Finals draw

[Last Week]

Pretty much! We've had our upset - NZ won't slip up two weeks in a row and England will be too consistent for PNG.

The semis will be genuine arm wrestles - the Kiwis will be up for it at Suncorp and Tonga in a 'home' semi against England. Despite that, Australia and England would be the favourites to go through.

England have hardly been consistent, whereas PNG in my opinion, have been.

I think that game is pretty even and will come down to how PNG handle the pressure and playing away from home.

 

[Clifferd]

England have hardly been consistent, whereas PNG in my opinion, have been.

I think that game is pretty even and will come down to how PNG handle the pressure and playing away from home.

Easy to be consistent when the opposition png have faced are barely ron Massey cup standard.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

England have hardly been consistent, whereas PNG in my opinion, have been.

I think that game is pretty even and will come down to how PNG handle the pressure and playing away from home.

Yes, all of your points are true - I think England have a few more gears up their sleeve than PNG have though. Plus PNG were very scrapy against Ireland.

 

[jim_57]

Can we shed some light on it being indicated on the rlwc website that Australia and Tonga are on the same side of the draw for the finals? Surely this must be an oversight.

Would be corruption if they twisted the draw to ensure NZ play in NZ at the last minute.

 

[Billythekid]

Can we shed some light on it being indicated on the rlwc website that Australia and Tonga are on the same side of the draw for the finals? Surely this must be an oversight.

Would be corruption if they twisted the draw to ensure NZ play in NZ at the last minute.

I don't see why they'd bother. At the moment it feels like Tonga would draw a bigger crowd in NZ than NZ would in a semi. NZ v Aus would draw a great crowd in Brisbane.

 

[jim_57]

I don't see why they'd bother. At the moment it feels like Tonga would draw a bigger crowd in NZ than NZ would in a semi. NZ v Aus would draw a great crowd in Brisbane.

Me neither, surely they wouldn't be stupid enough to try and do it. If anything it would probably mean the semis get a larger total attendance the way it has panned out.

 

[Pommy]

The RLWC Facebook has NZ as playing their semi in Brisbane.

 

[Clarkent]

Aside from Australia v Samoa, I don’t think any of these finals are a given which is awesome

Don't discount my samoan team... Just remember they weren't far off when they faced the kiwis... Doubt they'll upset the Aussies but they'll definitely give Aussie a fight... I hope...

 

[magpie_man]

England have hardly been consistent, whereas PNG in my opinion, have been.

I think that game is pretty even and will come down to how PNG handle the pressure and playing away from home.

PNG will give them hell but their ball-control is a concern - if they keep turning over the ball cheaply the Poms will make them pay, just like the Irish nearly did.
I think England will win but they'll be softened-up nicely for Tonga the following week.

 

[Last Week]

PNG will give them hell but their ball-control is a concern - if they keep turning over the ball cheaply the Poms will make them pay, just like the Irish nearly did.
I think England will win but they'll be softened-up nicely for Tonga the following week.

I agree with that. Seems pretty much how the game will pan out.

Further, people saying Australia in the Final being a forgone conclusion are really underestimating NZ. They will get better over the next 2 weeks. Tonga really caught them off guard, but they'll be ready for Australia. They know how to play us.

This tournament is wide open.