Roy Haggerty Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 England, Australia and NZ all seem pretty impressive. But who are the wild cards who look like more than a speed bump in the quarters and semis? I’ve watched every game so far, and would have to say that PNG look the next best, but also - bit left field - Lebanon look at least as good, if not better, than Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, all of whom I expected to be better. Who’s your 4th and 5th? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunbar Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 16 minutes ago, Roy Haggerty said: England, Australia and NZ all seem pretty impressive. But who are the wild cards who look like more than a speed bump in the quarters and semis? I’ve watched every game so far, and would have to say that PNG look the next best, but also - bit left field - Lebanon look at least as good, if not better, than Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, all of whom I expected to be better. Who’s your 4th and 5th? I have certainly been disappointed with Samoa, Tonga and Fiji to date. It is certainly a cliche but their lack of quality spine players looks a real weakness. I thought that the Kangaroos had the easiest route to the semi's but maybe Lebanon is not the easiest route that I thought it was. They will win of course. Best of the rest. Maybe it is PNG by default but I still think Tonga will have a little bit too much for them. "The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby. "If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSaint Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 Tongans beat PNG Roy… … they’ll be a tough SF if they beat Samoa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Haggerty Posted October 29, 2022 Author Share Posted October 29, 2022 1 minute ago, GeordieSaint said: Tongans beat PNG Roy… … they’ll be a tough SF if they beat Samoa. Yes, but PNG have looked solid in both games. Thought Tonga looked much patchier in their other match. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 Fiji now they have had a few good hit outs - shame they left a good few players at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo5 Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 Still Tonga for me,especially as they get JT back. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumby Magic Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 France to beat Samoa. O and to answer OP. France. 1 Like poor jokes? Thejoketeller@mullymessiah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 Lebanon have some pretty shrewd players. While clearly outgunned on paper by a few teams, they can really be a problem if taken lightly. 2 Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. Ralph Waldo Emerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUBRATS Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 2 hours ago, GeordieSaint said: Tongans beat PNG Roy… … they’ll be a tough SF if they beat Samoa. By one score , and with some ' strange ' reffing decisions going their way 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 Was there and PNG shelled at least 3 tries too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SydneyRoosters Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 PNG and France for me, most structured and look the biggest threats. Both teams have a good game plan and have shown the can beat or be competitive against the big 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lad Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 Tonga and Samoa haven't lived up to the hype so far. Outside of the big three PNG seems to be the best, it's going to be a physical encounter for England. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUBRATS Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 4 minutes ago, The Lad said: Tonga and Samoa haven't lived up to the hype so far. Outside of the big three PNG seems to be the best, it's going to be a physical encounter for England. We can't be complacent , they beat GB last time 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waynebennettswinger Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 PNG for me too, whilst they did have a few decisions go against them, they unfortunately bombed too many chances against Tonga as said above. Seems funny to say when they have conceded big scores but I have also been impressed with Greece, Italy and Wales as much for really having a go at times. Been much less impressed with Scotland and Ireland in comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 I think Tonga under Wolff are playing within themselves to peak when it matters. I just think if he can organise the defence as he does St Helens, then they may yet be dangerous. Or, I may be completely wrong and they could have regressed. In which case Samoa will reach the semi finals. I think both would play better if the tournament was in the Southern hemisphere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Haggerty Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 Well, I take it all back. Tonga and Samoa today look like completely different teams to their first two games. Frighteningly aggressive and well organised. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcticchris Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Tonga will be a threat to win it all. Lebanon have had a good tournament but won’t give Australia any more than a decent hit out. Fiji look weaker than 4 years ago and this NZ team looks vastly different than last time so an upset would be an even bigger shock than before. Samoa can trouble the Tongans but I think the more mobile Tongan pack will do the damage and get them into the last 4. PNG have been terrific but England look too classy, motivated and well organised to suffer a GB style humiliation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUBRATS Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Definitely Tonga and Samoa now , with PNG behind them , both are getting into their strides now and just sheer power , size and pace puts them ahead of the Kumul's I'll be at Warrington next Sunday , should be a right battle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimBronco Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Tonga are going to take some stopping now I feel. They're a different beast with Taumalolo back. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonM Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 While I agree that Tonga looked very impressive yesterday, that has to be tempered by the way the Cooks threw in the towel relatively early on in the game. They didn't put up anywhere near the level of resistance that Greece or France did. A lot of Tonga's tries involved straight one on one missed tackles, or in some cases a Tongan player running through two, three or four defenders without any one of them really committing to a tackle. In a lot of cases, that was because the defenders were so much smaller, and they were out on their feet. I don't expect England, Samoa or PNG to be so completely dominated physically. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewWoody Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 On 30/10/2022 at 00:33, GUBRATS said: We can't be complacent , they beat GB last time The worst moment in my RL watching "career" Toronto Wolfpack Global Ambassador Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Blood Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 On 30/10/2022 at 09:20, SydneyRoosters said: PNG and France for me, most structured and look the biggest threats. Both teams have a good game plan and have shown the can beat or be competitive against the big 3. France after they were demoralised by Samoa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Blood Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 Tonga have best talent up there with Samoa, however Lebanon may be less talented all round but have class in the playmaking roles and good finishers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUBRATS Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 5 hours ago, MatthewWoody said: The worst moment in my RL watching "career" ' King Edwin ' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSaint Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 3 hours ago, Young Blood said: Tonga have best talent up there with Samoa, however Lebanon may be less talented all round but have class in the playmaking roles and good finishers. Tonga with Moses would be some team. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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