The preliminary rounds of the men’s edition of the World Cup have been completed with the quarter-finals match-ups now locked in. Here’s an update:
Round 3:
New Zealand 48 Ireland 10
England 94 Greece 4
Fiji 30 Scotland 14
Australia 66 Italy 6
Lebanon 74 Jamaica 12
Tonga 92 Cook Islands 10
Samoa 62 France 4
PNG 36 Wales 0
Blow-outs galore in Round 3 wasn’t a particularly good look for the competition but we need to bear in mind that, for several of the minnow RL nations, just being there was a huge achievement in itself. ‘Winning’ can come in a variety of guises. At the same time, it has been sad to witness the demise of France, once a real powerhouse in the world of rugby league. From an Australian perspective, most interest lies in the composition of the Kangaroos’ best 17 for the finals. It may well be that Coach Meninga will continue to play his cards close to his chest in the quarter-final clash with Lebanon, hardly a game needing his full artillery. Watch this space!
Quarter-finals:
Here are the match-ups for this weekend’s clashes:
Saturday morning AEDT: Australia v Lebanon
Sunday morning AEDT: England v PNG
Sunday morning AEDT: New Zealand v Fiji
Monday morning AEDT: Tonga v Samoa
Form suggests that the Kangaroos, the Chooms and the Kiwis will advance without too much bother. England probably has the trickiest hurdle to overcome in the form of the 100-miles-an-hour Kumuls. The Poms may well win comfortably on the scoreboard but it will be at the cost of some sizeable bruises! Fiji may well do the same to the Kiwis.
The Tonga v Samoa match will be the highlight as both come into this game with a head of steam. Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington should shake to its foundation!
Women’s competition:
Here are the results of Round 1:
England 72 Brazil 4
PNG 34 Canada 12
New Zealand 46 France 0
Australia 74 Cook Islands 0
Wheelies competition:
The wheelies roll out tomorrow.
Farewell Josh Jackson:
It doesn’t matter which team you support, there are some players you just have to admire for who and what they have been, and offer them perhaps the ultimate accolade – ‘I wish he played for my team’. Josh Jackson has been one of those players.
A career-long Bulldog, Jackson has decided to pull the plug on a distinguished career that spanned 241 NRL games, 9 State of Origin appearances, 2 Four Nations matches and 3 games for NSW Country over 11 years. Jackson was Second Rower of the Year twice (2015 and 2018), Brad Fittler medallist (2016) and Man of the Match in Game Two of the 2016 State of Origin series.
Jackson may not have been the most naturally gifted player to ever lace up his boots but he made the most of what he was gifted and more than made up for any deficits through his application and dedication to his craft. He was tough, resilient, gritty rather than pretty, totally committed, the sort of player others wanted to play alongside, a team man through and through, . There was no ‘I’ in Josh Jackson. In the last five years he led, some would say ‘carried’, the Doggies through several tough years, providing an example for others to follow.
There hasn’t been a bad word spoken about Josh Jackson, just expressions of appreciation, respect and gratitude. Thanks for the memories, Josh, and we won’t be at all surprised if the Doggies continue to rely on you to provide guidance and encouragement to its playing group as the club enters a new phase under Cameron Ciraldo.
To read a statement from the Bulldogs club regarding Jackson’s retirement click here.
To see a summary of Jackson’e career click here.
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About Ian Hauser
A relaxed, Noosa-based retiree with a (very) modest sporting CV. A loyal Queenslander, especially when it comes to cricket and rugby league. Enjoys travel, coffee and cake, reading, and has been known to appreciate a glass or three of wine. One of Footy Almanac's online editors who enjoys the occasional editing opportunity to assist aspiring writers.
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