Winning Starts Monday: England blow as Hardaker banned from second World Cup

Brad Walter's weekly column on the international Rugby League wash up from the week that was around the globe.

WSM

England blow as Hardaker banned from second World Cup
Papalii to make Samoa debut in Wagga Wagga
Italy set to pick rugby union legend
Stars line up for Canada Ravens

“Zac Hardaker’s absence costs his side dearly.”

That was the headline in The Times after Leeds stunned Castleford to win the Super League grand final.

He has also cost himself – and possibly England’s World Cup hopes – after being banned on the eve of the grand final for returning a positive test to cocaine.

It is the second time the talented fullback, who played for England in May’s Test against Samoa at Campbelltown, has been suspended from a World Cup for misconduct after being axed by Steve McNamara in 2013 for “acting unprofessionally”.

A series of off-field incidents effectively led to his departure from Leeds after six seasons in which he won three premierships, a Challenge Cup final and the 2015 Man of Steel award.

After a brief stint with Penrith last year, Hardaker had been close to the best player in Super League this season and was one of three players nominated for the Man of Steel award, won last week by his Castleford team-mate Luke Gale.

However, his career is now in doubt after testing positive to cocaine after a match against his former club, Leeds, on 8 September.

Hardaker was stood down from last Sunday’s grand final and could face a ban of up to two years.

England’s Rugby Football League announced that Hardaker was out of the World Cup just hours before the Wayne Bennett-coached team was due to be named on Monday.

"The Rugby Football League can confirm that Zak Hardaker is provisionally suspended from all competition after it received notification from UK Anti-Doping that he had tested positive for a banned substance," a statement from the RFL said.

"He will therefore not be considered for the England Rugby League World Cup squad due to be announced on Monday at 12:00 BST.

"The RFL will be making no further comment until the outcome of the case has been determined."

Papalii to make Samoa debut in Wagga Wagga

Josh Papalii will pull on a Samoa jersey for the first time on Friday night after being named in a powerful forward pack to take on NSW Country Under 23s in a World Cup warm-up match in Wagga Wagga.

Papalii, who has played eights Tests for Australia and nine Origins for Queensland, will start in the second row alongside Toa Samoa captain Frank Pritchard.

Samoa coach Matt Parish has chosen Leeson Au Mau at lock, while Zane Musgrove and Sam Lisone are the starting props.

The depth of the Samoa forward pack is evident by the players not in the starting line-up, who included Sam Tagaetese, Suaia Matagi, Herman Ese’ese, Bunty Afoa, Joseph Paulo and Frank Winterstein.

With Castleford’s Ben Roberts having played in last weekend’s Super League grand final, Penrith rookie Jarome Luai will partner Fa’amanu Brown in the halves.

The Samoa side is: Peter Mataútia (Newcastle); Matthew Wright (Manly), Young Tonumaipea (Melbourne), Joey Leilua (Canberra), Ken Maumalo (NZ Warriors); Jarome Luai (Penrith), Faámanu Brown (Cronulla); Zane Musgrove (South Sydney), Jazz Tevaga (NZ Warriors), Sam Lisone (NZ Warriors), Josh Papalii (Canberra), Frank Pritchard (Parramatta), Leeson Ah Mau (St George Illawarra). Res: Pita Godinet (Many), Joseph Paulo (Cronulla), Frank Winterstein (Manly), Bunty Afoa (NZ Warriors), Sam Tagatese (Cronulla), Herman Ese’ese (Brisbane), Suaia Matagi (Parramatta).

Italy set to pick rugby union legend

Italian rugby union legend Mirco Bergamasco is expected to be named in Italy’s final 24-man World Cup squad after travelling to Australia to play in last Sunday’s Test against Malta at Club Marconi.

Bergamasco is a big game in Italy after representing the country in 89 rugby union Tests, including three World Cups, before recently switching to league.

The former Stade Francais and Racing Metro star has played five league Tests for the Azzurri and his four goals helped Italy to a 24-all draw with Malta last Sunday.

Azzurri coach Cameron Ciraldo will reduce his squad from 32 to 24 this week after watching the performances of fringe players, including some from the domestic Italy competition, in the Test against Malta.

Stars line up for Canada Ravens

Canada rugby union star Andrea Burk is set to become a dual international after turning out for the Ravens in a warm-up match for the Women’s Rugby League World Cup against Corrimal Cougars in Vancouver on Monday.

Burk, who has been a regular member of Canada’s women’s rugby union team since 2009, played in the recent women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland and was in the side which lost the final of the 2014 tournament.

“Andrea is quite well known in rugby union circles so she is going to be an asset,” Ravens coach Mike Castle said.

The Ravens fielded two squads in separate weekend trials against the Cougars, who were undefeated in the Illawarra competition this season and recently beat Queanbeyan in the final of the Country Rugby League Challenge Cup.

Despite their lack of rugby league experience, the Ravens won the first game in Vancouver last Friday 26-20 and were beaten 20-18 on Sunday.

Another member of the squad which played on Sunday was Stevi Schnoor, also a Canadian rugby union representative and star of the Legends Football League, who last month helped Seattle Mist win the competition formerly known as the Lingerie Football League.

“She just came straight from the final to the trials and made the squad,” Castle said of Schnoor, who played five-eighth against the Cougars.

By Brad Walter | @BradWalterSport
Chief Correspondent, RLWC2017