Rugby League World Cup 2021 - That was the men's group stage that was

That's the group stage finished. 

It wasn't perfect. There were too many one-sided matches and International Rugby League really needs to do more to support the smaller nations. 

But there was so much to enjoy. 

Wales! 

Wales, with part-timers in their team, nearly beating a Cook Islands team who have players in the NRL. 

The Cook Islands anthem - https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1586727371876581376 

The Cook Islands Pe’e Haka - https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1584830810107957248 

The first female referee to take charge of a men's WC match, Kasey Badger reffing Tonga v Wales - https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1584615952330928128 (Followed by Belinda Sharpe reffing England vs Greece 5 days later) 

Papua New Guinea nearly beating Tonga. Tonga in full flow, against Cook Islands. 

Cook Islands being the best, and performing a haka for the New Zealand Physical Disability team, because game recognises game - https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1585032360663601152 

The editorial team have contacted me and pointed out that there were three other groups that were not group D, but you'd be hard-pressed to find more joy per inch than group D. 

In group A, you had Samoa taking two games to warm up, leading to an England 60-6 Samoa result that I saw live on TV and still don't believe. 

England, lead by the flying Dominic Young (https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1583875608685473792), winning all three of their matches, France closing the gap and Greece, Greece who had to play qualifying matches past midnight to avoid being arrested for playing rugby league (https://www.rlwc2021.com/article/527/greece-captain-meads-to-honour-grandparents-), playing with heart and spirit and determination (and some flying last-ditch tackles - https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1584830803208392704). 

Group B featured an incredibly young Australia (13 out of a squad of 24 will receive their first cap when they play). 

I'm used to all-conquering, swaggering Australia and I don't know what to do with this bunch of lovely young men I want to make cups of tea for. 

It featured Fiji, and I'm sorry but they're Kevin Naiqama's team and I love them - https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1583815381478932480 

Italy, coming along nicely, with one player born and bred in Italy, representing a country that has a nine-team league. Italy winning a match and not being nilled, not even against Australia. 

Scotland, the brave, who got better as the tournament went on, and scored against all their opponents except Australia. 

Group C, featured a New Zealand team whose kicking is not quite working right (much to the suffering of Robbie Hunter-Paul on commentary who copped it from all his co-commentators), and their play is disjoined, but will hopefully improve, Ireland, who also improved as the tournament went on, and Lebanon who were determined to reach the quarters (and feature in this ditty - https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1584113995744776193). 

Group C also featured Jamaica, who were a delight. There was a beautiful piece on BBC where Ashton Golding explained how much it meant to him to represent Jamaica as someone of Jamaican descent. There's many words I could say about how rugby league seems to be the only sport that understands that people can be from more than one place and love both and should be given the opportunity to play for both. 

It's not just Golding, it's Jordan Meads talking about how much him representing Greece means to his Yiayia and Pappou (https://neoskosmos.com/en/2021/10/07/sport/the-great-warrior-mindset-qa-with-greeces-rugby-league-skipper-jordan-meads/), it's James Tedesco, Australia's captain, who is on his third world cup, but only his first for Australia, because he's made his Dad proud for two and now it's his mother's turn. It's Dom Young, England try scorer, watching Jamaica play Ireland, because his big brother is playing for them and his grandmother is so proud of the two of them - https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1581679550114631680 

Jamaica were not just their to make up the numbers, they didn't get niled in any of their matches, and Ben Jones Bishop scored their first ever World Cup try (https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1584830805570113538) and why yes, that is the NZ captain joining in the guard of honour Jamaica formed for Jones Bishop at the end of the match - https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1584069688559947776.

And Jamaica are not satisfied, they're building for the next World Cup - https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1583949748708737025 

That spirit of togetherness, France wearing a 7 on their shirt for Rob Burrow (https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1583729910710865920), Greece watching the PDRL matches (https://twitter.com/TheRFL/status/1584941387530653707) and Wales and Tongan fans happily singing together after their match (https://twitter.com/WalesRugbyL/status/1584658651322908672), that's rugby league as much as whoever wins the tournament. 

Back to the tournament, the network diagrams now look like this:    The national team now closest to the centre are Fiji, and South Sydney Rabbitohs are the club side nearest the centre. 

In terms of number of players left, Penrith Panthers still have the most players represented with 18. They are now followed by the Sydney Roosters with 12 and South Sydney Rabbitohs and Melbourne Storm with 10. The number of Catalan Dragons players dropped dramatically when France went out.

The community view looks like this now:     There are 8 sides left in, and 8 communities. 

Probably the most interesting feature of the communities view is that Penrith Panthers are grouped with Tonga, not with Australia. 

Looking at the quarterfinals, there looks to be some cracking matches to come: 

Australia vs Lebanon - Australia are strong favourites here but Lebanon might be able to make it interesting. 

New Zealand vs Fiji - or New Zealand's chance for revenge after the last World Cup. This NZ team have some weaknesses, particularly in the kicking, but this Fijian team aren't as strong as last time. Could be very interesting. 

England vs Papua New Guinea - Ooooh. Oooooh. Given the Samoan capitulation in the first match, this is England's toughest challenge so far. On the other hand, PNG have moments of not-good mixed in with their moments of brilliance. 

Tonga vs Samoa - Even ooooohier noises. I mean, talk about mouth-watering match ups. A Tonga that have woken up and are starting to play beautiful, destructive powerful rugby vs Samoa that finally seem to be gelling and are fired up to make up for that opening defeat and to play their big rivals. Oh this could be epic!