Super League World Cup round-up | Week 5

Samoan delight 

England Men's Rugby League World Cup 2021 hopes came to an end on Saturday as Stephen Crichton's golden point drop goal sent Samoa through to the final.

England trailed for much of the contest, but drew level in the closing stages when Tommy Makinson nervelessly converted Herbie Farnworth's second try.

That meant the pulsating game went beyond 80 minutes, and it was Samoa that prevailed to break English hearts at the semi-final stage.

Makinson had been among England's best players during the 80 minutes, getting through a huge amount of work, while Warrington scrum-half George Williams created Farnworth's second with a break from inside his own half.

Wigan's John Bateman was also among the try scorers in a gripping contest, but it would be Samoa - with Salford's Tim Lafai and Hull FC's Ligi Sao both key figures - that progressed to Saturday's final at Old Trafford.

Centre Lafai opened the scoring before Sao was his side's next try scorer, and Lafai touched down again in the second half to continue his remarkable 2022 story.

Having been working on construction sites in Australia, he relaunched his career at Salford and finished the season in the Betfred Super League Dream Team.

It's first blood for Samoa! ??

Salford star Tim Lafai gets the better of his club team-mate Kallum Watkins to dot down.

Work for England to do...

? Watch #RLWC2021 on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer!#BBCRL pic.twitter.com/cKrSuTXzpJ
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 12, 2022

Lafai and Sao will now face Australia in a World Cup final, keeping a Super League presence in the Men's competition despite England's exit.

In the meantime all eyes will now turn to England Women's team as they face New Zealand in their semi-final at York tonight, having topped their group with three wins.

The last of those came with an impressive, gritty 42-4 triumph over Papua New Guinea in a bruising encounter at Emerald Headingley Stadium.

St Helens winger Leah Burke scored a hat-trick of tries - all created by Leeds Rhinos' Courtney Winfield-Hill - while Amy Hardcastle touched down.

Arguably the biggest cheer of the night came when outstanding St Helens prop Vicky Whitfield was rewarded for her all-action display with a second half try, with Caitlin Beevers and Tara-Jane Stanley England's other scorers.

New Zealand represents another step up in class but England will go into the game buoyed by their performances so far.

Super League Player of the Week

Salford Red Devils centre Tim Lafai continued his remarkable 2022 story with a superb performance in Samoa's World Cup semi-final win over England at the Emirates Stadium. Lafai's top flight career looked over before he joined the Red Devils and enjoyed an outstanding season in Betfred Super League, and he has now taken that onto the international stage. 

2? Two tries for Tim Lafai ?

8? Eight-point lead ?

England's hopes of reaching the Rugby League World Cup final are hanging by a thread!

? Watch #RLWC2021 on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer!#BBCRL pic.twitter.com/OHSsK82e6O
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 12, 2022

Against England Lafai scored two tries, made 187 metres, two line breaks and four offloads, and now has the prospect of a World Cup final to look forward to.

Super League Team of the Week 

1 Fran Goldthorp (England)
2 Tommy Makinson (England)
3 Amy Hardcastle (England)
4 Tim Lafai (Samoa)
5 Leah Burke (England)
6 Georgia Roche (England)
7 George Williams (England)
8 Vicky Whitfield (England)
9 Tara Jones (England)
10 Olivia Wood (England)
11 Ligi Sao (Samoa)
12 Hollie Dodd (England)
13 Jodie Cunningham (England)

Super League Quote of the Week

"This is what World Cups are about, it's about the tough games, these are the games you look forward to. PNG are a really tough, physical side and they know how to play rugby league - it's nothing less than we expected." St Helens loose forward Jodie Cunningham - sporting a huge black eye - reflects on the physical nature of England's game against Papua New Guinea in a half-time BBC interview.

? How's the eye looking this morning @Jodie_cunny?#RLWC2021 pic.twitter.com/xtOW4BPcjH
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) November 10, 2022

Super League Ones to Watch this week

Focus will be on England Women's team tonight when they attempt to go one step further than their male counterparts and reach a Rugby League World Cup 2021 final. Craig Richards' side face the formidable prospect of New Zealand in York, less than a week after the Kiwi Fearns pushed tournament favourites Australia all the way in their final group game.

Betfred Women's Super League players such as Jodie Cunningham, Courtney Winfield-Hill, Amy Hardcastle and Vicky Whitfield have been stars of the tournament so far, but they will know that everything they've achieved so far goes on the line against New Zealand. It should be a mouth-watering clash.

On Friday Night, the England Wheelchair side will look to lift the first Rugby League World Cup 2021 trophy when they face France in Manchester, with a host of Super League stars looking to further enhance the rapidly growing reputation of this format of the sport.

The following day, Super League will have a presence in the Men's final with Samoan duo Tim Lafai and Ligi Sao - who both scored tries against England at weekend - looking to shock the world again when they face Australia at Old Trafford.