McDermott: we can win this

England's new men's head coach Brian McDermott says he believes England can win the Rugby League World Cup, rejecting the idea that victory is impossible.

“Do I believe we can win? It's not a no.”

Three tournaments, one month

The men's, women's and wheelchair Rugby League World Cups run from October fifteenth to November fifteenth across Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

Men's final in Brisbane

Australia's reigning champions face New Zealand in Sydney on Thursday in what is dubbed a potential dress rehearsal for the final in Brisbane on November fifteenth.

Women's title chase

Australia's women seek a fourth successive title, beginning their campaign against Samoa in Sydney on Friday at ten oh five BST.

England's wheelchair defence

England's wheelchair team start against Wales in Wollongong on Friday, October thirtieth at four thirty BST, seeking to retain their title.

McDermott's England challenge

England's men suffered a twenty-seven twenty-six golden-point semi-final defeat by Samoa four years ago and a three nil home series loss to Australia last autumn.

No training time before tournament

McDermott had not held a training session with his players before they arrived in Australia last week, with no mid-season international this year to prepare.

England's pool and path

England face Tonga on Saturday, then France and Papua New Guinea in Pool B-C, a combined six-team group where the top two reach the semi-finals.

Star-studded squad

England's twenty-three man squad includes Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth, Sydney Roosters lock Victor Radley and ten NRL-based players selected by McDermott.

McDermott demands smarter attack

McDermott says England must play with more guile and attack into certain areas, emphasising that passion and physicality alone are not enough.

“We have got to do things differently.”

Women's fresh start

England's women, ranked third in the world, feature only six players from their record ninety nil four defeat by Australia in Las Vegas in March twenty twenty-five.

Young talent and heritage players

England's squad includes nineteen-year-old Woman of Steel Jenna Foubister, Australia-born Jasmin Strange and heritage players Hope Millard and Fran Goldthorp.

Women's sacrifice for country

Most England women have full-time jobs and some have taken all their annual leave for the tournament, having saved it up instead of taking a holiday.

Wheelchair team's winning aim

England's wheelchair head coach Tom Coyd has included five World Cup winners in his ten-player squad, aiming to replicate their twenty twenty-two triumph.

Domingos seeks lasting memory

Sheffield Eagles player Luis Domingos says his goal is to create moments and memories that he can remember in twenty years with his team-mates and staff.

“My goal in life is to create moments and memories, and to leave a mark.”

Wales women's historic debut

Wales make their bow in the women's competition after progressing through qualifying, facing Australia, Samoa and England in a group where they are rank outsiders.

Ireland's wheelchair rise

Ireland were beaten in every wheelchair match four years ago but have since climbed to third in the world rankings and will look to reach at least the semi-finals.

Tournament restructured

The men's tournament has been trimmed from sixteen teams to ten to reduce lopsided group matches, while women's and wheelchair tournaments remain at eight teams.

England's sparse international schedule

England's men have played just nine matches since twenty twenty-two, with two of those being high-scoring and uncompetitive wins over France.

McDermott: World Cup is not the answer

McDermott says the future of rugby league does not rest on this World Cup, and that winning would not treble Sky's investment in clubs or solve the game's long-term challenges.

“I don't think the future of the game rests on this World Cup.”