Rugby League World Cup outright betting tips & predictions

The 2022 Rugby League World Cup will be held in England, beginning on October 15 and ending on November 19. Originally intended to be held in 2021, the tournament was delayed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The delay has only created what should be one of the most hotly contested Rugby League World Cups ever. This year 16 teams have been assembled from around the world and will descend on England to be crowned the best rugby league nation on the planet.

BEST BET TO WIN: NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand come into this World Cup as one of the nations in the hottest form. The Kiwis have named the likes of Joe Tapine, Scott Sorenson, Isaiah Papali’i, and Joseph Manu who have been in some of the best forms of their careers. Tapine, Sorenson and Papali’i will be some of the men tasked with laying the platform in the middle third of the field for their nation, which will be even more important in England should the weather turn poor.

Of the back of the forwards, Manu will be one of the most dynamic and influential players for the Kiwis. With halves pairing Jahrome Hughes and Dylan Brown in the side, the sky is the absolute limit for this Kiwis side.

BIGGEST LAY TO WIN: AUSTRALIA

It’s not unfamiliar to see the Australian Kangaroos come into the World Cup as red-hot favourites. The biggest hurdle Australia face is the unfamiliarity players will have with their team mates. More than half a dozen players named in the squad are yet to play for their nation and have never played together as a team.

Australia’s greatest weakness could also be their greatest strength. Looking at the squad selected by coach Mal Meninga, there does not appear to be a clear-cut plan of the exact roles each player will have. This unpredictability will be something the Kangaroos need to lean into as they have players like Jack Wighton, Latrell Mitchell, Jeremiah Nanai and Matt Burton who can break any game open at the drop of a hat.

BEST VALUE BET: MATE MA’A TONGA

The Tongan national side come into this Rugby League World Cup in the best form of the nation’s proud history. The Tongans will be looking to build on what they began in 2017 to win their first Rugby League World Cup.

This side has improved vastly from the one that beat New Zealand in 2017 with the addition of players like David Fifita, Keaon Koloamatangi, Will Penisini and Siosifa Talakai. On paper, this is one of, if not the physically strongest nation in the World Cup. Tonga will surely rely on this brutal strength and aggression to beat their opponents, and they have the talent in the outside backs to capitalise on any in roads made in the middle of the field.

CAN’T WIN: ENGLAND

Hopes will be high for the home nation as they hope to record what would be a fairy tale win for them. England ($11) have had an issue in recent years of converting home field advantage in World Cups to victories, and they will struggle again in the RLWC.

While England have named John Bateman, Tom Burgess, Herbie Farnworth and Victor Radley in their squad, they largely appear to be out of their depth class wise. Many of the selections may have come from strong Super League clubs in England, but that has shown to be on many occasions a lower standard than the NRL level and the English side could really struggle to keep up with some of the other nations in this competition.

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