A host of possibilities remain, with Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and England all in the hunt for the Rugby League World Cup.
BetDeluxe analyses this week’s semi-finals to determine who will win and why.
Australia vs. New Zealand
12th November 6:45AM
To date, Australia’s World Cup has been flawless – massive wins, an even contribution and depth unmatched by any other nation.
Nathan Cleary is in one of the hottest form patches seen in Rugby League in recent times; following on from leading Penrith to a second successive premiership, he hasn’t taken his foot off the pedal, starring in the green and gold.
Josh Ado-Carr represents one of the biggest scoring threats and could quickly post multiple tries once again after crossing the try line on five occasions in last week’s win over Lebanon. Add to that some uncompromising work from Cameron Munster and Lattrell Mitchell on the inside, and the Aussies are looking the complete package.
They face the number one ranked team in the world in New Zealand, who also bring an undefeated run into this clash.
Having won the tournament 14 years ago, the belief is strong in the Kiwi camp as Ronaldo Mulitalo and Briton Nikora continue to put in stellar performances.
A tough come-from-behind win against Fiji last week shouldn’t be mistaken for weakness but rather a sign that they know how to rally when the chips are down.
New Zealand is by far the strongest opponent the Kangaroos have faced, but they still seem to be a class short of causing an upset here.
Suggested Bet: Australia -12.5 at $1.90
England vs. Samoa
13th November 1:30AM
All the pre-tournament hype was around Samoa, and they take their deserved place in the semi-finals.
But the ghosts of their tournament opener still linger, with England demolishing them 60-6 in a performance that is not easily wiped from the memory banks.
That game aside, it has been a strong series from the Samoans, with Jarome Luai and Anthony Milford relishing the international stage, while Stephen Crichton’s finishing has been a hallmark of his team’s play. The loss of captain Junior Paulo through suspension will hit hard as the Samoans need to bring all the experience they can to this game.
The England team has had a genuine presence in its big wins in the group stage, thanks primarily to Tom Burgess, whose physicality has left opponents shaking. But they are more than just grunt and force, with Tommy Makinson racking up a total of 30 points in the win over Papua New Guinea.
While some questioned England in the lead-up to this tournament, they have clearly got an extra element with the World Cup on their own turf, and a home final is just an extra incentive.
Suggested Bet: England -8.5 at $1.92
