Rugby League World Cup Awards: Biggest flop, top try, best player and more
As the Rugby League World Cup comes to a close, Brent Read hands out his awards from a tournament to remember.
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Having been delayed from when it was originally meant to be played, the Rugby League World Cup finally delivered the best the game has to offer.
From the jaw-dropping tries from some of the best finishers, to the feel-good stories out of the minnow nations and some breakout stars, and the rise and fall of a couple of Pacific powerhouses, the tournament has certainly been one to remember.
Try of the tournament: Josh Addo-Carr – Addo-Carr has scored 12 tries and counting heading into the final of the tournament but he will be hard pressed to top the stunner he scored against Scotland. It began with an errant kick from Ben Hunt that forced Matt Burton to miraculously hurl the ball back in field between his legs with his body over the sideline. Addo-Carr did the rest, kicking ahead and winning the race to the ball. Breathtaking.
Honourable mention: Stephen Crichton – The Samoan stunner scored by Crichton in the semi-final against England, which featured a brilliant pass from Junior Paulo in the lead-up. Paulo had no right to get the ball away but when he did, Jarome Luai came up with a brilliant piece of improvisation to set up Crichton.
Player of the tournament: Junior Paulo – The Samoan captain has been an inspiration for not only his teammates, but also his nation. He has been a statesman off the field and a giant on it. Luai has been electric but he can’t do what he has done without Paulo leading the way.
Honourable mention: Josh Addo-Carr – It would be a major surprise if Addo-Carr doesn’t set a try-scoring record at the end off the tournament. He only needs one four-pointer to shatter the previous record set by teammate Valentine Holmes. What a star. Let’s trot.
Biggest flop of the tournament: Tonga – The Tongans arrived with big expectations but they went home with their tail between their legs after being beaten by arch rivals Samoa in the quarterfinals. Losing was bad, losing to Samoa even worse. Back to the drawing board for Tongan coach Kristian Woolf.
Honourable mention: England – The Poms looked the goods during the pool rounds, fuelling hopes that they could win a World Cup on home soil. So much for that. They saved their worst for last as were dumped out of the tournament in golden point by Samoa. There was a collective sigh around England,
Best moment of the tournament: Jamaica – There has been lots of talk about the lopsided scorelines at the World Cup but you would go a long way to find a better moment than when Ben Jones-Bishop scooped up the ball and scored in the dying minutes against New Zealand. The Reggae boys were on the board.
Honourable mention: Samoa v Tonga – The Pacific island nations are mortal enemies on the field but it is a unique relationship that is also fuelled by a deep respect for each other. You only had to watch the spine-tingling moment when they conducted their respective war cries in unison. How good.
Coming of age moment: Dominic Young – The Newcastle winger arrived in England off the back of a solid season for the Knights but he was rampant at the World Cup. Young scored tries for fun as England cruised though the opening rounds of the premiership. He and England faltered at the penultimate hurdle, but a star was born.
Honourable mention: Khaled Rajab – Rajab wasn’t exactly a household name when he arrived at the World Cup but he gave Canterbury reason for hope as he stepped into the shoes of Adam Doueihi and pulled the strings for Lebanon. Rajab spoke afterwards about his love for Canterbury and bleeding blue and white. Bulldogs fans were frothing.
Tearjerker moment: Shaun Wane – Wane can be an intimidating and gruff presence but it was hard not to feel some sympathy for the England coach after his side was eliminated in the semi-finals at the hands of Samoa. Wane choked back tears in the press conference afterwards.
Honourable mention: Liam Hampson tribute – Kangaroos players wore black armbands and held a minute’s silence after Dolphins player Liam Hampson passed away in Spain while on holidays. Hampson was good mates with Kangaroos forward Patrick Carrigan and the Brisbane forward leaned on his teammates to help him absorb the devastation.
Story of the tournament: Lebanon – The Lebanese side were fantastic to watch on the field but they outdid themselves off the field when they performed a citizen’s arrest on a clown who had found his way into their team room. Earlier in the week, laptops and the team kit was stolen from the room. They weren’t going to let it happen again. When an intruder wandered into their room, a group of Lebanon players chased him down the street. They caught him too.
Honourable mention: Wheelchair rugby league – Not much was known about wheelchair rugby league before the World Cup but the sport went viral after footage appeared on social media. Ratings have soared and the sport has taken off.
He had it coming award: James Bentley – The Ireland forward found himself on the wrong end of the wrath of Victor Radley after turning up at the England team hotel after their elimination from the World Cup. If you listen to those who were there on the night, Bentley had it coming. He was being an a-grade pest. If it wasn’t Radley, it would have been one of his English teammates.
Honourable mention: Samoan critics - the Samoan were written off after their first game against England but regrouped and found a way back, beating arch rivals Tonga and hosts England in the process. They are now in the final. That’s some way to answer your critics
TOP SIX BREAKOUT STARS OF THE WORLD CUP
From whiz kid Tongan halfback and Dolphins signing Isaiya Katoa to powerhouse Fiji and Sydney Roosters back-rower Siua Wong and young Lebanon and Canterbury playmaker Khaled Rajab, here are six breakout stars who caught our eye at the Rugby League World Cup.
Sunia Turuva (Fiji)
Club: Panthers
Turuva made his debut for Penrith earlier this year, having agreed a new deal with the club despite interest from several of their rivals, including the Dolphins. It looks like the Panthers have another star on their hands. Turuva was named in the team of the tournament after helping Fiji to the quarterfinals, beating the likes of James Tedesco and Joseph Suaalii to the role. That alone tells you how well he played.
Khaled Rajab (Lebanon)
Club: Bulldogs
Rajab got his start when Adam Doueihi was suspended against Ireland and he didn’t let anyone down. The Canterbury half ripped Ireland to shreds, walking away from the game having got the better of his direct opponent, Luke Keary. Rajab has been a star in the Canterbury system and don’t be surprised if he makes his first grade debut next season given his talent and the Bulldogs’ ongoing search for a stable halves partner for Matt Burton.
Joseph Suaalii (Samoa)
Club: Roosters
Suaalii came to the World Cup with big expectations after pledging his allegiance to Samoa at the expense of the Australian team. The 19-year-old has been one of the players of the tournament, winning plaudits and praise from Samoa’s opponents for his fearless running style and thirst for work. There were some critics of his work at fullback after Samoa lost to England in their opening pool game but they have gone silent now as Suaalii becomes the focal point of the Kangaroos’ concerns heading into Sunday morning’s (AEDT) final.
Jack Welsby (England)
Club: St Helens
Welsby is well known in England, where he is a star with St Helens, but he was a relative unknown in Australia. His performances at the World Cup have put him on the radar of every NRL team. He formed a potent tandem with former Canberra No.7 George Williams in the halves for England as the hosts qualified for the semi-finals, only to lose to Samoa. Welsby has a long-term agreement with Saints but don’t be surprised at some point in his career if he ends up in the NRL.
Isaiya Katoa (Tonga)
Club: Dolphins
The 18-year-old half wasn’t expected to play a major role for Tonga at the World Cup. How wrong we were. Tongan coach Kristian Woolf showed what he thought of Katoa when he handed him the starting role in their quarterfinal against Samoa. Katoa more than held his own as he became a defensive target for the Samoans and their hard-running back rower Jaydn Su’A. If there were any concerns over his ability to handle the defensive demands of the NRL, he answered them over 80 minutes against Tonga’s bitter island rivals.
Siua Wong (Fiji)
Club: Sydney Roosters
There have been huge raps around Wong for some time now and he showed why with his displays for Fiji at the World Cup. The Dolphins went big for Wong, offering him a deal that would have made him among the highest-paid teenagers in the game. The 19-year-old instead committed his future to the Sydney Roosters and coach Trent Robinson has a good one on his hands. Wong is yet to make his first grade debut - he was part of the Roosters’ extended squad at times last season - but it seems only a matter of time given the way he handled himself at the World Cup.
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