By Richard Cowley, Updated: 27/10/13
Teams: New Zealand v Samoa
Venue: The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, England. Capacity 15,200
Date: Sunday 27th October 2013
Kick-off time: 6pm
Sydney (Australia – New South Wales) Monday, 28 October 2013 at 5:00:00 AM
Brisbane (Australia – Queensland) Monday, 28 October 2013 at 4:00:00 AM
Auckland (New Zealand) Monday, 28 October 2013 at 7:00:00 AM
Apia (Samoa) Monday, 28 October 2013 at 8:00:00 AM
2013 RLWC Ticket information: http://www.rlwc2013.com/tickets
2013 RLWC TV viewing information: Channel Seven will broadcast all RLWC2013 matches live in Australia on the 7mate channel. In the UK the BBC will show all England games along with the RLWC Final while Premier Sports will broadcast all other RLWC games.
Overview: New Zealand will start their World Cup defence against Pacific Neighbour Samoa at Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington. Having won the rugby league world cup for the first time in 2008 the Kiwis will be looking to go back to back. The Kiwis will be favourites to top their group and will be boosted by the inclusion of Sonny Bill Williams.
New Zealand touched up the Cook Islands 50 -0 in a world cup warm-up match over the weekend. The Kiwis will be looking to put on the same amount of points when they meet Samoa in Warrington.
The Samoans will be out to cause an upset in their first match of the World Cup. Samoa have been slowly getting stronger due to the increase in Samoan players playing in the NRL and Super League. If all available players stay injury free Samoa’s star studded line-up will fancy their chances against the Kiwis.
Samoa where outclassed in their warm-up match against the England Knights in Salford 52 – 16. The Samoans could be looking at a similar scoreline if they don’t turn things around before they meet New Zealand at Warrington on Sunday in their opening match of the tournament.
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2013 RLWC New Zealand v Samoa teams
New Zealand 2013 RLWC team to play Samoa:
1. Josh Hoffman
2. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
3. Dean Whare
4. Bryson Goodwin
5. Manu Vatuvei
6. Kieran Foran (Vice-captain)
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Issac Luke
10. Jesse Bromwich
11. Frank Pritchard
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Simon Mannering (Captain)
14. Elijah Taylor
15. Sam Kasiano
16. Sam Moa
17. Frank-Paul Nu’uausala
18. Greg Eastwood
19. Ben Matulino
Head coach: Stephen Kearney
Samoa 2013 RLWC Squad: Leeson Ah Mau
David Fa’alogo
Pita Godinet
Harrison Hansen
Joseph Leilua
Reni Maitua
Penani Manumalealii
Mose Masoe
Suaia Matagi
Anthony Milford
Junior Moors
Ben Roberts
Junior Sa’u
Iosia Soliola
Sauaso Sue
Mark Taufua
Daniel Vidot
Antonio Winterstein
Frank Winterstein
Head coach: Matt Parish
