2008 Rugby League World Cup squads

The 2008 Rugby League World Cup featured the national teams (selected from twenty-four-man squads) of ten nations: Australia, England, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, France, Scotland, Ireland, Samoa, and Tonga.[1][2]

Pool A

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Australia

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Head coach: Ricky Stuart  
Assistant coaches: John Cartwright and Allan Langer[3]

 
Player Games Points Position Club
Darren Lockyer (capt) 4 8 FE   Brisbane Broncos
Darius Boyd1 1 0 WG   Brisbane Broncos
Terry Campese 1 0 FE   Canberra Raiders
Petero Civoniceva 4 0 PR   Penrith Panthers
Craig Fitzgibbon 3 0 SR   Sydney Roosters
Israel Folau 5 8 CE   Melbourne Storm
Paul Gallen 5 4 SR   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Kurt Gidley 1 0 UB   Newcastle Knights
Karmichael Hunt1 3 0 FB   Brisbane Broncos
Greg Inglis 4 24 UB   Melbourne Storm
Brent Kite 5 0 PR   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Anthony Laffranchi 4 8 SR   Gold Coast Titans
Joel Monaghan 5 16 CE   Canberra Raiders
Josh Perry 3 0 PR   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Steve Price 4 0 PR   New Zealand Warriors
Scott Prince 2 24 HB   Gold Coast Titans
Billy Slater 4 28 FB   Melbourne Storm
Cameron Smith 5 2 HK   Melbourne Storm
Glenn Stewart 4 0 SR   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Brent Tate 4 8 CE   New Zealand Warriors
Johnathan Thurston 4 50 HB   North Queensland Cowboys
Anthony Tupou2 5 4 SR   Sydney Roosters
Anthony Watmough 2 0 SR   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
David Williams 2 16 WG   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

1 Replaced originally selected Brett Stewart and Justin Hodges who withdrew on 16 October.[4]

2 Replaced originally selected Michael Crocker who withdrew due to injury on 9 October.[5]

England

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Head coach: Tony Smith  / 
Assistant coach: Steve McNamara

Player Games Points Position Club
Jamie Peacock (capt) 4 4 PR   Leeds Rhinos
Rob Burrow 4 22 SH   Leeds Rhinos
Mark Calderwood 3 0 WG   Wigan Warriors
Gareth Ellis 4 0 SR   Leeds Rhinos
Maurie Fa'asavalu 2 0 PR   St. Helens
Ade Gardner 3 8 WG   St. Helens
Martin Gleeson 4 12 CE   Warrington Wolves
James Graham 3 0 PR   St. Helens
Mickey Higham 2 4 HK   Warrington Wolves
Gareth Hock 4 0 SR   Wigan Warriors
Jamie Jones-Buchanan 1 0 SR   Leeds Rhinos
Jamie Langley 1 0 LF   Bradford Bulls
Danny McGuire 3 8 FE   Leeds Rhinos
Adrian Morley 4 0 PR   Warrington Wolves
Leon Pryce 3 0 SO   St. Helens
Rob Purdham 2 0 LF   Harlequins RL
James Roby 3 4 HK   St. Helens
Keith Senior 4 0 CE   Leeds Rhinos
Kevin Sinfield 3 8 LK   Leeds Rhinos
Lee Smith 2 12 WG   Leeds Rhinos
Paul Sykes 1 0 CE   Bradford Bulls
Paul Wellens 4 0 FB   St. Helens
Ben Westwood 1 0 SR   Warrington Wolves
Jon Wilkin 3 0 SR   St. Helens

New Zealand

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Head coach: Stephen Kearney  
Assistant coach: Wayne Bennett  

 
Player Games Points Position Club
Nathan Cayless (capt) 4 0 PR   Parramatta Eels
Adam Blair 5 8 PR   Melbourne Storm
Greg Eastwood 5 4 LK   Brisbane Broncos
David Fa'alogo 4 4 SR   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Nathan Fien 5 4 UH   New Zealand Warriors
Dene Halatau 1 0 HK   Wests Tigers
Bronson Harrison1 3 4 SR   Wests Tigers
Lance Hohaia 5 16 UH   New Zealand Warriors
Krisnan Inu 1 10 UB   Parramatta Eels
David Kidwell 1 0 SR   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Thomas Leuluai 5 0 HB   Wigan Warriors
Issac Luke 4 16 HK   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Simon Mannering 5 8 SR   New Zealand Warriors
Sika Manu 4 4 PR   Melbourne Storm
Benji Marshall 5 14 FE   Wests Tigers
Steve Matai 2 2 CE   Manly Sea Eagles
Jason Nightingale2 1 4 WG   St. George Illawarra Dragons
Sam Perrett 4 12 UB   Sydney Roosters
Sam Rapira 4 0 PR   New Zealand Warriors
Jerome Ropati 5 16 CE   New Zealand Warriors
Setaimata Sa 1 0 CE   Sydney Roosters
Jeremy Smith 5 12 SR   Melbourne Storm
Evarn Tuimavave2 1 0 PR   New Zealand Warriors
Manu Vatuvei 5 16 WG   New Zealand Warriors

1 Replaced originally named Iosia Soliola who withdrew due to injury on 21 October.[6]

2 Replaced originally named Brent Webb and Jeff Lima who withdrew due to injury on 7 October.[7]

Papua New Guinea

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Head coach: Adrian Lam  [8][9]

Player Games Points Position Club
John Wilshire (capt) 3 10 UB   Salford City Reds
David Moore 3 0 WG   Gold Coast Titans
George Keppa 2 8 WG   Norths Devils
Stanley Gene 3 0 LK   Hull Kingston Rovers
Keith Peters 3 0 HB   Penrith Panthers
Charlie Wabo 2 0 PR   MMabey & Johnson Muruks
Rodney Pora 1 0 PR   Mabey & Johnson Muruks
George Moni 2 0 SR   MMabey & Johnson Muruks
Nickson Kolo 1 0 CE   Masta Mark City Rangers
Paul Aiton 3 4 HK   Penrith Panthers
Jessie Joe Parker 3 0 FE   Masta Mark City Rangers
Makali Aizue 2 0 PR   Hull Kingston Rovers
Trevor Exton 3 0 SR   Ipswich Jets
Neville Costigan 3 0 SR   Canberra Raiders
James Nightingale 3 0 LK   Penrith Panthers
Rod Griffin 3 4 LK   Northern Pride
Larsen Marabe 0 0 FB   Agmark Gurias
Kevin Prior 1 0 CE   Wentworthville Magpies
Jay Aston 1 0 SR   Melbourne Storm
Tu'u Maori 3 0 WG   Sydney Roosters
Menzie Yere 1 4 FE   Agmark Gurias
Jason Chan 3 4 CE   Windsor Wolves
Nico Slain 1 0 HK   Bintangor Lahanis
Anton Kui 1 0 HB   Bingtangor Lahanis

Pool B

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Fiji

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Head coach: Joe Dakuitoga  

Player Games Points Position Club
Wes Naiqama (capt) 4 32 WG   Newcastle Knights
Nick Bradley-Qalilawa 4 0 WG   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Jayson Bukuya 4 8 CE   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Iowane Divavesi 2 4 PR   Terrigal Sharks
Aaron Groom 4 0 HB   Bulldogs RLFC
Jarryd Hayne 4 12 FB/WG/FE   Parramatta Eels
Sevania Koroi 4 0 CE/LK   Western Suburbs Magpies
Josua Koroibulu 0 0   Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs
Jone Macilai 1 0 CE/FB/WG   Fassifern RLFC
Daryl Millard 3 0 CE   Bulldogs RLFC
Vula Louis Dakuitoga Naqau 0 0   Terrigal Sharks
Kaliova Nauqe 2 0   Fassifern RLFC
Alipate Noilea 3 0 FE   Parkes Spacemen
Josateki Ravueta   Sawtell Panthers
Osea Sadrau 4 0 PR   Fassifern RLFC
Ashton Sims 4 0 PR   Brisbane Broncos
James Storer 3 0   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Nemani Suguturaga 0 0   Nabua Broncos
Waisale Sukanaveita 4 0 HK   Terrigal Sharks
Semi Tadulala 4 8 WG   Bradford Bulls
Semisi Tora 4 4 LK   Parkes Spacemen
Malakai Yalimaiwai Tuiloa   Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs
Akuila Uate 4 20 WG   Newcastle Knights
Ilisoni Vonomateiratu 4 0 PR   Lautoka Crushers
Jone Wesele 2 0   Darlington Point

France

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Head coach: John Monie  [10]

Player Games Points Position Club
Jérôme Guisset (capt) 3 12 PR   Catalans Dragons
Éric Anselme 2 0 CE   Leeds Rhinos
Jean-Philippe Baile 1 0 CE   Catalans Dragons
Jean-Christophe Borlin 1 0 FR   Saint-Gaudens Bears
Thomas Bosc 3 16 FE   Catalans Dragons
Laurent Carrasco 2 0 LK   Villeneuve Leopards
Rémi Casty 2 0 PR   Catalans Dragons
Olivier Elima 3 0 SR   Catalans Dragons
Jamal Fakir 3 0 SR   Catalans Dragons
Adel Fellous 2 0 PR   Lézignan Sangliers
Maxime Grésèque 2 0 HB   Pia Donkeys
Mathieu Griffi 1 0 FR   Catalans Dragons
Christophe Moly 3 4 UH/UB   AS Carcassonne
Grégory Mounis 3 0 LK   Catalans Dragons
Justin Murphy 2 0 WG   Catalans Dragons
Dimitri Pelo 2 0 WG   Catalans Dragons
Sébastien Planas 1 4 WG   Toulouse Olympique
Sébastien Raguin 3 4 SR   Catalans Dragons
Julien Rinaldi 1 0 HB   Harlequins RL
Teddy Sadaoui 3 0 CE   AS Carcassonne
Jared Taylor 3 4 FB   Lézignan Sangliers
John Wilson 3 8 CE   Catalans Dragons
James Wynne 2 0 HB   Lézignan Sangliers

Scotland

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Except for Edinburgh Eagles stand-off Paddy Couper, all of the Scottish team's players were selected under the grandparent rule.[11]

Head coach: Steve McCormack  

Player Games Points Position Club
Danny Brough (capt) 2 12 HB   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Chris Armit 3 0 PR   Bulldogs RLFC
Dean Colton 1 4 WG   Doncaster
Paddy Coupar[12] 1 0 HB/CE   Edinburgh Eagles
Gavin Cowan 2 0 CE   Easts Tigers
John Duffy 3 0 HB   Widnes Vikings
Ben Fisher 2 0 HK   Hull Kingston Rovers
Andrew Henderson 3 0 HK   Castleford Tigers
Ian Henderson 3 0 HK   New Zealand Warriors
Kevin Henderson 3 0 CE   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Jack Howieson 1 0 PR   Sheffield Eagles
Paul Jackson 2 0 PR   Huddersfield Giants
Wade Liddell 2 0 FB   Easts Tigers
Scott Logan 3 0 PR   Canberra Raiders
Neil Lowe 1 0 SR   Keighley Cougars
Dave McConnell 1 0 HK   Leigh Centurions
Duncan MacGillivray 2 0 SR   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Iain Morrison 3 0 SR   Widnes Vikings
Gareth Morton 1 0 CE   Oldham
Mick Nanyn 3 0 CE   Oldham
Lee Paterson 1 0 FE   Widnes Vikings
Michael Robertson 3 4 WG   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Jon Steel 2 8 WG   Hull Kingston Rovers
Oliver Wilkes 3 8 PR   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

Pool C

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Ireland

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Head coach: Andy Kelly  

Player Games Points Position Club
Scott Grix (capt) 3 4 FB   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Ross Barbour 0 0 CE   Carlow Crusaders
Bob Beswick 3 0 LK   Halifax
Damien Blanch 3 20 WG   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Mick Cassidy 1 0 SR   Barrow Raiders
Ged Corcoran 1 0 PR   Sheffield Eagles
Lee Doran 3 0 SR   Widnes Vikings
Liam Finn 3 4 HB   Dewsbury Rams
Simon Finnigan 3 4 SR   Huddersfield Giants
Karl Fitzpatrick 3 0 FB   Salford City Reds
Stevie Gibbons 0 0 WG   London Skolars
Sean Gleeson 3 4 CE   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Brendan Guilfoyle 0 0 PR   Treaty City Titans
Gareth Haggerty 3 0 PR   Harlequins RL
Ben Harrison 3 0 PR   Warrington Wolves
Graham Holroyd 0 0 FE   Halifax
Wayne Kerr 1 0 PR   London Skolars
Stuart Littler 3 0 CE   Salford City Reds
Michael McIlorum 3 0 HK   Wigan Warriors
Shayne McMenemy 0 0 SR   WA Reds
Eamon O'Carroll 3 0 PR   Wigan Warriors
Michael Platt 3 4 FB   Bradford Bulls
Pat Richards 3 28 WG   Wigan Warriors
Ryan Tandy 3 0 PR   Wests Tigers
  • Brett White was originally named but withdrew due to injury on 9 October. He was replaced by Brendan Guilfoyle.[13]
  • Shannon McDonnell has also withdrawn due to injury. He was replaced by Shayne McMenemy.[14][15]

Samoa

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Head coach: John Ackland  

Player Games Points Position Club
Nigel Vagana (capt) 2 8 CE   South Sydney Rabbitohs
George Carmont 3 8 WG/CE   Wigan Warriors
David Faiumu 0 0 HK   North Queensland Cowboys
Harrison Hansen 3 0 SR   Wigan Warriors
Ali Lauitiiti 3 0 SR   Leeds Rhinos
Tuaalagi Lepupa 0 0   Marist Saints
Kylie Leuluai 2 0 PR   Leeds Rhinos
Wayne McDade 2 0 PR   Auckland Vulcans
Francis Meli 3 8 WG   St Helens R.F.C.
Joseph Paulo 3 4 SR/FE   Penrith Panthers
Frank Puletua 3 4 PR   Penrith Panthers
Tony Puletua 3 0 SR   Penrith Panthers
Ben Roberts 3 18 HB/FE   Bulldogs RLFC
Tangi Ropati 1 0 FB   Easts Tigers
Smith Samau 3 0 WG   Gold Coast Titans
Lagi Setu 2 0 SR   St. George Illawarra Dragons
Terrence Seu Seu 3 0 HK   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
David Solomona 2 4 SR   Bradford Bulls
Willie Talau 2 0 CE   St Helens R.F.C.
Alby Talipeau 2 0 HB   Souths Logan Magpies
Misi Taulapapa 2 8 WG   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Ben Te'o 1 8 SR   Wests Tigers
Tupu Ulufale 0 0   Marist Saints
Matt Utai 3 8 WG   Bulldogs RLFC

Tonga

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Head coach: Jim Dymock  

Player Games Points Position Club
Lopini Paea (capt) 3 0 PR   Sydney Roosters
Andrew Emelio 1 0 CE   Bulldogs RLFC
Richard Fa'aoso 2 0 SR   Newcastle Knights
Awen Guttenbeil 1 0 SR   Castleford Tigers
Michael Jennings 3 12 CE   Penrith Panthers
Antonio Kaufusi 3 0 SR   Melbourne Storm
Toshio Laiseni 1 0 FB   Newtown Jets
Stephen Latu 100 3,015 WG   Parramatta Eels
Epalahame Lauaki 3 0 SR   New Zealand Warriors
Tevita Leo-Latu 3 4 HK   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Willie Manu 3 0 SR   Hull F.C.
Manase Manuokafoa 2 0 SR   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Feleti Mateo 3 4 SR   Parramatta Eels
Sam Moa 3 0 PR   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Eddie Paea 2 6 HB   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Mickey Paea 1 0 SR   Sydney Roosters
Fetuli Talanoa 3 4 WG   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Joel Taufa'ao 1 4 HB   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Esikeli Tonga 2 4 FB   Gold Coast Titans
Etuate Uaisele 3 8 WG   Parramatta Eels
Kim Uasi 2 0 HK   Auckland Vulcans
Cooper Vuna 3 12 WG   Newcastle Knights
Tony Williams 3 24 WG   Parramatta Eels
  • Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki were originally named for Tonga but were ruled ineligible by the Rugby League International Federation after both switched from Tonga to New Zealand in 2007. A New South Wales court later ruled that they could join the team after 12 November, making them available if Tonga made the Semi-finals.[16][17]
  • Fraser and Louis Anderson both were originally named but withdrew due to injury. They were replaced by Kim Usai and Sam Moa.
  • Anthony Tupou was originally named but withdrew on 9 October after being called into the Australian squad.[5]

Welcome to Country

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As part of the official opening of the World Cup on 26 October, an exhibition game was played between an Aboriginal selection and a New Zealand Māori side.[18]

Indigenous Dreamtime Team

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Head coach: Neil Henry  

Player Games Points Position Club
Rhys Wesser 1 8 FB   Penrith Panthers
Justin Carney 1 4 WG   Canberra Raiders
Maurice Blair 1 0 CE   Penrith Panthers
Jamal Idris 1 0 CE   Bulldogs RLFC
Ty Williams 1 0 WG   North Queensland Cowboys
Jamie Soward 1 10 FE   St George Illawarra Dragons
Preston Campbell (capt) 1 0 HB   Gold Coast Titans
Carl Webb 1 0 PR   North Queensland Cowboys
Ian Lacey 1 0 HK   Ipswich Jets
George Rose 1 0 PR   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Daine Laurie 1 0 SR   Wests Tigers
Derrick Watkins 1 0 SR   Brisbane Broncos
Dean Widders 1 0 LK   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Chris Sandow 1 0 HB   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Rod Jensen 1 8 UB   Huddersfield Giants
Yileen Gordon 1 4 CE   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Peter Jensen 1 0 UB   CRL
Denis Moran 0 0 HB   Narwan Eels

New Zealand Māori

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Head coach: Luke Goodwin  [19][20]

Player Games Points Position Club
Bronx Goodwin 1 4 FB,WG   Canberra Raiders
Jordan Rapana 1 4 WG   Gold Coast Titans
Chase Stanley 1 6 CE   St George Illawarra Dragons
Karl Johnson 1 0 CE   Central Comets
Shaun Kenny-Dowall 1 4 WG,CE   Sydney Roosters
Arana Taumata 1 4 FE   Bulldogs RLFC
Rangi Chase 1 0 HB,FE   St George Illawarra Dragons
Weller Hauraki 1 0 PR   Parramatta Eels
Ben Ellis (capt) 1 0 HK   St George Illawarra Dragons
Sam McKendry 1 4 FR   Penrith Panthers
Wairangi Koopu 1 0 S1   New Zealand Warriors
Craig Smith 1 0 S2 Unattached
Lee Te Maari 1 0 LF,S1   Bulldogs RLFC
Charlie Herekotukutuku 1 0 FB,WG,HB   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Joseph Cahill 1 0   Sydney Roosters
Chance Bunce 1 0   Cronulla Sharks
James Tamou 1 0 HK   Sydney Roosters
Kevin Proctor 0 0 SR   Melbourne Storm

Notes and references

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Positions

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Northern Hemisphere terms Southern Hemisphere terms
  • FB – Fullback
  • WG – Wing
  • CE – Centre
  • SO – Stand-off
  • SH – Scrum-half
  • PR – Prop
  • HK – Hooker
  • SR – Second-Row
  • LF – Loose-forward
  • UB – Utility Back
  • N/A
  • FB – Fullback
  • WG – Wing
  • CE – Centre
  • FE – Five-Eighth
  • HB – Halfback
  • PR – Prop
  • HK – Hooker
  • SR – Second-Row
  • LK – Lock
  • UB – Utility Back
  • UH – Utility Half

References

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  1. ^ Two More Vodafone Warriors in World Cup Teams[permanent dead link] NZ Warriors, 8 October 2008.
  2. ^ Fiji, Ireland, Samoa, Scotland and Tonga sides Archived 11 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine Official RLWC08 site, 8 October 2008.
  3. ^ skysports.com (9 November 2008). "Evergreen Gene bows out". Sky Sports. UK: BSkyB. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  4. ^ Broncos duo join Kangaroos Archived 6 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine NRL Official Site, 16 October 2008
  5. ^ a b Tupou a Kangaroo again, replaces Crocker Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine NRL Official website, 9 October 2008
  6. ^ Geenty, Mark (22 October 2008). "League: Shattered Soliola out of World Cup". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  7. ^ Tuimavave becomes Seventh Vodafone Warrior in Kiwis World Cup Squad[permanent dead link] NZ Warriors, 9 October 2008.
  8. ^ PNG will shock big guns, says Costigan Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine NRL Official site, 13 October 2008
  9. ^ Kumuls get Pidgin lesson Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine NRL Official site, 21 October 2008
  10. ^ "France name official squad". RLWC2008. 24 September 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  11. ^ Roberts, Chris (25 October 2008). "Scotland side for Rugby League of Nations has one home-bred Scot". Scottish Daily Record. Scotland. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
  12. ^ Paddy Coupar a true Braveheart Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine @ NRL Official Site, 17 October 2008
  13. ^ White withdraws from Ireland WCup squad Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine @ NRL Official website, 9 October 2008
  14. ^ Ireland seething over treatment @ NZ Herald, 14 October 2008.
  15. ^ Ireland suffer White injury blow @ BBC, 9 October 2008
  16. ^ Moimoi, Tuiaki cannot play for Tonga Archived 11 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine @ NRL Official website, 11 October 2008
  17. ^ Tonga welcome court ruling on NRL duo Archived 31 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine @ RLWC Official Website, 28 October 2008
  18. ^ Indigenous Dreamtime team named Archived 1 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine Official RLWC08 site, 11 October 2008.
  19. ^ NZ Maori name coaching staff for World Cup curtain raiser @ RL World Cup, 14 June 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2009. Archived 2009-07-23.
  20. ^ Maori side to play Indigenous[permanent dead link] @ RLWC08 Official Site, 22 October 2008.
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