Super League World Cup Round-up | Week 3

Devilishly good

Salford Red Devils duo Marc Sneyd and Andy Ackers gave coach Shaun Wane some selection considerations as England warmed up for their quarter-final with a crushing win over Greece.

Ackers and official player of the match Sneyd both impressed as Wane's side eventually brushed aside their opponents 94-4, after being held to 10-4 after 25 minutes of the Bramall Lane clash.

Fellow Betfred Super League stars Matty Lees and Mike Cooper set a terrific lead up front, running for a total of over 360 metres between them, while Wigan's Kai Pearce-Paul reached 197 at centre and George Williams and Ackers both topped 200 each.

It proved far too much for a gallant but ultimately out-gunned Greece, who have won plenty of fans at the tournament for their gutsy approach.

For Wane and his squad though greater challenges lie ahead, starting with the either Papua New Guinea or Wales at Wigan's DW Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Another @SalfordDevils crosses the line ?? pic.twitter.com/QwBsA1mQje
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 29, 2022

There were plenty of other stand-out Super League performances across the rest of the Rugby League World Cup week, particular in defeat.

Jamaica's debut campaign ended with three one-sided defeats, but nobody could question the commitment of captain Ashton Golding, who again played 80 minutes against an impressive Lebanon, making 36 tackles and 96 metres. His club-mate Michael Lawrence was similarly unwavering despite a spell in the sin bin.

Others to rack up big numbers despite finishing on the losing side included Leigh Leopards' 2022 full-back Caleb Aekins for Wales against Tonga, Hull KR's Kane Linnett for Scotland versus Fiji and the prolific Louis Senior on Ireland's wing as they lost out to New Zealand.

It was also the end of the road for France following defeat to Samoa on Sunday evening, with Salford's Tim Lafai among the scorers in another eye-catching display.

His side now face a monumental last eight showdown with Tonga, who produced their best display of the tournament to date in demolishing Cook Islands 92-10 at Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Huddersfield half-back Tui Lolohea's influence is growing alongside the performances of Kristian Woolf's men, and that meeting of Pacific Islands at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday should be one to savour.

Other Betfred Super League representatives in the quarter-finals will include Wigan's Lebanese winger Abbas Miski, again a try scorer in the win over Jamaica.

Miski and his side now take on on the might of Australia, while Fiji's Huddersfield-bound Kevin Naiqama and forwards Korbin Sims and King Vuniyawawa prepare to face New Zealand. 

The final place will go to Papua New Guinea unless Wales manage to beat them by 22 points in Doncaster tonight.

Super League Player of the Week 

Marc Sneyd produced a composed organising display, finished with 30 personal points and created five other tries in England's 94-4 win over Greece. Coach Shaun Wane is still expected to start with Jack Welsby and George Williams at half-back in the quarter-finals, but Sneyd has certainly proved he is ready to step in if needed.

Marc Sneyd was a standout for @England_RL picking up the player of the match yesterday ?? pic.twitter.com/AWMn9zcpjr
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 30, 2022

Super League Team of the Week 

1 Caleb Aekins (Wales)
2 Louis Senior (Ireland)
3 Tim Lafai (Samoa)
4 Kai Pearce-Paul (England)
5 Kyle Evans (Wales)
6 Tui Lolohea (Tonga)
7 Marc Sneyd (England)
8 Mike Cooper (England)
9 Andy Ackers (England)
10 Matty Lees (England)
11 Rhyse Martin (Papua New Guinea)
12 Kane Linnett (Scotland)
13 Ashton Golding (Jamaica)

Super League Quote of the Week

"It's not good enough and it's been bitterly disappointing. We need to compete for 80 minutes and we're competing for five right now. We have to really have a look at ourselves - how do we want people to see us when we finish this tournament?" An emotional Ashton Golding in a BBC half-time  interview during Jamaica's defeat to Lebanon. The Reggae Warriors trailed 42-0 at the break but scored twice after the restart. 

When people complain about sports people being too media trained, show them this interview with Jamaica's Ashton Golding... ?

Love this passion!

? Watch #RLWC2021 on @BBCiPlayer, BBC Red Button and the @BBCSport website#BBCRL #RLWC2021 pic.twitter.com/LcBnEMcHmu
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 30, 2022

Super League Ones to Watch this week

The Women's Rugby League World Cup kicks off on Tuesday with a host of Betfred Women's Super League stars set to play key roles. 

England get the tournament underway against Brazil at Headingley, before Papua New Guinea face Canada at the same venue as part of a double header.

England will be captained by St Helens back rower Emily Rudge, with record try scorer and club-mate Amy Hardcastle expected to start at centre.

Leeds Rhinos' half-backs Georgia Roche and Courtney Winfield-Hill, St Helens loose forward Jodie Cunningham and this year's Women of Steel Tara-Jane Stanley are set to have key roles.

The @leedsrhinos women are showing everyone how important Women?s Rugby League is ??

Watch the Full Super League Story: More Than A Game in association with @GlensVodkaLLG on our Facebook or YouTube ? pic.twitter.com/v9pLg6a7J7
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 26, 2022

Craig Richards' side will be looking to get off to the perfect start as they bid to make the final, which is part of the Old Trafford double-header with the men's event on Saturday November 19.

Betfred Women's Super League will have a presence in other squads outside of England in the eight-team competition.

Leeds three-quarter Tara Moxon will face several of her Rhinos team-mates when Papua New Guinea face England at Headingley on November 9.

In Group B, Wigan Warriors' Laureane Biville is in the French squad as they prepare to take on Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands, with former Warrington Wolves player Roxy Murdoch-Masila representing the Kiwi Fearns.

Super League Key Battle of the Week

Tui Lolohea and Danny Levi spent the Super League season lining up alongside each other for Huddersfield Giant; now they face off with a World Cup semi-final place at stake when Tonga face Samoa. 

The pair will have key playmaking roles for their respective sides as the two Pacific heavyweights collide at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon in what could be one of the matches of the tournament.