Australia and NZ are also going to be in the finals no matter what so maybe we should just skip straight to that?
Comments like that make me think some people shouldn't bother with sport?
If all that matters was who won, 90% of pro sports should just be one or 2 matches, races, and screw everyone else.
Sport is a ranked competition for fun, entertainment and to see improvement / challenge.
If only final tournament winning counts it would be useless, as there is only ever one winner, so sport by that definition is rubbish for most participants.
Victories in sport come in many ways, and in International Rugby League, just turning up and getting things together is the first victory!