Rugby League World Cup TV schedule

The Rugby League World Cup kicks off live and exclusive on 7mate on Saturday night with tournament favourite Australia looking to recapture the trophy once again.

All 28 games of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup will be broadcast live, exclusive and in high definition on 7mate with Seven’s coverage hosted by Ryan Phelan with guest experts Matt King, Nathan Fien and Nigel Vagana.

The tournament kicks off with coverage of the Australia v England blockbuster starting at midnight on Saturday October 26 (12am AEDT Sunday Oct 27), before culminating with the World Cup Final from Old Trafford at 1am AEDT on Sunday December 1.

There will be a half-hour pre-game show before each match, with every Australian game, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final also replayed on 7mate on Sunday afternoons.

This is the 14th staging of RLWC 2013 – to be hosted by England and Wales with matches also held in France and Ireland. New Zealand is the defending champion, having defeated Australia in the 2008 World Cup final. Italy and the US are taking part for the first time.

BROADCAST SCHEDULE:

Sunday October 27
AUSTRALIA V ENGLAND (Millennium Stadium)
12am AEDT LIVE on 7mate | 3.30pm AEDT replay on 7mate
 WALES V ITALY (Millennium Stadium) 2.30am AEDT LIVE on 7mate

Monday October 28
PAPUA NEW GUINEA v FRANCE (Craven Park) 2.30am AEDT LIVE on 7mate
NEW ZEALAND V SAMOA (Halliwell Jones) 5am AEDT LIVE on 7mate

Tuesday October 29
FIJI V IRELAND (Spotland Stadium) 6.30am AEDT LIVE on 7mate

Wednesday October 30
TONGA V SCOTLAND (Derwent Park) 6.30am AEDT LIVE on 7mate

Thursday October 31
USA v COOK ISLANDS (The Memorial Stadium) 6.30am AEDT LIVE on 7mate

Saturday November 2
NEW ZEALAND V FRANCE (Parc Des Sports) 5.30am AEDT LIVE on 7mate

Sunday November 3
ENGLAND V IRELAND (John Smiths Stadium) 1am AEDT LIVE on 7mate
AUSTRALIA v FIJI (Langtree Park)
6.30am AEDT LIVE on 7mate | 3.30pm replay on 7mate

Monday November 4
WALES v USA (Glyndwr University Stadium) 12.30am LIVE on 7mate

SCOTLAND V ITALY (Derwent Park) 3am LIVE on 7mate

Tuesday November 5
PAPUA NEW GUINEA V SAMOA (Craven Park) 6.30am LIVE on 7mate

Wednesday November 6
TONGA V COOK ISLANDS (Leigh Sports Village) 6.30am LIVE on 7mate

Friday November 8
SCOTLAND v USA (Salford City Stadium) 6.30am LIVE on 7mate

Saturday November 9
NEW ZEALAND V PAPUA NEW GUINEA (Headingley Carnegie) 6.30am LIVE on 7mate

Sunday November 10
ENGLAND V FIJI (KC Stadium) 1am LIVE on 7mate
AUSTRALIA V IRELAND (Thomond Park) 6.30am LIVE on 7mate | 3.30pm replay on 7mate

Monday November 11
WALES V COOK ISLANDS (The Gnoll) 12.30am LIVE on 7mate

TONGA V ITALY (The Shay) 3am LIVE on 7mate

Tuesday November 12
FRANCE V SAMOA (Gilbert Brutus Stadium) 5.30am LIVE on 7mate

Saturday November 16
QUARTER FINAL 1
6.30am LIVE on 7mate | 2pm replay on 7mate
QUARTER FINAL 2
11.30pm LIVE on 7mate| 1pm replay on 7mate on Sunday November 17

Sunday November 17
QUARTER FINAL 3
6.30am LIVE on 7mate | 3.30pm on 7mate Monday November 18
QUARTER FINAL 4
1.30am LIVE on 7mate | 3.30pm replay on 7mate Saturday November 23

SEMI FINAL 1
11.30pm LIVE on 7mate | 1pm replay on 7mate on Sunday November 24
Sunday November 24
SEMI FINAL 2
2am LIVE on 7mate | 3.30pm replay on 7mate Sunday December 1

WORLD CUP FINAL
1am LIVE on 7mate | 3.30pm replay on 7mate

Wests Juniors defeated by St Helens

Wests Magpies’ juniors were narrowly defeated 32-30 by a touring St Helens Academy side last night at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

The game was played in three thirty-minute quarters and was a solid hit-out for a group of players trialling for the 2014 Wests Magpies SG Ball train-on squad.

St Helens led 22-10 after the first interval, with the Magpies staging a fight back to be down just 26-18 going into the last third.

Late tries to Daniel Roberts and Jesse Jackson had the home team right in the match, however St Helens held on for a 32-30 victory.

Jackson, Charlton Schaufhausen and Cody King were awarded the best players for the Magpies on the night.

The touring St Helens Academy squad will now face Penrith on Saturday in the final match of their visit.

St Helens 32 (Smith 2, Davis 2, Eccleston, Abrahams tries; Hewitt 4 goals) defeated Wests Magpies 30 (Coskerie 2, King, Schaufhausen, Jackson, Roberts tries; Roberts 3 goals)

Wests Magpies
1. Jeff Karam
2. Brennan Laverty
3. Charlton Schaufhausen
4. Liam Cassidy
5. Toa Mata’afa
6. Daniel Roberts
7. James Perlowski
8. Jack Hart
9. Michael Applebee
10. Kye Madden
11. Zac McInnes
12. Jesse Jackson
13. Chris Ve’e

Interchange:
Jordan Sandovic
Eddie Kendall
Jarrad Tompkins
Cody King
Harrison Coskerie
Visiano Vaohea
Dion Delevante
Jerome Meafu
Jacob Andrews
Matthew Keppie
Brayden Boaden
Frank Arcella

Australia's path to World Cup glory

The Kangaroos will start their World Cup campaign against host nation England but are unlikely to face reigning champions New Zealand until the tournament's final.

Australia has been drawn in Group A alongside England, Ireland and Fiji, with the Kiwis playing in Group B alongside France, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.

The top three teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, along with the winners of Group C (Tonga, Scotland, Italy) and Group D (USA, Wales, Cook Islands).

Australia's campaign begins against the rapidly improving English, featuring South Sydney's Burgess brothers, the Bulldogs' James Graham and new Warriors signing Sam Tomkins, at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on October 26.

That match will go a long way to determining the winner of Group A, who will go on to play the best of USA, Wales or the Cook Islands in the quarter-finals stage.

Should things go to plan for Australia, they'll edge out England to top the group before advancing through to the semi-finals, where they would play either the runner-up from Group B (likely France, Papua New Guinea or Samoa) or the third-place finisher from Group A (expected to be Petero Civoniceva's Fiji).

A win there would lead to an appearance in the final against likely opponents New Zealand, who would be out to repeat their shock win over the Kangaroos at the last World Cup in 2008.

Matches will be broadcast live in Australia on 7mate.

Full Rugby League World Cup draw
GROUP A
Sun Oct 27, 12.30am AEDT (11.30pm Sat AEST): Australia v England (Broadcast: 7mate)
Tue Oct 29, 7am AEDT (6am AEST): Fiji v Ireland (Broadcast: 7mate)
Sun Nov 3, 1.30am AEDT (2.30am AEST): England v Ireland (Broadcast: 7mate)
Sun Nov 3, 7am AEDT (6am AEST): Australia v Fiji (Broadcast: 7mate)
Sun Nov 10, 1.30am AEDT (12.30am AEST): England v Fiji (Broadcast: 7mate)
Sun Nov 10, 7am AEDT (6am AEST): Australia v Ireland (Broadcast: 7mate)

GROUP B
Mon Oct 28, 3am AEDT (2am AEST): Papua New Guinea v France (Broadcast: 7mate)
Mon Oct 28, 5am AEDT (4am AEST): New Zealand v Samoa
Sat Nov 2, 7am AEDT (6am AEST): New Zealand v France (Broadcast: 7mate)
Tue Nov 5, 7am AEDT (6am AEST): Papua New Guinea v Samoa (Broadcast: 7mate)
Sat Nov 9, 7am AEDT (6am AEST): New Zealand v Papua New Guinea (Broadcast: 7mate)
Tue Nov 12, 7am AEDT (6am AEST): France v Samoa (Broadcast: 7mate)

GROUP C
Wed Oct 30, 7am AEDT (6am AEST): Tonga v Scotland (Broadcast: 7mate)
Mon Nov 4, 3am AEDT (2am AEST): Scotland v Italy
Mon Nov 11, 3am AEDT (2am AEST): Tonga v Italy

GROUP D
Thu Oct 31, 7am AEDT (6am AEST): USA v Cook Islands (Broadcast: 7mate)
Mon Nov 4, 1am AEDT (12am AEST): Wales v USA (Broadcast: 7mate)
Mon Nov 11, 1am AEDT (12am AEST): Wales v Cook Islands (Broadcast: 7mate)

GROUP C/D
Sat Oct 26, 3.30am AEDT (2.30am AEST): Wales v Italy
Wed Nov 6, 7am AEDT (6am AEST): Tonga v Cook Islands (Broadcast: 7mate)
Fri Nov 8, 7am AEDT (6am AEST): Scotland v USA (Broadcast: 7mate)

QUARTER FINALS
Sat Nov 16, 7am AEDT (6am AEST): Winner B v Winner C (Broadcast: 7mate)
Sun Nov 17, 12am AEDT (11pm Sat AEST): Winner A v Winner D (Broadcast: 7mate)
Sun Nov 17, 7am AEDT (6am AEST): Runner-up A v 3rd Place B (Broadcast: 7mate)
Mon Nov 18, 2am AEDT (1am AEST): Runner-up B v 3rd Place A (Broadcast: 7mate)

SEMI FINALS
Sun Nov 25, 12am AEDT (11pm Sat AEST): Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 3 (Broadcast: 7mate)
Sun Nov 24, 2.30am AEDT (1.30am AEST): Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 4

FINAL
Sun Dec 1, 1.30am AEDT (12.30am AEST): Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2 (Broadcast: 7mate)

Kangaroos doing everything possible

Australia Coach Tim Sheens says his Kangaroos are doing everything they can to best prepare for the six-week World Cup campaign which begins against England at Cardiff's Millennium.

While England and New Zealand will play warm up games against Italy and the Cook Islands, Australia have chosen a program of intense training to have players battle-weary from a long NRL season ready for the tournament.

"Everyone is in the same boat, our competition and Super League finish late," said Sheens.

"You get a week or so to get them ready. That's why we're going two weeks early to adjust to the conditions after the conditions here in Australia which are so hot.

"We really need to adapt to the cold, settle them down and get over the travel.

"We're doing everything we can to prepare well and I think we will be prepared well."

While England are in full swing in a high performance training camp in South Africa, Sheens is nursing a number of players with niggling injuries.

It's believed Matt Scott, Luke Lewis and Nate Myles are in doubt for the opener in less than two weeks.
"We have 90% to 95% of our first team against England picked, but there are still a couple of minor issues, a couple of guys who are a little underdone." said Sheens.

"That may affect the selection for the first game."

AJ Carr

Tuesday 15 October 2013 9:15 AM

http://www.weststigers.com.au 

Tadesco represents his Italian Heritage

What a difference a year can make.
After a 2012 season which lasted just minutes into Round 1, James Tedesco couldn't be blamed for simply setting a goal of finishing 2013 injury-free.

The Wests Tigers fullback and Magpie Junior, at just 20, did that and more, being awarded the Club's rookie of the year award and playing for City mid-season.

Now the highly rated youngster will find himself on the world stage when he represents his Italian heritage at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium against home side Wales in front of a possible capacity crowd of 75-thousand.

Tedesco felt enormous family pride when informed he was a likely selection for the Italy World Cup team.
"I was very excited," said Tedesco. "I've spent a lot of time with my grand parents, they're both Italian on my Dad's side.

"They're stoked and all my family is very excited.
"I just had to have a good season and get through injury free which I did. The body is feeling good and ready to go."

The first game against Wales will make up part of a massive opening day to the 14th Rugby League World Cup with that fixture set to follow an opening ceremony described by organisers as "the greatest show Rugby League has ever seen" and old rivals England taking on Australia.

With almost every hotel room in Cardiff booked out months in advance and excitement building rapidly, it's set to be a special occasion for the youngster who spent so much of 2012 doing the tough and testing yards associated with injuring his ACL.

Despite likely being on the receiving end of a passionate home crowd's disapproval, Tedesco will relish playing in the big match atmosphere.

"I'll be honoured to play over there on that ground against Wales," said Tedesco.
"Even getting booed will still be awesome, playing in front of a crowd like that in a massive stadium!
"There'll be a lot of fans there but we'll soak it up and do our best."

The Azzurri, who first played Rugby League in the 1950s before threats from Rugby Union effectively ended their participation at test level, have assembled a strong squad, despite the withdrawal of experienced halves Craig Gower and Terry Campese.

Italy are likely to be highly competitive in their debut World Cup.
"It's very exciting, there's a lot of NRL boys who are Italian," said Tedesco.

"It's unfortunate that Craig Gower and Terry Campese aren't playing with us but we've got both the Minichiello brothers, Aiden Guerra who has just won a premiership, Cameron Ciraldo and Kade Snowden as well.

"We've got some pretty big names, I think we're going to be a tough team to beat."
The Italy squad also features departing Wests Tigers NYC second rower Brenden Santi.

Italy fixtures:
Wales vs Italy - Saturday 26th October, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Scotland vs Italy - Sunday 3rd November, Derwent Park, Workington
Tonga vs Italy - Sunday 10th November, The Shay, Halifax

2013 Wests Tigers NSW Cup Review

Wests Tigers – Position 7th (11 wins, 13 losses)

The Wests Tigers first season in the VB NSW Cup as a merged entity was punctuated by a number of close wins and losses. Featuring in 11 games that were decided by only 6 points or less, the Tigers were on track for a higher finish in the top-eight before a late season collapse where they lost five of their last six games to scrape into the finals.

Best Performed – After returning to the Tigers last season after stints with the Sharks and Cutters, Jarred Farlow has been one of the Tigers most consistent performers and continued to deliver throughout 2013. Before his season was cut short through injury, Taqele Naiyaravaro was making a name for himself as one of the hardest players to stop in the competition; scoring 23 tries in 15 games.

Rising Star – As mentioned above, Taqele Naiyaravaro was a sensation for the Tigers this season after moving from prop to the wing. The giant Fijian proved almost unstoppable at times and was a member of the victorious VB NSW Cup Representative team.

Highlight – A 40-18 Round 17 victory over Mounties at Campbelltown Stadium had all the hallmarks of the Tigers at their best, and despite their tough run into the finals the Tigers rallied to defeat the Auckland Vulcans in the first week of the finals.

2014 – After several strong seasons for the Tigers NYC side, Wests will look to benefit from an injection of several of their young stars. However, with a host of experienced players leaving the Tigers NRL side this season, the depth of the club will be tested. If they can avoid the crippling injury toll they suffered this season, they will remain highly competitive.

NRL Debutants - Ava Seumanufagai, Sauaso Sue, Shaun Spence, Sitaleki Akauola, Jarred Farlow, Joel Luani, Luke Brooks

2013 Season Review - Wests Tigers

NSWRL Media

17/10/2013 10:00:00 AM

2013 RMC REPS vs FIJI - Match Review

The NSWRL Ron Massey Cup Representative side proved too strong for the Fiji Warriors with a 58-16 victory in an exhibition match at St Marys Leagues Stadium on Saturday night.

The Fijian line-up consisting of players mostly from the Ron Massey Cup, Sydney Shield and NSW Cup competitions remained in the contest for the majority of the opening half before the Reps’ piled on six second half tries to blow out the final score including hat-tricks to both fullback Don Thompson and five-eighth Brendan Waters.

Dean Rysko continued his Player of the Year form during the early exchanges with several solid hit-ups before steaming onto a Scott Jones short ball from close range opening a 6-0 lead after six minutes of action.

Fiji opened their account eleven minutes later with the try of the match. Warriors’ fullback Paul Rokolati fielded a Jake Fitzpatrick grubber in his own in-goal and set-off down the right sideline before linking with centre Joe Uluibau who stepped several defenders to complete a stunning length of the field effort in the right corner. Fiji remained two adrift after Henry Raiwalui failed to convert from touch.

The Reps’ resumed control with back-to-back tries in the 22nd and 25th minutes to open an 18-4 advantage. Wenty second-rower Pat Mataele scored the first from a cross-field bomb which was quickly followed by another when Waters backed up a Mataele break down the right edge to finish the fifty metre movement under the posts.

Fiji stopped the flow of points before adding six of their own when replacement forward Tim Nawaqatabu barged over next to the posts which Rokolati converted narrowing the margin to 18-10 six minutes before the interval.

Fiji looked well placed to edge even closer one minute before halftime but were dealt a severe blow when replacement Reps’ half Aaron Fluke teamed with Louis Vaiotu in a long range move down the left wing that ended with Magpies winger Sam Aiga scoring from an in-goal grubber in the following play. Flukes’ sideline conversion on the hooter had the Reps well placed with a 24-10 halftime lead.

The Ron Massey Cup Reps rattled Fiji with committed defence after the break; Uluibau was bundled into touch inside his own half which was quickly followed by Thompson’s first try when he stepped back inside to beat several defenders extending the lead to 30-10 in the 47th minute.

The Warriors’ struggled to match the Reps’ pace around the ruck and another Waters break through the middle ended with forward Mitch Cahalane increasing the margin by six points. Fiji’s luck changed six minutes later when a stray Fluke pass on his own goal-line was pounced on by Raiwalui for a converted try and 36-16 score line in the 55th minute.

The floodgates opened in the 64th minute when Reps’ skipper Hutch Maiava broke through the middle from 40 metres out before sending Waters away under the posts which was quickly followed by Thompson’s second off another Mataele line-break down the right edge. Thompson scored his third through soft defence from ten metres out to bring up the Reps’ half century with ten minutes remaining.

Waters weaved through the tired Fijian’s from fifteen metres out completing his own hat-trick in the final four minutes and a final score line of 58-16 after Fluke’s conversion.

Ron Massey Cup Reps 58 (Brendan Waters 3, Don Thompson 3, Dean Rysko, Pat Mataele, Sam Aiga, Mitch Cahalane tries; Aaron Fluke 6, Jake Fitzpatrick 3 goals) d. Fiji Warriors 16 (Joe Uluibau, Tim Nawaqatabu, Henry Raiwalui tries; Paul Rokolati , Raiwalui goals) at St Marys Leagues Stadium, October 12, 2013.
Crowd: 500. Referee: Lawrence McDonnell. Touch Judges: Matt Damaso, Jay Farlow. Penalties: Fiji 6-5. Halftime: Ron Massey Cup Reps 24-10.

When they scored: 6th min: Ron Massey Cup Reps 6-0 (Rysko try; Fitzpatrick goal); 17th min: Ron Massey Cup Reps 6-4 (Uluibau try); 22nd min: Ron Massey Cup Reps 12-4 (Mataele try; Fitzpatrick goal); 25th min: Ron Massey Cup Reps 18-4 (Waters try; Fitzpatrick goal); 34th min: Ron Massey Cup Reps 18-10 (Nawaqatabu try; Rokolati goal); 40th min: Ron Massey Cup Reps 24-10 (Aiga try; Fluke goal); 47th min: Ron Massey Cup Reps 30-10 (Thompson try; Fluke goal); 49th min: Ron Massey Cup Reps 36-10 (Cahalane try; Fluke goal); 55th min: Ron Massey Cup Reps 36-16 (Raiwalui try and goal); 64th min: Ron Massey Cup Reps 42-16 (Waters try; Fluke goal); 67th min: Ron Massey Cup Reps 48-16 (Thompson try; Fluke goal); 70th min: Ron Massey Cup Reps 52-16 (Thompson try); 76th min: Ron Massey Cup Reps 58-16 (Waters try; Fluke goal).

Ron Massey Cup Representatives
1 Don Thompson
2 Rhys Pritchard
3 Alan Eisenhuth
4 Matt Evans
5 Sam Aiga
6 Brendan Waters
7 Jake Fitzpatrick
8 Hutch Maiava (c)
9 Scott Jones
10 Dean Rysko
11 Grant Lahey
12 Pat Mataele
13 Tim Baldwin

Interchange
14 Aaron Fluke
15 Sonny Bristow
16 Louis Vaiotu
17 Mitch Cahalane
Coach: Jamy Forbes

Fiji Warriors
1 Paul Rokolati
2 Fabian Goodhall
3 Joe Rokoqo
4 Joe Uluibau
5 Taqele Naiyaravoro
6 Henry Raiwalui
7 Siti Moceidreke
8 Luke Serevi
9 Hamilton Hughes
10 Bill Baleilomaloma
11 Kem Seru
12 Junior Rika
13 Donis Gock

Interchange
14 Nick Cama
16 Phil Samuels
18 Joka Dokonivalu
19 Tim Nawaqatabu
Coach: Joey Saukuru

Wentworthville win 2013 Ron Massey Cup

After their amazing come-back against Western Suburbs last weekend, Wentworthville have backed it up with a stunning performance to defeat Mounties to claim the 2013 Ron Massey Cup.

Wentworthville were never headed in securing back-to-back Ron Massey Cup Premierships with a commanding 32-18 grand final victory over Mounties at St Marys Leagues Stadium.

Despite losing second-rower Valu Nasio to injury during the warm-up, the Magpies’ opened a 16-8 first half advantage before a stunning second half hat-trick by replacement forward Daniel Penese rounded out the clubs fourth title in five seasons.

Mounties got off to the worst possible start losing possession in the opening set of the game which was compounded when Jarome MacKenzie grounded a fumbled Aaron Fluke in-goal grubber to open a 6-0 lead in the second minute.

The Premiers got their own dose of the fumbles gifting Mounties several opportunities from close range before Fluke relieved the pressure with a 40-20 in the eleventh minute. The Magpies extended the margin to ten points one minute later after centre KJ MacKenzie attracted several defenders before providing winger Arthur Takapu an open passage to the right corner.

Several willing exchanges ended with consecutive penalties to Mounties which Brett Lahey put to good use with a short-ball sending second-rower Grant Lahey through a gap to touchdown in the 25th minute. The score remained 10-4 after Blake Davies failed to convert in the blustery conditions.

The Magpies lifted a gear towards the end of the half getting in the face of five-eighth Davies forcing his last play kick over the sideline on the full. Replacement Wenty hooker Brendan Waters burrowed over from dummy half in the following set which Fluke converted for a 16-4 margin six minutes from the break.
Mounties reduced the deficit to eight on the stroke of halftime with a crucial try to Tim Tautuaa after Takapu failed to control a Brett Lahey in-goal grubber.

The opening of the second stanza was a replay of the first with Wenty scoring after a Mounties handling error four minutes in. Waters dominance continued out of dummy half, this time holding up a beautiful ball for Penese to cross near the posts. Fluke added the extras for a decisive 22-8 lead.
Mounties’ comeback hopes spiralled when injury forced playmaker Davies from the field after 47 minutes which was closely followed by a melee as tensions reached boiling point. Penese’s second try from a well-placed Fluke cross-kick provided significant breathing space for Wenty at 28-8 with 26 minutes left on the clock.

Replacement Fred Pakutoa was on hand to make it 28-12 after finishing a Brett Lahey-Vinnie Uelese cross-kick combination in the 58th minute. Any chance of a Mounties comeback was extinguished by a desperate try saving tackle from fullback Jarome MacKenzie when Tautuaa looked a shoe-in to end a fifty metre movement in the left corner after 66 minutes.

Penese ensured the trophy remained at Wentworthville for another year scoring his third through Mounties left edge in the 68th minute. Wenty’s victory margin was reduced to fourteen when lock Nick Kassis crossed under the posts in the final six minutes for a final score line of 32-18.

Wentworthville Magpies 32 (D Penese 3, J MacKenzie, A Takapu, B Waters tries; A Fluke 4 goals) def. Mounties 18 (G Lahey, A Tuatuaa, F Pakutoa, N Kassis tries; B Lahey goal)

Jason Hosken

Rugby League News

30/09/2013 1:30:00 PM