WHAT THE EXPERTS THINK: STUFF WRITERS’ PREDICTIONS JOSEPH PEARSON
AARON GOILE
Winner: Australia
Runner-up: New Zealand
Losing semifinalists: Tonga and England
Kiwis’ prospects: A bit bleak, to be fair. Already without playmaker Kieran Foran due to injury, things have unravelled over the past few weeks with the shock defections to Tonga, headlined by the world-class Jason Taumalolo. Of course, as when they shocked Australia in 2008, New Zealand can rely on the underdog factor, but whether they have enough experience, strike power, game smarts and coaching nous to even get over Samoa and Tonga in pool play, let alone England in a likely semifinal matchup, now must be questioned. Winner: Australia
Runner-up: New Zealand
Losing semifinalists: England and Tonga
Kiwis’ prospects: New Zealand should top their group with relative ease despite losing a few stars to Tonga and progress to a quarterfinal in Wellington against France or Lebanon, which isn’t hard to foretell given the predictably predictable outcomes in this tournament format. I’m backing the Kiwis to then get up for a likely semifinal against England at Mt Smart and again face Australia in a Brisbane decider, but don’t envisage a repeat of that 2008 triumph. This is Australia’s World Cup to lose.
HAMISH BIDWELL
Winner: Australia
Runner-up: England
Losing semifinalists: Tonga and New Zealand
Kiwis’ prospects: As bad as the team have been under the coaching of David Kidwell, you assume they’ll make safe passage to the semifinals. There, it appears they’ll meet England and their run to the grand final will end.
MARVIN FRANCE
Winner: Australia
Runner-up: New Zealand
Losing semifinalists: Tonga and England
Kiwis’ prospects: I wouldn’t be banking on a repeat of 2008 but despite all the high-profile absences, this is still a solid Kiwis outfit capable of reaching the final. Much of that will depend on how they come together under David Kidwell. Talk of playing an entertaining style is encouraging, but New Zealand’s recent triumphs have been built on explosive forward charges. With Jesse Bromwich and Jason Taumalolo both missing, it will be up to likes of Russell Packer, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Nelson Asofa-Solomona to fill the void.
DAVID LONG
Winner: Australia
Runner-up: England
Losing semifinalists: New Zealand and Tonga
Kiwis’ prospects: Just making the final would be seen as an achievement for this Kiwis team, which is missing too many players to be in with a realistic chance against Australia. However, it could be that they may not even get to play against them as you’d have to worry about whether they can get past England. Regardless of the Wayne Bennett factor, the Kiwis are likely to face and experienced England team in the semis, that will not only have big, NRL hardened forwards, but also some gifted backs.