2008 Rugby League World Cup squads

2008 World Cup
Number of teams	10
Host country	Australia
Winner	New Zealand (1st title)
Matches played	18
Attendance	293,965 (16,331 per match)
Points scored	890 (49.44 per match)
Top scorer	Johnathan Thurston[1] (50)
Top try scorer	Billy Slater[2] (7)
Tournaments  < 2000 2013 >

The 2008 Rugby League World Cup featured the national teams (selected from twenty-four-man squads) of ten nations: Australia, England, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, France, Scotland, Ireland, Samoa, and Tonga.^[3][4]

Pool A

Australia

Head Coach: Ricky Stuart
Assistant coaches: John Cartwright and Allan Langer^[5]

Player	Games	Points	Position	Club
Darren Lockyer (capt)	4	8	FE	Brisbane Broncos
Darius Boyd^1	1	0	WG	Brisbane Broncos
Terry Campese	1	0	FE	Canberra Raiders
Petero Civoniceva	4	0	PR	Penrith Panthers
Craig Fitzgibbon	3	0	SR	Sydney Roosters
Israel Folau	5	8	CE	Melbourne Storm
Paul Gallen	5	4	SR	Cronulla Sharks
Kurt Gidley	1	0	UB	Newcastle Knights
Karmichael Hunt^1	3	0	FB	Brisbane Broncos
Greg Inglis	4	24	UB	Melbourne Storm
Brent Kite	5	0	PR	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Anthony Laffranchi	4	8	SR	Gold Coast Titans
Joel Monaghan	5	16	CE	Canberra Raiders
Josh Perry	3	0	PR	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Steve Price	4	0	PR	New Zealand Warriors
Scott Prince	2	24	HB	Gold Coast Titans
Billy Slater	4	28	FB	Melbourne Storm
Cameron Smith	5	2	HK	Melbourne Storm
Glenn Stewart	4	0	SR	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Brent Tate	4	8	CE	New Zealand Warriors
Johnathan Thurston	4	50	HB	North Queensland Cowboys
Anthony Tupou^2	5	4	SR	Sydney Roosters
Anthony Watmough	2	0	SR	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
David Williams	2	16	WG	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

¹ Replaced originally selected Brett Stewart and Justin Hodges who withdrew on 16 October.^[6]

² Replaced originally selected Michael Crocker who withdrew due to injury on 9 October.^[7]

England

Head Coach: Tony Smith /
Asst. coach: Steve McNamara

Player	Games	Points	Position	Club
Jamie Peacock (capt)	4	4	PR	Leeds Rhinos
Rob Burrow	4	22	SH	Leeds Rhinos
Mark Calderwood	3	0	WG	Wigan Warriors
Gareth Ellis	4	0	SR	Leeds Rhinos
Maurie Fa'asavalu	2	0	PR	St Helens
Ade Gardner	3	8	WG	St Helens
Martin Gleeson	4	12	CE	Warrington Wolves
James Graham	3	0	PR	St Helens
Mickey Higham	2	4	HK	Warrington Wolves
Gareth Hock	4	0	SR	Wigan Warriors
Jamie Jones-Buchanan	1	0	SR	Leeds Rhinos
Jamie Langley	1	0	LF	Bradford Bulls
Danny McGuire	3	8	FE	Leeds Rhinos
Adrian Morley	4	0	PR	Warrington Wolves
Leon Pryce	3	0	SO	St Helens
Rob Purdham	2	0	LF	Harlequins RL
James Roby	3	4	HK	St Helens
Keith Senior	4	0	CE	Leeds Rhinos
Kevin Sinfield	3	8	LK	Leeds Rhinos
Lee Smith	2	12	WG	Leeds Rhinos
Paul Sykes	1	0	CE	Bradford Bulls
Paul Wellens	4	0	FB	St Helens
Ben Westwood	1	0	SR	Warrington Wolves
Jon Wilkin	3	0	SR	St Helens

New Zealand

Head coach: Stephen Kearney
Asst. coach: Wayne Bennett

Player	Games	Points	Position	Club
Nathan Cayless (capt)	4	0	PR	Parramatta Eels
Adam Blair	5	8	PR	Melbourne Storm
Greg Eastwood	5	4	LK	Brisbane Broncos
David Fa'alogo	4	4	SR	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Nathan Fien	5	4	UH	New Zealand Warriors
Dene Halatau	1	0	HK	Wests Tigers
Bronson Harrison^1	3	4	SR	Wests Tigers
Lance Hohaia	5	16	UH	New Zealand Warriors
Krisnan Inu	1	10	UB	Parramatta Eels
David Kidwell	1	0	SR	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Thomas Leuluai	5	0	HB	Wigan Warriors
Issac Luke	4	16	HK	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Simon Mannering	5	8	SR	New Zealand Warriors
Sika Manu	4	4	PR	Melbourne Storm
Benji Marshall	5	14	FE	Wests Tigers
Steve Matai	2	2	CE	Manly Sea Eagles
Jason Nightingale^2	1	4	WG	St. George Illawarra Dragons
Sam Perrett	4	12	UB	Sydney Roosters
Sam Rapira	4	0	PR	New Zealand Warriors
Jerome Ropati	5	16	CE	New Zealand Warriors
Setaimata Sa	1	0	CE	Sydney Roosters
Jeremy Smith	5	12	SR	Melbourne Storm
Evarn Tuimavave^2	1	0	PR	New Zealand Warriors
Manu Vatuvei	5	16	WG	New Zealand Warriors

¹ Replaced originally named Iosia Soliola who withdrew due to injury on 21 October.^[8]

² Replaced originally named Brent Webb and Jeff Lima who withdrew due to injury on 7 October.^[9]

Papua New Guinea

Head Coach: Adrian Lam ^[10][11]

Player	Games	Points	Position	Club
John Wilshire (capt)	3	10	UB	Salford City Reds
David Moore	3	0	WG	Gold Coast Titans
George Keppa	2	8	WG	Norths Devils
Stanley Gene	3	0	LK	Hull Kingston Rovers
Keith Peters	3	0	HB	Penrith Panthers
Charlie Wabo	2	0	PR	Mabey & Johnson Muruks
Rodney Pora	1	0	PR	Mabey & Johnson Muruks
George Moni	2	0	SR	Mabey & Johnson Muruks
Nickson Kolo	1	0	CE	Masta Mark City Rangers
Paul Aiton	3	4	HK	Penrith Panthers
Jessie Joe Parker	3	0	FE	Masta Mark City Rangers
Makali Aizue	2	0	PR	Hull Kingston Rovers
Trevor Exton	3	0	SR	Ipswich Jets
Neville Costigan	3	0	SR	Canberra Raiders
James Nightingale	3	0	LK	Penrith Panthers
Rod Griffin	3	4	LK	Northern Pride
Larsen Marabe	0	0	FB	Agmark Gurias
Kevin Prior	1	0	CE	Wentworthville Magpies
Jay Aston	1	0	SR	Melbourne Storm
Tu'u Maori	3	0	WG	Sydney Roosters
Menzie Yere	1	4	FE	Agmark Gurias
Jason Chan	3	4	CE	Windsor Wolves
Nico Slain	1	0	HK	Bintangor Lahanis
Anton Kui	1	0	HB	Bingtangor Lahanis

Pool B

Fiji

Head Coach: Joe Dakuitoga

Player	Games	Points	Position	Club
Wes Naiqama (capt)	4	32	WG	Newcastle Knights
Nick Bradley-Qalilawa	4	0	WG	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Jayson Bukuya	4	8	CE	Cronulla Sharks
Iowane Divavesi	2	4	PR	Terrigal Sharks
Aaron Groom	4	0	HB	Bulldogs
Jarryd Hayne	4	12	FB/WG/FE	Parramatta Eels
Sevania Koroi	4	0	CE/LK	Western Suburbs Magpies
Josua Koroibulu	0	0		Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs
Jone Macilai	1	0	CE/FB/WG	Fassifern RLFC
Daryl Millard	3	0	CE	Bulldogs
Vula Louis Dakuitoga Naqau	0	0		Terrigal Sharks
Kaliova Nauqe	2	0		Fassifern RLFC
Alipate Noilea	3	0	FE	Parkes Spacemen
Josateki Ravueta				Sawtell Panthers
Osea Sadrau	4	0	PR	Fassifern RLFC
Ashton Sims	4	0	PR	Brisbane Broncos
James Storer	3	0		Cronulla Sharks
Nemani Suguturaga	0	0		Nabua Broncos
Waisale Sukanaveita	4	0	HK	Terrigal Sharks
Semi Tadulala	4	8	WG	Bradford Bulls
Semisi Tora	4	4	LK	Parkes Spacemen
Malakai Yalimaiwai Tuiloa				Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs
Akuila Uate	4	20	WG	Newcastle Knights
Ilisoni Vonomateiratu	4	0	PR	Lautoka Crushers
Jone Wesele	2	0		Darlington Point

France

Head Coach: John Monie

Player	Games	Points	Position	Club
Jérôme Guisset (capt)	3	12	PR	Catalans Dragons
Éric Anselme	2	0	CE	Leeds Rhinos
Jean-Philippe Baile	1	0	CE	Catalans Dragons
Jean-Christophe Borlin	1	0	FR	Saint-Gaudens Bears
Thomas Bosc	3	16	FE	Catalans Dragons
Laurent Carrasco	2	0	LK	Toulouse Olympique
Rémi Casty	2	0	PR	Catalans Dragons
Olivier Elima	3	0	SR	Catalans Dragons
Jamal Fakir	3	0	SR	Catalans Dragons
Adel Fellous	2	0	PR	Widnes Vikings
Maxime Grésèque	2	0	HB	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Mathieu Griffi	1	0	FR	Catalans Dragons
Christophe Moly	3	4	UH/UB	AS Carcassonne
Grégory Mounis	3	0	LK	Catalans Dragons
Justin Murphy	2	0	WG	Catalans Dragons
Dimitri Pelo	2	0	WG	Catalans Dragons
Sébastien Planas	1	4	WG	Toulouse Olympique
Sébastien Raguin	3	4	SR	Catalans Dragons
Julien Rinaldi	1	0	HB	Harlequins Rugby League
Teddy Sadaoui	3	0	CE	AS Carcassonne
Jared Taylor	3	4	FB	Lézignan Sangliers
John Wilson	3	8	CE	Catalans Dragons
James Wynne	2	0	HB	Toulouse Olympique

Scotland

Except for Edinburgh Eagles stand-off Paddy Couper, all of the Scottish team's players were selected under the grandparent rule.^[12]

Head Coach: Steve McCormack

Player	Games	Points	Position	Club
Danny Brough (capt)	2	12	HB	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Chris Armit	3	0	PR	Bulldogs
Dean Colton	1	4	WG	Doncaster
Paddy Coupar[13]	1	0	HB/CE	Edinburgh Eagles
Gavin Cowan	2	0	CE	Easts Tigers
John Duffy	3	0	HB	Widnes Vikings
Ben Fisher	2	0	HK	Hull Kingston Rovers
Andrew Henderson	3	0	HK	Castleford Tigers
Ian Henderson	3	0	HK	New Zealand Warriors
Kevin Henderson	3	0	CE	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Jack Howieson	1	0	PR	Sheffield Eagles
Paul Jackson	2	0	PR	Huddersfield Giants
Wade Liddell	2	0	FB	Easts Tigers
Scott Logan	3	0	PR	Canberra Raiders
Neil Lowe	1	0	SR	Keighley Cougars
Dave McConnell	1	0	HK	Leigh Centurions
Duncan MacGillivray	2	0	SR	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Iain Morrison	3	0	SR	Widnes Vikings
Gareth Morton	1	0	CE	Oldham Roughyeds
Mick Nanyn	3	0	CE	Oldham Roughyeds
Lee Paterson	1	0	FE	Widnes Vikings
Michael Robertson	3	4	WG	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Jon Steel	2	8	WG	Hull Kingston Rovers
Oliver Wilkes	3	8	PR	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

Pool C

Ireland

Head Coach: Andy Kelly

Player	Games	Points	Position	Club
Scott Grix (capt)	3	4	FB	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Ross Barbour	0	0	CE	Carlow Crusaders
Bob Beswick	3	0	LK	Halifax RLFC
Damien Blanch	3	20	WG	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Mick Cassidy	1	0	SR	Barrow Raiders
Ged Corcoran	1	0	PR	Sheffield Eagles
Lee Doran	3	0	SR	Widnes Vikings
Liam Finn	3	4	HB	Dewsbury Rams
Simon Finnigan	3	4	SR	Huddersfield Giants
Karl Fitzpatrick	3	0	FB	Salford City Reds
Stevie Gibbons	0	0	WG	London Skolars
Sean Gleeson	3	4	CE	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Brendan Guilfoyle	0	0	PR	Treaty City Titans
Gareth Haggerty	3	0	PR	Harlequins RL
Ben Harrison	3	0	PR	Warrington Wolves
Graham Holroyd	0	0	FE	Halifax RLFC
Wayne Kerr	1	0	PR	London Skolars
Stuart Littler	3	0	CE	Salford City Reds
Michael McIllorum	3	0	HK	Wigan Warriors
Shayne McMenemy	0	0	SR	WA Reds
Eamon O'Carroll	3	0	PR	Wigan Warriors
Michael Platt	3	4	FB	Bradford Bulls
Pat Richards	3	28	WG	Wigan Warriors
Ryan Tandy	3	0	PR	Wests Tigers

• Brett White was originally named but withdrew due to injury on 9 October. He was replaced by Brendan Guilfoyle.^[14]
• Shannon McDonnell has also withdrawn due to injury. He was replaced by Shayne McMenemy.^[15][16]

Samoa

Head Coach: John Ackland

Player	Games	Points	Position	Club
Nigel Vagana (capt)	2	8	CE	South Sydney Rabbitohs
George Carmont	3	8	WG/CE	Wigan Warriors
David Faiumu	0	0	HK	North Queensland Cowboys
Harrison Hansen	3	0	SR	Wigan Warriors
Ali Lauitiiti	3	0	SR	Leeds Rhinos
Tuaalagi Lepupa	0	0		Marist Saints
Kylie Leuluai	2	0	PR	Leeds Rhinos
Wayne McDade	2	0	PR	Auckland Vulcans
Francis Meli	3	8	WG	St Helens RLFC
Joseph Paulo	3	4	SR/FE	Penrith Panthers
Frank Puletua	3	4	PR	Penrith Panthers
Tony Puletua	3	0	SR	Penrith Panthers
Ben Roberts	3	18	HB/FE	Bulldogs
Tangi Ropati	1	0	FB	Easts Tigers
Smith Samau	3	0	WG	Gold Coast Titans
Lagi Setu	2	0	SR	St. George Illawarra Dragons
Terrence Seu Seu	3	0	HK	Cronulla Sharks
David Solomona	2	4	SR	Bradford Bulls
Willie Talau	2	0	CE	St Helens RLFC
Alby Talipeau	2	0	HB	Souths Logan Magpies
Misi Taulapapa	2	8	WG	Cronulla Sharks
Ben Te'o	1	8	SR	Wests Tigers
Tupu Ulufale	0	0		Marist Saints
Matt Utai	3	8	WG	Bulldogs

Tonga

Head Coach: Jim Dymock

Player	Games	Points	Position	Club
Lopini Paea (capt)	3	0	PR	Sydney Roosters
Andrew Emelio	1	0	CE	Canterbury Bulldogs
Richard Fa'aoso	2	0	SR	Newcastle Knights
Awen Guttenbeil	1	0	SR	Castleford Tigers
Michael Jennings	3	12	CE	Penrith Panthers
Antonio Kaufusi	3	0	SR	Melbourne Storm
Toshio Laiseni	1	0	FB	Newtown Jets
Taniela Lasalo	0	0	WG	Parramatta Eels
Epalahame Lauaki	3	0	SR	New Zealand Warriors
Tevita Leo-Latu	3	4	HK	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Willie Manu	3	0	SR	Hull
Manase Manuokafoa	2	0	SR	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Feleti Mateo	3	4	SR	Parramatta Eels
Sam Moa	3	0	PR	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Eddie Paea	2	6	HB	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Mickey Paea	1	0	SR	Sydney Roosters
Fetuli Talanoa	3	4	WG	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Joel Taufa'ao	1	4	HB	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Esikeli Tonga	2	4	FB	Gold Coast Titans
Etuate Uaisele	3	8	WG	Parramatta Eels
Kim Uasi	2	0	HK	Auckland Vulcans
Cooper Vuna	3	12	WG	Newcastle Knights
Tony Williams	3	24	WG	Parramatta Eels

• Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki were originally named for Tonga but were ruled ineligible by the Rugby League International Federation after both switched from Tonga to New Zealand in 2007. A New South Wales court later ruled that they could join the team after 12 November, making them available if Tonga made the Semi Finals.^[17][18]
• Fraser and Louis Anderson both were originally named but withdrew due to injury. They were replaced by Kim Usai and Sam Moa.
• Anthony Tupou was originally named but withdrew on 9 October after being called into the Australian squad.^[7]

Welcome to Country

As part of the official opening of the World Cup on 26 October, an exhibition game was played between an Aboriginal selection and a New Zealand Māori side.^[19]

Indigenous Dreamtime Team

Head Coach: Neil Henry

Player	Games	Points	Position	Club
Rhys Wesser	1	8	FB	Penrith Panthers
Justin Carney	1	4	WG	Canberra Raiders
Maurice Blair	1	0	CE	Penrith Panthers
Jamal Idris	1	0	CE	Bulldogs
Ty Williams	1	0	WG	North Queensland Cowboys
Jamie Soward	1	10	FE	St George Illawarra Dragons
Preston Campbell (capt)	1	0	HB	Gold Coast Titans
Carl Webb	1	0	PR	North Queensland Cowboys
Ian Lacey	1	0	HK	Ipswich Jets
George Rose	1	0	PR	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Daine Laurie	1	0	SR	Wests Tigers
Derrick Watkins	1	0	SR	Brisbane Broncos
Dean Widders	1	0	LK	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Chris Sandow	1	0	HB	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Rod Jensen	1	8	UB	Huddersfield Giants
Yileen Gordon	1	4	CE	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Peter Jensen	1	0	UB	CRL
Denis Moran	0	0	HB	Narwan Eels

New Zealand Māori

Head Coach: Luke Goodwin ^[20][21]

Player	Games	Points	Position	Club
Bronx Goodwin	1	4	FB,WG	Canberra Raiders
Jordan Rapana	1	4	WG	Gold Coast Titans
Chase Stanley	1	6	CE	St George Illawarra Dragons
Karl Johnson	1	0	CE	Central Comets
Shaun Kenny-Dowall	1	4	WG,CE	Sydney Roosters
Arana Taumata	1	4	FE	Bulldogs
Rangi Chase	1	0	HB,FE	St George Illawarra Dragons
Weller Hauraki	1	0	PR	Parramatta Eels
Ben Ellis (capt)	1	0	HK	St George Illawarra Dragons
Sam McKendry	1	4	FR	Penrith Panthers
Wairangi Koopu	1	0	S1	New Zealand Warriors
Craig Smith	1	0	S2	Unattached
Lee Te Maari	1	0	LF,S1	Bulldogs
Charlie Herekotukutuku	1	0	FB,WG,HB	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Joseph Cahill	1	0		Sydney Roosters
Chance Bunce	1	0		Cronulla Sharks
James Tamou	1	0	HK	Sydney Roosters
Kevin Proctor	0	0	SR	Melbourne Storm

Notes and references

Positions

Northern Hemisphere terms	Southern Hemisphere terms
FB — Fullback WG — Wing CE — Centre SO — Stand-off SH — Scrum-half PR — Prop HK — Hooker SR — Second-Row LF — Loose-forward UB — Utility Back N/A	FB — Fullback WG — Wing CE — Centre FE — Five-Eighth HB — Halfback PR — Prop HK — Hooker SR — Second-Row LK — Lock UB — Utility Back UH — Utility Half

References

1. Top point scorer
2. Top try scorers
3. Two More Vodafone Warriors in World Cup Teams @ NZ Warriors, 8 October 2008.
4. Fiji, Ireland, Samoa, Scotland and Tonga sides @ Official RLWC08 site, 8 October 2008.
5. skysports.com (9 November 2008). "Evergreen Gene bows out". Sky Sports (UK: BSkyB). Retrieved 6 March 2011.
6. Broncos duo join Kangaroos @ NRL Official Site, 16 Oct 2008
7. Tupou a Kangaroo again, replaces Crocker @ NRL Official website, 9 Oct 2008
8. Geenty, Mark (22 October 2008). "League: Shattered Soliola out of World Cup". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
9. Tuimavave becomes Seventh Vodafone Warrior in Kiwis World Cup Squad @ NZ Warriors, 9 October 2008.
10. PNG will shock big guns, says Costigan @ NRL Official site, 13 Oct 2008
11. Kumuls get Pidgin lesson @ NRL Official site, 21 Oct 2008
12. Roberts, Chris (2008-10-25). "Scotland side for Rugby League of Nations has one home-bred Scot". Scottish Daily Record (dailyrecord.co.uk). Retrieved 2009-11-21.
13. Paddy Coupar a true Braveheart @ NRL Official Site, 17 Oct 2008
14. White withdraws from Ireland WCup squad @ NRL Official website, 9 Oct 2008
15. Ireland seething over treatment @ NZ Herald, 14 Oct 2008.
16. Ireland suffer White injury blow @ BBC, 9 October 2008
17. Moimoi, Tuiaki cannot play for Tonga @ NRL Official website, 11 Oct 2008
18. Tonga welcome court ruling on NRL duo @ RLWC Official Website, 28 October 2008
19. Indigenous Dreamtime team named @ Official RLWC08 site, 11 October 2008.
20. NZ Maori name coaching staff for World Cup curtain raiser @ RL World Cup, 14 June 2008. Accessed 2009-06-24. Archived 2009-07-23.
21. Maori side to play Indigenous @ RLWC08 Official Site, 22 October 2008.

External links

• "World Cup team guide" at guardian.co.uk