How Rugby League World Cup will play out
BREAKDOWN OF 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP
POOL A (Top three progress)
AUSTRALIA (Ranked 1st)
Tournaments: 14, Wins: 10
Even without Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott and Andrew Fifita, still have the best all-round team in the competition. Only Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Boyd Cordner remain from their 2013 success.
Prediction: Hard to see them getting beaten for their 11th title after New Zealand's pre-tournament struggles.
ENGLAND (Ranked 3rd)
Tournaments: 5, Wins: 0
Beefed up forward pack with James Graham along with Sam and Tom Burgess. Josh Hodgson will be dangerous at hooker, while Gareth Widdop and Luke Gale were both the top-ranked playmakers in the NRL and English Super League MVP tallies this year.
Prediction: Will likely finish second in the pool and set up a semi-final date with New Zealand. Should make the final.
FRANCE (Ranked 6th)
Tournaments: 14, Wins: 0
Have picked eight players from their English Super League club Catalans, while St Helens five-eighth Theo Fages will steer the ship in the halves. Ben Garcia - who once had a Penrith contract - could be dangerous in the second row after a breakthrough ESL season.
Prediction: Progression will depend on their group clash with Lebanon in Canberra on the first Sunday of the tournament. Tough ask but should succeed.
LEBANON (Ranked 21st)
Tournaments: 1, Wins: 0
Lowest ranked team but have Robbie Farah, Mitchell Moses and Michael Lichaa to steer their attack. Forward pack will also be bolstered by Tim Mannah and Alex Twal, but they are inexperienced in the backs.
Prediction: Will come down to first clash against France on November 29. Hard to see them progressing.
POOL B (Top three progress)
NEW ZEALAND (Ranked 2nd)
Tournaments: 14, Wins: 1
Rocked by injuries, suspensions and Tongan withdrawals, meaning they're without Jason Taumalolo, Jesse Bromwich, Kieran Foran, Kevin Proctor and Tohu Harris. Much of the pressure will now fall on Shaun Johnson, while their forwards will be competitive without being dominant.
Prediction: Should still finish first in groups, but will be tough to beat England in the semi-final or compete with Australia.
SAMOA (Ranked 5th)
Tournaments: 4, Wins: 0
Have a mean forward pack with Josh Papalii, Junior Paulo and Frank Pritchard up front, but will need to get plenty out of unassuming halves Ben Roberts and Fa'amanu Brown.
Prediction: Should progress out of group but the clash with Tonga is vital if are to avoid a death wish against Australia in the quarter-finals.
SCOTLAND (Ranked 4th)
Tournaments: 3, Wins: 0
Tough task ahead of them after Tonga and Samoa were bolstered by Australian rejects and New Zealand withdrawals. Named their youngest-ever squad after a number of injuries, but still have halfback Danny Brough and forward Luke Douglas.
Prediction: Hard to see them backing up their quarter-final finish at last World Cup.
TONGA (Ranked 11th)
Tournaments: 4, Wins: 0
Named a star-studded squad that includes Jason Taumalolo, Andrew Fifita, Michael Jennings, Will Hopoate, Konrad Hurrell, Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Manu Ma'u. But it'll be on halves Tuimoala Lolohea and Ata Hingano to tie it all together.
Prediction: Should be aiming for a semi-final finish. Their November 11 clash with New Zealand will be one of the treats of the tournament.
POOL C (Top team progress, with crossover game)
IRELAND (Ranked 7th)
Tournaments: 3, Wins: 0
Former English international Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook will be joined by experienced campaigned Kyle Amor and former NRL player James Hasson in a veteran forward pack. Wakefield teammates Liam Finn and Scott Grix will spark creativity in their third World Cups.
Prediction: Tough ask to get out of the group, but will enhance their chances with a crossover win against Italy first up.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA (Ranked 15th)
Tournaments: 6, Wins: 0
James Segeyaro will provide the spark out of dummy-half for the 10 players selected from the Queensland Cup winning PNG Hunters squad. Watch for Luke Page to have a big impact in defence.
Prediction: Should carry the momentum out of their team's Queensland Cup win to reach the quarter-finals, where they'll likely face a difficult England.
WALES (Ranked 9th)
Tournaments: 4, Wins: 0
Injury has robbed Wales of ESL stars Ben Flower, Rhys Evan and Lloyd White, while leading prop Gil Dudson is also unavailable. Salford's Craig Kopczac will drive their forwards, while youngsters Regan Grace and Morgan Knowles also played in the top flight this year.
Prediction: Will struggle to progress from the groups, but their crossover game against the USA should be the easiest from their pool.
POOL D (Top team progress, with crossover game)
FIJI (Ranked 8th)
Tournaments: 4, Wins: 0
Have 19 players with NRL experience, headlined by fullback Jarryd Hayne and 2017 leading try-scorer Suliasi Vunivalu. Akuila Uate will also be a threat on the other wing, as will hooker Apisai Koroisau.
Prediction: Should make it out of the group stage, and will then hope to beat Tonga or Samoa in the quarter-finals.
ITALY (Ranked 14th)
Tournaments: 1, Wins: 0
James Tedesco will aim to prove a point at fullback for the Azzurri after missing Australian selection. Paul Vaughan, Nathan Brown, Mark Minichiello and Daniel Alvaro headline their forward pack while ex-Canberra half Terry Campese returns in halves.
Prediction: Should get through the USA to create a virtual sudden-death clash with Fiji in their last group match. It'll be a tough ask.
UNITED STATES (Ranked 10th)
Tournaments: 10, Wins: 1
Shocked the tournament to make the quarter-finals in 2013, but without Junior Paulo, the Gold Coast's Eddy Pettybourne is their only player with top-flight club experience.
Prediction: It's hard to see them winning a game, let alone backing up 2013's run.
