This time next weekend the Rugby League World Cup will be under way! It's a somewhat unique experience for league fans who are so used to seeing Australia, New Zealand and England regularly do battle on any sort of significant scale. Now we throw in the Cook Islands, the USA and good ole' Ireland amongst the 14 teams who will contest the 2013 World Cup in England and Wales.
For Wests Tigers the representation is strong and definitely worth keeping an eye on most matches. Representing the club are the following players:
AUSTRALIA - Robbie Farah
COOK ISLANDS - Keith Lulia
FIJI - Marika Koroibete
IRELAND - Pat Richards
ITALY - James Tedesco
SAMOA - Sauaso Sue
TONGA - Ben Murdoch Masila
USA - Joel Luani
Masada Iosefa (Uncontracted), Brenden Santi (Parramatta 2014) also kind of represent the club having represented the club in 2013.
Whilst seasoned players such as Robbie Farah, Keith Lulia and Pat Richards will take the World Cup in their stride, the Cup represents a unique and important step in the development of our younger brigade. Not only is it an extension of their 2013 season but also an opportunity to play with quality players in an international arena. For example, imagine the benefits James Tedesco can reap by training and being nurtured by Anthony Minichello. Or the same benefits for Sauaso Sue who can find value in what fellow Tonga squad members Reni Maitua or David Fa'alogo can offer.
Joel Luani gets a massive chance to play against opposition stronger than he is used to when he lines up for USA, assuming of course they get out of their group. As does Marika Koroibete who's 2013 season barely got going due to injury. Koroibete will get the chance to face both England and Australia. It's a massive learning curve for the young winger.
Perhaps though the biggest challenge falls to Ben Murdoch-Masila who's 2013 form showed flashes of his potential but also lacked the consistency needed. Tigers coach Mick Potter seemed to give Murdoch-Masila an enlarged role towards the back end of the season which did have some success. There's no doubts though that Ben needs to fine tune his game and make it more consistent because at his best he can be damaging. Who knows? His experiences here at the World Cup may just help him do so.
Overall this World Cup can be a real benefit for Wests Tigers. To have the likes of Tedesco, Sue, Murdoch-Masila, Koroibete and Luani all involved is only going to help their development as younger players. The challenge rests with them though. The experience gained by this opportunity will hopefully lead to benefits at club level that will be felt down the road in time.
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