By Rich Cowley, Updated: 24/10/17
Teams: Ireland v Italy
Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Date: 29th October 2017
Kick-off time: 2pm (Local Time)
2017 RLWC TV viewing information: Channel 7 will broadcast all 2017 RLWC games in Australia on Free to Air TV. BBC Will broadcast RLWC games across the UK. Sky Sports will Broadcast all RLWC matches in New Zealand. Fiji TV will Broadcast all matches RLWC matches across the Pacific Islands. EM TV will broadcast all RLWC matches across PNG. Astro will broadcast all RLWC matches across Malaysia. PCCW will broadcast all RLWC matches across Hong Kong. DAZN will broadcast all RLWC matches across Japan. OSN Sports will broadcast all matches across the Middle East. Fox Sports will broadcast all matches across the United States.
Overview: The Ireland team are full of experienced players that have been running around in the Super League, 2nd and 3rd divisions over in the UK. Ireland drew the shortest straw in the 2013 RLWC where they were pooled with Australia, England and Fiji. In 2017 The Irish will be in a much more forgiving group and kick-off their campaign against fellow minnows Italy. Ireland will be hoping to spot a few four leaf clovers and receive a dash of Irish luck when they run out against Italy in Cairns.
Italy have a mixture of players from the local competition in Italy along with NRL, Super League and lower grade experience. Mark Minichiello will captain the team along with James Tedesco as vice-captain. The Italians actually have a pretty strong line-up and will be favourites going into this clash. Italy will be aiming for a quarter final berth and will need to win this game to get their campaign off to the right start.
2017 RLWC Ireland v Italy
Ireland 2017 RLWC Team:
1 Scott Grix
2 Shannon McDonnell
3 Ed Chamberlain
4 Centre Michael MORGAN
5 Wing Liam Kay
6 Api Pewhairangi
7 Liam Finn (c)
8 1 Brad Singleton
9 Michael McIlorum
10 Kyle Amor
11 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
12 Oliver Roberts
13 George King
14 Tyrone MCCARTHY
15 James HASSON
16 Joe Philbin
17 Anthony Mullally
18 Joe Keyes
19 Will Hope
20 Jack Higginson
21 Matty Hadden
Italy 2017 RLWC Team:
1 James TEDESCO
2 Mason CERRUTO
3 Justin CASTELLARO
4 Nathan MILONE
5 Josh MANTELLATO
6 Terry CAMPESE
7 Jack JOHNS
8 Paul VAUGHAN
9 Ryan GHIETTI
10 Daniel ALVARO
11 Joel RIETHMULLER
12 Mark MINICHIELLO (c)
13 Nathan BROWN
14 Colin WILKIE
15 Brendan SANTI
16 Shannon WAKEMAN
17 Jayden WALKER
18 Christophe CALEGRI
19 Christopher CENTRONE
20 Joe TRAMONTANA
21 Gavin HISCOX
