St Helens on Tuesday evening, but could face a trio of Kumuls that will join the competition in 2022.

Leigh Centurions' Edwin Ipape, Lachlan Lam and Nene MacDonald are all expected to feature, alongside Leeds Rhinos' goal-kicking back rower Rhyse Martin.

Twenty-four hours later, another Centurion Caleb Aekins will line up for Wales against the Cook Islands, with wingers Kyle Evans (Wakefield) and Rhys Williams (Salford) also set to feature.

Tinirau Arona (Wakefield), Dylan Napa (Catalans), Dom Peyroux (Toulouse), Brad Takairangi (Hull KR) and Zane Tetevano (Leeds) are all part of a strong-looking Cook Islands squad that will be looking to upset the odds in a tough Group D.

Fresh from a disappointing opening defeat to Italy, Scotland face one of the biggest challenges in the competition against Australia on Friday, with the likes of Sam Luckley, Liam Hood, Kane Linnett and James Bell hoping to inspired an improved Bravehearts performance.

England coach Shaun Wane has promised to play each member of of his squad that didn't feature against Samoa in the France clash at the University of Bolton Stadium. That will mean Mikolaj Oledzki, Kai Pearce-Paul, Ryan Hall, Andy Ackers, Joe Batchelor, John Bateman and Marc Sneyd all get a chance to impress. 

Elsewhere at the weekend, Fiji's Super League contingent of Kevin Naiqama, Ben Nakubuwai, King Vuniyayawa and Mitieli Vulikijapani will hope to help get their country's campaign up and running against Italy, while Ashton Golding and Michael Lawrence come up against the formidable New Zealand for Jamaica.

What it means to wear the jersey ?? pic.twitter.com/9y5DYA0HHJ

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 15, 2022

On Sunday, Ireland's considerable Super League influence will hope to build on their strong start and book a quarter-final place against Lebanon and Wigan's Abbas Miski, before Samoa and Greece complete the week's fixtures in Doncaster.

Super League Key Battle of the Week

It could be master against apprentice when club mates Sam Tomkins and Arthur Morgue face each other on Saturday afternoon. The Catalans Dragons playmaking duo will know all about each other's games from their time training together in Perpignan, and will look to use that to their advantage in the crunch Group A clash. 

Tomkins is the established star, Morgue one of the Dragons' rising talents, and both will be integral to their side's prospects in Bolton.