With the World Cup fast approaching, pan66.com takes a look at how each Group shapes up and who are the key men who have to stand up if their nation is to progress to the knockout stages...
Group D (Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Wales, Cook Islands)
The lowdown
The stunning rise of Tonga which began before the last tournament in 2017 has been the biggest story in international league for years and the tiny island nation will be looking to create more shockwaves this time around.
In their group, they will face off in their opening match against one of the most passionate rugby league nations in Papua New Guinea, who boast a strong contingent of NRL players and travel-hardened Hunters.
Rounding out the pool are the Cook Islands who return to the Rugby League World Cup stage with more experience to draw from, and 'local' hopes Wales, who have a rich history in the tournament having first appeared in 1975.
The games
*all times are AEDT
Wednesday, October 19
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Mate Ma'a Tonga v PNG Kumuls at 5.30am - Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helen's
Thursday, October 20
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Wales v Cook Islands at 5.30am - Leigh Sports Village Stadium, Leigh
Tuesday, October 25
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Wales v Tonga at 5.30am - Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helen's
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PNG Kumuls v Cook Islands at 5.30am - Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Monday, October 31
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Mate Ma'a Tonga v Cook Islands at 1.30am - Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough
Tuesday, November 1
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PNG Kumuls v Wales at 6.30am - Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster
The teams
Tonga
Squad: Talatau Amone (St George Illawarra Dragons), David Fifita (Gold Coast Titans), Addin Fonua Blake (Warriors), Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans), Siliva Havili (South Sydney Rabbitohs), William Hopoate (St Helens Saints), Konrad Hurrell (St Helens Saints), Isaiya Katoa (Penrith Panthers), Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks), Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm), Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Toluta’u Koula (Manly Sea Eagles), Tuimoala Lolohea (Huddersfield Giants), Soni Luke (Penrith Panthers), Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warriors), Tesi Niu (Brisbane Broncos), Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Sea Eagles), Will Penisini (Parramatta Eels), Moses Suli (St George Illawarra Dragons), Siosifa Talakai (Cronulla Sharks), Tevita Tatola (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters), Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys), Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
Key player: With the talismanic Jason Taumalolo forced to sit out the opening two pool matches due to suspension, it provides a perfect opportunity for Gold Coast Titans forward David Fifita to step up and show what he can do in his Tonga debut. With his ever-reliable team-mate Moeaki Fotuaika guaranteed to get through some hard yards up front, Fifita will be hoping to break through with some of his exciting, tackle-busting runs out wide.
Strengths: Once again, Tonga will be looking to their powerful forward pack to get the ball rolling for their side as they aim to lay a strong platform to launch into the finals. They have great depth and not only have some strong runners of the ball who will get them plenty of metres, they also have players who aren’t afraid to offload.
Weaknesses: Spine depth. While the side do have players who can perform well in the halves, at hooker and at fullback, the side can’t afford any injuries. Coach Kristian Woolf has proven to be an innovator in the past, throwing Kotoni Staggs in at five-eighth, but with him injured and many of his spine options including Talatau Amone still quite inexperienced, it’s their main concern in the group stage.
History at World Cup: Tonga made history in their last Rugby League World Cup campaign when they made it through to the semi finals, only to be pipped by England in a pulsating match. Before that highly-ranked finish in 2017, they previously finished second in their pool in 2013, seventh in 2007, third in their group in 2000 and second in their group in 1995.
Amone makes it a hattrick
Papua New Guinea
Squad: Wellington Albert (London Broncos), Jacob Alick (Gold Coast Titans), Keven Appo (PNG Hunters), Watson Boas (Doncaster), Xavier Coates (Melbourne Storm), Edene Gebbie (Townsville Blackhawks), Edwin Ipape (Leigh Centurions), Zev John (Central Queensland Capras), Alex Johnston (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Lachlan Lam (Leigh Centurions), Kyle Laybutt (Townsville Blackhawks), Nene Macdonald (Leigh Centurions), Rhyse Martin (Leeds Rhinos), Sylvester Namo (PNG Hunters), Jimmy Ngutlik (Wests Magpies), Justin Olam (Melbourne Storm), Nixon Putt (Central Queensland Capras), Daniel Russell (Brisbane Tigers), Jeremiah Simbiken (Redcliffe Dolphins), Rodrick Tai (PNG Hunters), Sherwin Tanabi (PNG Hunters), Wesser Tenza (PNG Hunters), Emmanuel Waine (PNG Hunters), McKenzie Yei (Central Queensland Capras)
Key player: Without doubt, much rests on the shoulders of Melbourne Storm superstar Justin Olam, whose rugby league journey from the Digicel Cup to Queensland's Hostplus Cup and on to the NRL has inspired millions. While his defence is much celebrated, as is his hard running, Olam also has plenty of creativity to his game as was demonstrated by some of his deft kicks for the Storm when on the attack. Opposition sides will need to be on their game to contain him.
Strengths: The Kumuls head into this tournament with perhaps the best preparation, with many in the squad having recently competed in the Prime Minister’s XIII match against the Australian selection. That would have given coach Stanley Tepend plenty to work with, and coupled with the inclusion of the side’s NRL regulars including Olam, Xavier Coates and Alex Johnston, there are plenty of positives for PNG.
Match Highlights: Papua New Guinea v Fiji
Weaknesses: While the entire squad are whole-hearted performers who can lift to play beyond their weight (see Kyle Laybutt up against all challengers during the recent Pacific Test against Fiji), the forward pack do lack some size, especially when compared to their group mates Tonga. However, crowd favourite McKenzie Yei and his fellow front rowers will be keen to aim up to show what they can do when up against NRL regulars.
History at World Cup: Everyone in rugby league knows how important the game is to Papua New Guineans and that is reflected in the country's long history of contesting the Rugby League World Cup, dating back to 1985-1988. They featured as quarter finalists in 2000 and again in 2017 as their best finishes, however, they will be pushing to secure that elusive semi final appearance this tournament.
Wales
Squad: Caleb Aekins (Leigh Centurions), Bailey Antrobus (York City Knights), Gavin Bennion (Rochdale Hornets), Joe Burke (West Wales Raiders), Chester Butler (Bradford Bulls), Mike Butt (Swinton Lions), Connor Davies (Workington Town), Curtis Davies (Whitehaven), Rhys Evans (Bradford Bulls), Will Evans (Whitehaven), Kyle Evans (Wakefield Trinity), Ben Evans (Bradford Bulls), Dan Fleming (Featherstone Rovers), Matty Fozard (Widnes Vikings), Dalton Grant (London Broncos), Tom Hopkins (Barrow Raiders), Elliot Kear (captain – Bradford Bulls), Rhodri Lloyd (Swinton Lions), James Olds (Valley Diehards), Ollie Olds (Valley Diehards), Josh Ralph (Mounties), Luis Roberts (Leigh Centurions), Anthony Walker (Bradford Bulls), Rhys Williams (Salford Red Devils)
Key player: Stalwart Rhys Williams is the highest points scorer, try scorer and most capped in the side alongside captain Elliot Kear and his knowledge of the game at that level will be vital for the squad.
Strengths: Evanses. The squad features four players named Evans, each of varying experience. Ben Evans, selected from the Bradford Bulls, is entering his 10th year representing Cymru which is no mean feat and will no doubt be sharing all he has learnt with the squad, while Kyle Evans is on debut. Ben's twin brother Rhys Evans from Bradford Bulls can play on the wing or at centre, while Will Evans, who has been playing with Whitehaven this season, has previous representative experience, with the former Burleigh Bears back a past captain of the Queensland Under 16 side.
Weaknesses: There is no getting around the lack of top-level experience in the side which for this campaign features no players from the NRL. But this will do little to dampen the enthusiasm and passion from coach John Kear and his team who always play with plenty of heart and will be looking to grab an early upset win against Cook Islands. There are also only two previously uncapped players in Caleb Aekins and Kyle Evans, so all know what is expected of them in each performance.
History at World Cup: While Wales are still a proud rugby league nation, they have found the going tough in recent outings after the historic highs of their early tournaments, including finishing third in 1975. They were semi finalists in 1995 and 2000, before finishing third in their group in both 2013 and 2017.
Cook Islands
Squad: Tevin Arona (Auckland), Tinirau Arona (Wakefield Trinity), Geoff Daniela (St Marys Saints), Johnathon Ford (Featherstone Rovers), Anthony Gelling (Auckland), Kayal Iro (Cronulla Sharks), Makahesi Makatoa (Parramatta Eels), Esan Marsters (Huddersfield Giants), Steven Marsters (Thirroul Butchers), Davvy Moale (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Tepai Moeroa (Sunshine Coast Falcons / Melbourne Storm), Dylan Napa (Catalans Dragons), Rua Ngatikaura (Wests Tigers), Moses Noovao-McGreal (Norths Devils), Pride Pettersen-Robati (Redcliffe Dolphins / Warriors), Dominique Peyroux (Toulouse Olympique), Brendan Piakura (Norths Devils / Brisbane Broncos), Reuben Porter (Tweed Heads Seagulls), Vincent Rennie (Newtown Jets), Reubenn Rennie (Newtown Jets), Brad Takairangi (Hull Kingston Rovers), Aaron Teroi (Central Queensland Capras), Zane Tetevano (Leeds Rhinos), Paul Ulberg (London Broncos)
Key player: Esan Marsters has been freshly signed to Huddersfield Giants after spending this past season splitting his time between the Gold Coast Titans and the minor premiership-winning Burleigh Bears. Marsters captained the Cook Islands and played in the halves for his side in their Pacific Test against Samoa earlier this year and will be key to guiding his team around in more ways than one.
Strengths: The Kukis have an eclectic and diverse set of forwards, and although they might not have the size across the board of their rivals, they are a mix of young and fit and experienced and wily. Both Brendan Piakura and Pride Petterson-Robati are mobile backrowers who are game fit, having recently played in the Hostplus Cup grand final, while Brad Takairangi has plenty of experience to share with his side. Former Roosters premiership winning prop Dylan Napa also has big game experience under his belt, playing in seven Origins for Queensland.
Weaknesses: The halves. While they have five-eighth Johnathon Ford from Featherstone Rovers in the squad, as mentioned, they have previously had to rely on Marsters, a noted centre, filling in at five-eighth, while Takairangi has filled the role as well. Here’s hoping they can unearth or develop more playmakers this campaign.
History at World Cup: The Cook Islands are back again for this year's tournament after missing out on qualification in 2017. In their first showing in 2000, they finished fourth in their group, and in 2013, they finished second in their group.
Stats sourced from David Middleton - League Information Services