Super League World Cup Round-up | Week 2

Warrington's George Williams produced another influential display as England booked their quarter-final place with a 42-18 win over France in Bolton.

That result - coupled with a Samoa win the following day - means that Shaun Wane's side are now guaranteed to reach the knock-out stages ahead of their final group game against Greece in Sheffield this weekend.

Williams formed a new half-back partnership with Salford's Marc Sneyd as Wane rotated his squad, which also allowed Hull KR winger Ryan Hall to add two tries to his own England record and take him past 300 career tries.

France - just five days after Benjamin Garcia and Benjamin Julien impressed in their opening win over Greece - played their full part in an entertaining clash, with Arthur Romano and Arthur Mourgue both catching the eye.

Earlier in the week Leigh Leopards hooker Edwin Ipape produced a man of the match performance in Papua New Guinea's thrilling 24-18 defeat to Tonga, with Leeds back rower Rhyse Martin also equalling the world record for consecutive kicks at goal of 41.

Another gutsy display in defeat came the following night, as Wales - with Leigh full-back Caleb Aekins recording 200 running metres and Salford winger Rhys Williams 139 - pushed Cook Islands all the way.

Leeds forward Zane Tetevano and Huddersfield-bound Esan Marsters were key figures in the Cook Islands' second half comeback.

It was tough going for Scotland in their 84-0 defeat to holders Australia, though Toulouse winger Matty Russell topped the Bravehearts' stat for metres with the ball and St Helens back rower James Bell their tackle count.

Another 2023 Huddersfield signing Kevin Naiqama was outstanding in Fiji's thumping 60-4 win over Italy in Newcastle, with Leigh prop Ben Nakubuwai also touching down.

Lebanon then brought the week's action to a close with Wigan?s Abbas Miski scoring in the 32-14 win over pre-match favourites Ireland, who had two tries to Innes Senior and one for the impressive Ed Chamberlain.

Mention too for former Super league favourite Ben Jones-Bishop, who created history by scoring Jamaica's first ever World Cup try in their 68-6 loss to New Zealand in Leeds.

Super League RLWC2021 Player of the Week 

Edwin Ipape enhanced his growing reputation with an all-action display for Papua New Guinea in their gutsy 24-18 defeat to Tonga on Tuesday night. The current Betfred Championship Player of the Year helped set up a try for his Leigh Leopards team-mate Lachlan Lam and looks certain to light up Super League in 2023.

Super League RLWC2021 Team of the Week 

1 Caleb Aekins (Wales)

2 Abbas Miski (Lebanon)

3 Kevin Naiqama (Fiji)

4 Tim Lafai (Samoa)

5 Ryan Hall (England)

6 Arthur Mourgue (France)

7 George Williams (England)

8 King Vuniyayawa (Fiji)

9 Edwin Ipape (Papua New Guinea)

10 Michael Lawrence (Jamaica)

11 Benjamin Julien (France)

12 Rhyse Martin (Papua New Guinea)

13 Ben Garcia (France)

Super League RLWC2021 Quote of the Week

"We came with the right mentality. We knew the talent that Ireland had but we had so much belief in ourselves. We're trying to put Lebanon on the rugby league world map and I think we?re doing that." 

Lebanon winger Abbas Miski reflects on his side's tenacious 32-14 win over Ireland that puts them within one win of a quarter-final spot.

Super League RLWC2021 Ones to Watch this week

Leeds Rhinos back rower Rhyse Martin can break the world record for consecutive goal kicks when Papua New Guinea face the Cook Islands in Warrington on Tuesday night.

Martin - who hasn't missed a kick at goal since July - took his tally to 41 with his third conversation against Tonga last week.

Now the 29-year-old can cement his place in the record books as the Kumuls look to keep their hopes of a quarter-final place alive.

Leigh Centurions trio Edwin Ipape, Lachlan Lam and Nene McDonald will also be key figures against a Cook Islands side that includes Betfred Super League forwards Zane Tetevano and Dom Peyroux, plus Huddersfield-bound Esan Marsters.

Ireland will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Lebanon when they face a formidable New Zealand at Headingley on Friday night, with James Bentley and Richie Myler featuring on their home ground.

England are again expected to rotate their squad when they face Greece at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane on Saturday, which could mean first World Cup appearances for St Helens back rower Joe Batchelor and Wigan's Kai Pearce-Paul.

Scotland will be hoping to finish on a high but face a significant challenge against Fiji in Newcastle on Saturday evening. Salford Red Devils duo Ryan Brierley and Sam Luckley will come across their club team-mate King Vuniyayawa.

On Sunday, Wigan winger Abbas Miski can help Lebanon confirm their quarter-final place by beating Jamaica at Leigh, with the same carrot being on the line at Warrington in the evening as France?s all Super League side take on a Samoan team that now has Salford duo Tim Lafai and Ken Sio in its squad.

In between, there will be plenty of Super League interest in a mouth-watering clash between Tonga and Cook Islands, with the likes of Tui Lolohea, Konrad Hurrell, Will Hopoate, Tetevano, Peyroux and Marsters all potentially involved.

Super League RLWC2021 Key Battle of the Week

Sam Luckley and King Vuniyayawa spent the season packing down alongside each other for Salford Red Devils - now they will face each other on the international stage. Scotland's Luckley - who joins Hull KR in 2023 - missed his side's defeat to Australia through illness but will be hoping to return and lock horns against Fijian front rower Vuniyayawa. Both players relish the physical battle up front and look certain to collide in Newcastle.