BREAKDOWN OF THE 2022 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP TEAMS:-
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POOL A (top two teams from each pool advance to knockout stages)
ENGLAND (Ranked 3rd)
Previous best: runners-up 1975, 1995, 2017
Head coach Shaun Wane has waited a lifetime for this job and will take nothing less than coming out of the group on top. Even accounting for some key absences, home crowds and favourable conditions should give England every chance of making it to Old Trafford for the final.
Prediction: Finalists
FRANCE (Ranked 9th)
Previous best: runners-up 1954, 1968
With two professional sides in Super League, France should be doing more than making up the numbers. Even with Trent Robinson on board as a technical director it's hard to see them beating Samoa or England and getting out of the pool.
Prediction: Group stage
GREECE (Ranked 11th)
Previous best: None
Have overcome the game being outlawed in their own country to qualify. Head coach Steve Georgallis is a smart league mind and his side, which boast South Sydney halfback Lachlan Ilias, will be hoping they can fashion a win against France.
Prediction: Group stage
SAMOA (Ranked 7th)
Previous best: Quarter-finals 2000, 2013, 2017
Lots of hype and expectation around this Samoa side which is a frightening prospect on paper. Lack of warm-up games might cost them against hosts England in the tournament opener. Anything less than the semi-finals should be considered a failure given the depth of talent available to coach Matt Parish.
Prediction: Quarter-finals
GROUP B
Australia (Ranked 4th)
Previous best: Winners 1957, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1985-88, 1989-92, 1995, 2000, 2013, 2017
Even when you consider the amount of players featuring for "other nations" Australia will be strong contenders even with 13 debutants. A semi-final with New Zealand looms large and the only concern for the Kangaroos might be their forward pack's ability to outmuscle the Kiwis. Expect Ben Hunt and Harry Grant to run amok as they share hooking duties.
Prediction: Winners
Fiji (Ranked 6th)
Previous best: Semi-finals 2008, 2013, 2017
Illness has cost head coach Joe Rabele a chance to lead his team at the World Cup with Wise Kativerata stepping into the void. Injury to winger Mikaele Ravalawa from a warm-up match with England might prove costly but they should have enough to get to the last eight.
Prediction: Quarter-finals
Italy (Ranked 17th)
Previous best: Group stage 2013, 2017
With the exception of Parramatta's Nathan Brown, nearly all of the Italy side is drawn from clubs outside of the NRL and the Super League. Italy boast some promising talent such as Parramatta's Jack Colovatti but are at long odds to go further than the group stage.
Prediction: Group stage
Scotland (Ranked 15th)
Previous best: Quarter-finals 2013
Struggling for quality since their 2013 heroics and historic draw with the Kiwis in the 2016 Four Nations. Lachlan Coote's unavailability means the Scots face an uphill battle to get out of the group.
Prediction: Group stage
Group C
Jamaica (Ranked 21st)
Previous best: None
Jamaica only have two full-time players in Huddersfield duo Michael Lawrence and Ashton Golding and face a tough assignment in their first tournament. Largely drawn from the Jamaican diaspora but including five players from the domestic game, head coach Romeo Monteith will be hoping his side can push Ireland and Lebanon close.
Prediction: Group stage
Ireland (Ranked 12th)
Previous best: Quarter-finals 2000, 2008
Arguably their strongest side since the 2000 tournament, with Luke Keary their key playmaker. Leeds back-rower James Bentley is a star in the making and it would be no surprise to see them face Australia in the knockout stages.
Prediction: Quarter-finals
Lebanon (Ranked 13th)
Previous best: Quarter-finals 2017
Have the guidance of Michael Cheika as head coach and the guile of Mitchell Moses and Adam Doueihi in the halves. There's good depth drawn from the lower leagues in Australia and they know beating the Irish will be the difference between making the quarter-finals.
Prediction: Group stage
New Zealand (Ranked 1st)
Previous best: Winners 2008
It would be hard to argue that this isn't the best Kiwis side ever assembled. Michael Maguire has a point to prove and his pack and backline is laced with NRL winners. If everything goes to plan they should meet Australia in the semi-finals where they believe they will walk away winners.
Prediction: Semi-finals.
GROUP D
Cook Islands (Ranked 20th)
Previous best: Group stage 2000, 2013
Could have been a lot stronger were it no for the likes of Jordan Rapana and Valentine Holmes declaring for New Zealand and Australia respectively. With a squad which includes Brad Takairangi and Tepai Moeroa they should get past Wales but knocking off Tonga or Papua New Guinea would be a tall order.
Prediction: Group Stage
Papua New Guinea (Ranked 5th)
Previous best: Quarter-finals 2000, 2017
Will believe they can defeat Tonga in their opening game and finish top of the group. Head coach Stanley Tepend is a shrewd operator and has a devastating backline that includes Justin Olam and Xavier Coates at his disposal.
Prediction: Quarter-finals
Tonga (Ranked 2nd)
Previous best: Semi-finals 2017
Were the surprise packets of the 2017 tournament and will feel they can get to the final. Monstrous forward pack that includes David Fifita and Jason Taumalolo should help them top the group, but a lack of experience in the halves might cost Kristian Woolf's side a final berth.
Prediction: Semi-finals
Wales (Ranked 16th)
Previous best: Semi-finals 1995, 2000
The fate of Welsh rugby league has been on the decline since rugby union became openly professional in 1995. Only Salford's Rhys Williams played in Super League this year and anything other than finishing bottom should be viewed as a success.
Prediction: Group stage
Australian Associated Press
