Rugby League
Rugby League World Cup Final Preview
Australia are heavily backed to lift a third successive Rugby League World Cup when they face off against Samoa at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The Kangaroos have been flawless in the tournament so far and are tipped to secure a one-sided victory against the Pacific nation.
We preview all the action below.
Australia vs Samoa
Australia’s record of overwhelming their opponents in this year’s Rugby League World Cup was given a sobering scare by New Zealand last Friday – though the Kangaroos still ran out 16-14 winners thanks to Cameron Murray’s second-half try in what was a thrilling semi-final clash. That victory extended Australia’s winning run in Rugby League World Cups to an astonishing 17.
Australia coach Mal Meninga warned that his side can certainly reach better levels following their semi-final display, and they will start as overwhelming 1/12 favourites to add a 12th World Cup to their trophy cabinet. The Kangaroos can be backed at 10/11 to win with a -18 handicap, which could be good value considering they won all four of their previous tournament fixtures by 34 points or more.
The Kangaroos have also won both their previous meetings against Saturday’s opponents, with big scores of 44-18 in 2014 and 46-0 in 2017. If you fancy the Aussies to repeat the 2017 feat of not conceding a single point, they can be backed at 8/1 to win to nil.
Samoa caused arguably the upset of the tournament when they knocked out hosts England at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium last weekend. The result represents a stunning turnaround from their 60-6 annihilation at the hands of England in the group stages and showcases why one should not discount this Samoan side.
They defeated fellow Pacific side Tonga in the quarter-finals, another victory against the odds, after finishing runners-up in Group A with big wins against Greece and France.
Despite the brilliance of their semi-final performance, they will have their work cut out against this formidable Australia side, and start the game as big 7/1 underdogs. A more realistic punt would be on the Samoans to score the first try of the contest, which can be backed at 12/5.
In terms of the winning margin, you’d have to consider a big win for the Kangaroos on Saturday. Australia to win at Old Trafford by 21-25 points at 11/2 looks the most appealing of the bets for this market.
