Rugby League World Cup group bets and predictions: England value as underdogs

Free rugby league tips, best bets and analysis for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup which starts in Newcastle on Saturday.

Where to watch

Every game will be covered live on the BBC

Best bets

England to win Group A
2pts 11-10 Betfair, Paddy Power

Lebanon to reach quarter-finals
1pt 9-5 Betfair

Tournament preview

Australia, New Zealand and Tonga should have top spot sewn up in Groups B, C and D but there may be a touch value still to be had in Groups A and C.

England are housed in Group A where Samoa are 4-6 favourites to progress as top dogs and writing off England appears to be a common theme.

Much is being of Samoa's chances as their squad contains a host of Penrith's back-to-back NRL title-winning team.

There's no doubt they will pack a punch but a long way away from home and against hostile crowds they may not find things all to their liking.

Samoa are favourites to beat England in the tournament opener on Saturday but if the home side come out on top, then winning the section should follow.

The runners-up in Group A are likely to go on to face Tonga so it is imperative to grab that opening win and finish the group in first place.

Winning Group A would probably lead to a quarter-final with Papua New Guinea and a much softer route to the final four and England's home advantage makes them value underdogs to nick the advantage.

Lebanon can also reach the last eight as runners-up to New Zealand in Group C.

The Cedars are coached by former Wallabies chief Michael Cheika with NRL legend Robbie Farah as his assistant and it is a coaching dream team who could get the best out of a talented squad.

Mitchell Moses and Adam Doueihi are the star turns, while Jacob Kiraz and Josh Mansour carry a huge threat out wide and it is not beyond the Lebanese to spring a surprise or two.

Lebanon were unlucky to be housed with Australia and England in 2017 but gave France a good walloping along the way and their main rivals for second spot in 2022 look to be Ireland with Jamaica unlikely to offer too much resistance.

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