England in peril with Rugby League World Cup semi spots at stake
SYDNEY: England face their earliest Rugby League World Cup exit ever this weekend with their fate in the hands of Tonga and Samoa during bumper games that will decide the semi-final line-up.
England's hopes of advancing to the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup are hanging by a thread as they face an uphill battle this weekend against Tonga and Samoa. With only two spots remaining, the outcomes of the final group matches will determine the fate of the teams. Australia and New Zealand have already secured their places, while France, Lebanon and the Cook Islands have been eliminated earlier. New Zealand takes on Fiji on Saturday in Sydney, with the winner joining the Kangaroos in the semi-finals.
For Group B, only two teams will progress, and for Group C, only one will advance. England must win their match against Papua New Guinea on Friday in Wollongong to stay in contention. However, the result of the Tonga-Samoa match on Sunday will have the most significant impact on England's prospects. If Tonga win, they will top the table, leaving England to battle it out with Samoa based on points difference.
Despite the slim chances, England's half-back Mikey Lewis remains optimistic, stating that they believe they have a fighting chance.
Tonga's coach, Kristian Woolf, acknowledges the gap in resources and player pools compared to the tier one nations, but asserts that his team is closing the gap. He believes his side is equal to the big nations and is seeing themselves as such in the tournament. Meanwhile, New Zealand has brought back key players Dane Gagai and Moses Leota for their crucial match against Fiji.
Fiji's captain, Api Koroisau, maintains confidence in his team's ability to upset the Kiwis, citing their strong performance against Australia in the previous week.
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