Key Points
- World Cup Starts On November 15
- Australia to win opener?
- England to beat Tonga?
With the NRL and Super League seasons now completed, all the attention is turning towards the 2026 Rugby League World Cup which is being held in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Australia are the overwhelming favourites to lift the World Cup Trophy for a record extending 13 times and for a fourth time in succession. They have to face New Zealand in their first Pool A game which is a tough one, but they are expected to put 40+ points on their next two opponents - Fiji and Cook Islands.
Pool B and C are combined together. England, Lebanon and Samoa are in Pool B and they will face off against Pool C teams France, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. The top two from Pool A and Pool B/C will qualify for the semi-finals.
Rugby League expert Dave Kuzio
will go through some of the big games of the opening round of the Rugby League World Cup and pick out his favourite bets and try scoring bets. Check out his
overall RLWC tournament bets.
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GambleAware.org.Australia vs New Zealand - Thursday, October 15 - 10:05 BST
Many are expecting these two teams to be in the World Cup Final on Sunday, November 15 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The Aussies and Kiwis will kickstart the RLWC and Pool A at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Australia are favourites to win the World Cup and coach Kevin Walters will be looking to bow out in style before he moves to England as the new head coach of St Helens. Walters has named his team for Thursday with a few surprises. Reece Walsh is preferred at fullback to James Tedesco, To Trbojevic is one the wing, Kotoni Staggs starts ahead of Bradman Best and Sam Walkers has been overlooked for Mitchell Moses. The players selected are quality players, the Aussies could name four very strong squads if they wanted to, but Walker and Tedesco have just won a Grand Final with Sydney Roosters. Australian-born and former Aussie Nines player Kalyn Ponga has switched his allegiance to New Zealand and will earn his first cap at fullback. Kodi Nikorima and Jahrome Hughes are named in the halves, while Dane Gagai is another to have swapped Australia for the Kiwis with the seven-time Kangaroo now lining up at centre for New Zealand. I do understand why Australian born players are opting to play for New Zealand, England, Tonga or Samoa. You have to be at a very high level to be selected for Australia, and some of these players would not get a look in. I am backing Australia to win this in what will be a tough game. I expect the first 60 minutes to be tight, but the Kangaroos will have too much power and class in the end. I am backing the Aussies to win by 16-20 points with Trbojevic, Jack Bostock and Latrell Mitchell to score tries. I am backing Ronaldo Mulitalo to reply for the Kiwis.
Australia vs New Zealand RLWC Betting Tips
Australia to win - 4/9 @ Betfred
Australia to win by 16-20 points - 13/2 @ Betfred
Tom Trbojevic to score at anytime - 11/10 @ Betfred
Jack Bostock to score at anytime - Evens @ Betfred
Latrell Mitchell to score at anytime - 6/4 @ Betfred
Ronaldo Mulitalo to score at anytime - 11/10 @ Betfred
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First Try Scorer Rugby League Betting Odds @ Betfred
Here is a list of players that are capable of scoring the first try in their World Cup matches this weekend. Remember, if your selected player scores first and scores a second later on, you will get double the odds.
Australia vs New Zealand 1st Try Scorer Betting Odds
- Jack Bostock - 8/1
- Tom Trbojevic - 8/1
- Jamayne Isaako - 9/1
- Dane Gagai - 20/1
Samoa vs France 1st Try Scorer Betting Odds
- Brian To'o - TBC
- Deine Mariner - TBC
- Arthur Mourge - TBC
- Leo Darrelatour - TBC
Papua New Guinea vs Lebanon 1st Try Scorer Betting Odds
- Robert Denby - TBC
- Dudley Dotoi - TBC
- Jason Saab - TBC
- Jacob Kiraz - TBC
England vs Tonga 1st Try Scorer Betting Odds
- AJ Brimson - TBC
- Dom Young - TBC
- Dallin Watene-Zelezniak - TBC
- Robert Toia - TBC
Samoa vs Cook Islands 1st Try Scorer Betting Odds
- Sunia Turuva - TBC
- Semi Valemei - TBC
- KL Iro - TBC
- Cameron Brown - TBC
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- "Pick Your Punt" feature
- Daily draw prizes of £800 from a £1 stake
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RLWC Round 1 Player Anytime Try Scorer Accas
This is a new section I have added to my rugby league tips. These are some of the personal bets I place each weekend. I choose the Super League games I want to watch - normally all of them that do not clash with Wigan - and I place a four player try scorer acca on each game. I thought I would include this in my Rugby League World Cup tips.
Australia vs New Zealand Anytime Try Scorer Acca
- Jack Bostock - 6/5
- Reece Walsh - 7/5
- Jamayne Isaako - 5/4
- Ronaldo Mulitalo - 5/4
- Anytime Try Scorer Acca - 25/1 @ Bet365
Samoa vs France Anytime Try Scorer Acca
- Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow - 4/11
- Brian To'o - 1/5
- Deine Mariner - 1/5
- Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet - 16/1
- Anytime Try Scorer Acca - 33/1 @ Bet365
Papua New Guinea vs Lebanon Anytime Try Scorer Acca
- Morea Morea - 7/5
- Robert Denby - 2/5
- Dudley Dotoi - 8/15
- Jason Saab - 20/21
- Anytime Try Scorer Acca - 37/4 @ Bet365
England vs Tonga Anytime Try Scorer Acca
- Dom Young - 21/20
- Zach Eckersley - 13/8
- Dallin Watene-Zelezniak - 13/10
- Jojo Fifita - 13/10
- Anytime Try Scorer Acca - 25/1 @ Bet365
Fiji vs Cook Islands Anytime Try Scorer Acca
- Sunia Turuva - 2/5
- Solomone Saukuru - 8/11
- KL Iro - 6/4
- Paul Ulberg - 11/8
- Anytime Try Scorer Acca - 12/1 @ Bet365
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