2017 Rugby League World Cup Group B
# 2017 Rugby League World Cup Group B

Group B of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup is one of the four groups in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, which began on 28 October and was completed on 11 November 2017. The group comprised New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland and Tonga. Tonga finished top of the pool while New Zealand and Samoa also qualified for the quarter-finals.

## Overall

Key to colours in pool tables :

* Advances to knockout stage and qualifies for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Tonga | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 110 | 44 | +66 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | New Zealand (H) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 134 | 42 | +92 | 4 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Samoa | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 40 | 84 | −44 | 1 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 4 | Scotland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 138 | −114 | 1 | |

## New Zealand vs Samoa

* 28 October 2017 20:10 NZDT (UTC+13)

| New Zealand | 38–8 | Samoa |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Jordan Rapana (4') 1 Shaun Johnson (20') 1 Brad Takairangi (46') 1 Kodi Nikorima (52') 1 Issac Liu (55') 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (68') 1 Nelson Asofa-Solomona (72') 1 Goals: Shaun Johnson 5/7 (21', 53', 56', 69', 73') | Report | Tries: 1 (37') Ken Maumalo 1 (80') Joseph Paulo Goals: 0/1 Peter Matautia 0/1 Tim Lafai |

* Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 17,857 Referee: James Child (England) Player of the Match: Joseph Tapine (New Zealand)

| FB | 1 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck |
| - | - | - |
| WG | 2 | Dallin Watene-Zelezniak |
| CE | 3 | Gerard Beale |
| CE | 4 | Brad Takairangi |
| WG | 5 | Jordan Rapana |
| FE | 6 | Kodi Nikorima |
| HB | 7 | Shaun Johnson |
| PR | 8 | Martin Taupau |
| HK | 9 | Thomas Leuluai |
| PR | 18 | Jared Waerea-Hargreaves |
| SR | 13 | Simon Mannering |
| SR | 12 | Joseph Tapine |
| LK | 10 | Adam Blair (c) |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Nelson Asofa-Solomona |
| IC | 15 | Russell Packer |
| IC | 16 | Isaac Liu |
| IC | 17 | Danny Levi |
| Coach: ||
| David Kidwell ||
| FB | 1 | Young Tonumaipea |
| WG | 2 | Peter Mata’utia |
| CE | 3 | Tim Lafai |
| CE | 4 | Joseph Leilua |
| WG | 5 | Ken Maumalo |
| FE | 6 | Joseph Paulo |
| HB | 7 | Ben Roberts |
| PR | 8 | Junior Paulo |
| HK | 9 | Jazz Tevaga |
| PR | 10 | Sam Lisone |
| SR | 11 | Josh Papalii |
| SR | 12 | Frank Pritchard (c) |
| LK | 13 | Leeson Ah Mau |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Pita Godinet |
| IC | 15 | Herman Ese’ese |
| IC | 16 | Suaia Matagi |
| IC | 17 | Bunty Afoa |
| Coach: ||
| Matt Parish ||

## Scotland vs Tonga

* 29 October 2017 16:15 AEDT (UTC+10)

| Scotland | 4–50 | Tonga |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Danny Addy (62') 1 Goals: Danny Brough 0/1 | Report | Tries: 3 (3', 20', 40') Michael Jennings 2 (26', 73') Daniel Tupou 1 (17') Jason Taumalolo 1 (23') Sika Manu 1 (38') Peni Terepo 1 (76') Ata Hingano Goals: 6/7 Sio Siua Taukeiaho (4', 19', 21', 24', 75', 78') 1/2 Ata Hingano (40') |

* Barlow Park, Cairns Attendance: 9,216 Referee: Phil Bentham (England) Player of the Match: Jason Taumalolo (Tonga)

Notes:

* Due to high humidity conditions, the game was played with quarter-time drinks breaks after the heat rule was invoked.

| FB | 1 | Lewis Tierney |
| - | - | - |
| WG | 2 | Matty Russell |
| CE | 3 | Ben Hellewell |
| CE | 4 | Lachlan Stein |
| WG | 5 | Will Oakes |
| FE | 6 | Danny Brough (c) |
| HB | 7 | Danny Addy |
| PR | 8 | Luke Douglas |
| HK | 9 | Kane Bentley |
| PR | 10 | Ben Kavanagh |
| SR | 11 | Frankie Mariano |
| SR | 12 | Dale Ferguson |
| LK | 13 | James Bell |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Callum Phillips |
| IC | 15 | Andrew Bentley |
| IC | 16 | Sam Brooks |
| IC | 17 | Jonathan Walker |
| Coach: ||
| Steve McCormack ||
| FB | 1 | William Hopoate |
| WG | 2 | Daniel Tupou |
| CE | 3 | Michael Jennings |
| CE | 4 | Konrad Hurrell |
| WG | 5 | Manu Vatuvei |
| FE | 6 | Tuimoala Lolohea |
| HB | 7 | Mafoa'aeata Hingano |
| PR | 8 | Andrew Fifita |
| HK | 9 | Siliva Havili |
| PR | 10 | Sio Siua Taukeiaho |
| SR | 11 | Manu Ma'u |
| SR | 12 | Sika Manu (c) |
| LK | 13 | Jason Taumalolo |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Sione Katoa |
| IC | 15 | Sam Moa |
| IC | 16 | Peni Terepo |
| IC | 17 | Ben Murdoch-Masila |
| Coach: ||
| Kristian Woolf ||

## New Zealand vs Scotland

* 4 November 2017 17:00 NZDT (UTC+13)

| New Zealand | 74–6 | Scotland |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Te Maire Martin (32', 52', 76') 3 Pita Hiku (39', 58', 69') 3 Jason Nightingale (13', 23') 2 Kenny Bromwich (9') 1 Joseph Tapine (16') 1 Russell Packer (43') 1 Dean Whare (55') 1 Shaun Johnson (61') 1 Elijah Taylor (79') 1 Goals: Shaun Johnson 9/14 (11', 33', 44', 53', 56', 60', 63', 70', 80') | Report | Tries: 1 (72') Oscar Thomas Goals: 1/1 Danny Addy (73') |

* Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 12,130 Referee: Henry Perenara (New Zealand) Player of the Match: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand)

| FB | 1 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck |
| - | - | - |
| WG | 2 | Jason Nightingale |
| CE | 3 | Dean Whare |
| CE | 4 | Brad Takairangi |
| WG | 5 | Peta Hiku |
| FE | 6 | Te Maire Martin |
| HB | 7 | Shaun Johnson |
| PR | 8 | Martin Taupau |
| HK | 9 | Elijah Taylor |
| PR | 18 | Jared Waerea-Hargreaves |
| SR | 13 | Kenny Bromwich |
| SR | 12 | Joseph Tapine |
| LK | 10 | Adam Blair (c) |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Nelson Asofa-Solomona |
| IC | 15 | Russell Packer |
| IC | 16 | Addin Fonua-Blake |
| IC | 17 | Danny Levi |
| Coach: ||
| David Kidwell ||
| FB | 1 | Alex Walker |
| WG | 2 | Lewis Tierney |
| CE | 3 | Ben Hellewell |
| CE | 4 | Lachlan Stein |
| WG | 5 | Matty Russell |
| FE | 6 | Danny Brough (c) |
| HB | 7 | Oscar Thomas |
| PR | 8 | Luke Douglas |
| HK | 9 | Danny Addy |
| PR | 10 | Ben Kavanagh |
| SR | 11 | Jarred Anderson |
| SR | 12 | Dale Ferguson |
| LK | 13 | James Bell |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Kane Bentley |
| IC | 15 | Sam Brooks |
| IC | 16 | Brandan Wilkinson |
| IC | 17 | Jonathan Walker |
| Coach: ||
| Steve McCormack ||

## Samoa vs Tonga

In the week leading up to the match there were several "vicious street brawls" between Samoan and Tongan supporters. This led to members of both the Tongan and Samoan teams calling for calm. 29 people were arrested for fighting after the game.

* 4 November 2017 19:30 NZDT (UTC+13)

| Samoa | 18–32 | Tonga |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Jazz Tevaga (17') 1 Ben Roberts (65') 1 Tim Lafai (73') 1 Goals: Tim Lafai 3/3 (18', 66', 74') | Report | Tries: 2 (10', 29') Michael Jennings 1 (52') Peni Terepo 1 (60') Ben Murdoch-Masila 1 (77') Manu Ma'u Goals: 4/4 Sio Siua Taukeiaho (11', 28' pen, 30', 79') 2/2 Ata Hingano (53', 61') |

* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 18,156 Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia) Player of the Match: Andrew Fifita (Tonga)

| FB | 1 | Young Tonumaipea |
| - | - | - |
| WG | 2 | Ricky Leutele |
| CE | 3 | Tim Lafai |
| CE | 4 | Joseph Leilua |
| WG | 5 | Ken Maumalo |
| FE | 20 | Jarome Luai |
| HB | 7 | Ben Roberts |
| PR | 8 | Junior Paulo |
| HK | 9 | Jazz Tevaga |
| PR | 10 | Herman Ese'ese |
| SR | 11 | Josh Papalii |
| SR | 12 | Frank Pritchard (c) |
| LK | 13 | Leeson Ah Mau |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Fa'amanu Brown |
| IC | 15 | Zane Musgrove |
| IC | 16 | Sam Lisone |
| IC | 17 | Bunty Afoa |
| Coach: ||
| Matt Parish ||
| FB | 1 | William Hopoate |
| WG | 2 | Daniel Tupou |
| CE | 3 | Michael Jennings |
| CE | 4 | Solomone Kata |
| WG | 5 | David Fusitu'a |
| FE | 6 | Tuimoala Lolohea |
| HB | 7 | Mafoa'aeata Hingano |
| PR | 8 | Andrew Fifita |
| HK | 14 | Sione Katoa |
| PR | 10 | Sio Siua Taukeiaho |
| SR | 11 | Manu Ma'u |
| SR | 12 | Sika Manu (c) |
| LK | 13 | Jason Taumalolo |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 9 | Siliva Havili |
| IC | 15 | Sam Moa |
| IC | 16 | Peni Terepo |
| IC | 17 | Ben Murdoch-Masila |
| Coach: ||
| Kristian Woolf ||

## New Zealand vs Tonga

After the match, Tonga's victory was described as "the small island nation's greatest ever sporting achievement". During celebrations following the match, 53 Tongan supporters were arrested in Auckland.

* 11 November 2017 17:00 NZDT (UTC+13)

| New Zealand | 22–28 | Tonga |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (39', 72') 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (21') 1 Jordan Rapana (28') 1 Goals: Shaun Johnson 3/4 (30', 40', 73') | Report | Tries: 3 (48', 59', 77') David Fusitu'a 1 (62') Tuimoala Lolohea 1 (65') William Hopoate Goals: 3/4 Sio Siua Taukeiaho (7' pen, 63', 66') 1/2 Tuimoala Lolohea (60') |

* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 24,041 Referee: Gerard Sutton (Australia) Player of the Match: Tuimoala Lolohea (Tonga)

| FB | 1 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck |
| - | - | - |
| WG | 2 | Dallin Watene-Zelezniak |
| CE | 3 | Dean Whare |
| CE | 4 | Brad Takairangi |
| WG | 5 | Jordan Rapana |
| FE | 6 | Kodi Nikorima |
| HB | 7 | Shaun Johnson |
| PR | 8 | Martin Taupau |
| HK | 9 | Thomas Leuluai |
| PR | 10 | Jared Waerea-Hargreaves |
| SR | 11 | Simon Mannering |
| SR | 12 | Joseph Tapine |
| LK | 13 | Adam Blair (c) |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Nelson Asofa-Solomona |
| IC | 15 | Russell Packer |
| IC | 16 | Isaac Liu |
| IC | 17 | Danny Levi |
| Coach: ||
| David Kidwell ||
| FB | 1 | William Hopoate |
| WG | 2 | Daniel Tupou |
| CE | 18 | Mahe Fonua |
| CE | 4 | Konrad Hurrell |
| WG | 5 | David Fusitu'a |
| FE | 6 | Tuimoala Lolohea |
| HB | 7 | Mafoa'aeata Hingano |
| PR | 8 | Andrew Fifita |
| HK | 9 | Sione Katoa |
| PR | 10 | Sio Siua Taukeiaho |
| SR | 11 | Manu Ma'u |
| SR | 12 | Sika Manu (c) |
| LK | 13 | Jason Taumalolo |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Siliva Havili |
| IC | 16 | Peni Terepo |
| IC | 17 | Ben Murdoch-Masila |
| IC | 21 | Tevita Pangai Junior |
| Coach: ||
| Kristian Woolf ||

Notes:

* This was New Zealand's first loss on home soil since 2012, when they lose to Australia in Auckland at Eden Park.
* This was the first time a tier two nation had defeated Australia, England or New Zealand in a World Cup match.

## Samoa vs Scotland

* 11 November 2017 17:00 AEDT (UTC+10)

| Samoa | 14–14 | Scotland |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Junior Paulo (12') 1 Matthew Wright (49') 1 Young Tonumaipea (66') 1 Goals: Matthew Wright 1/3 (13') | Report | Tries: 1 (5') Lewis Tierney 1 (28') Frankie Mariano Goals: 3/4 Danny Addy (6', 18' pen, 30') |

* Barlow Park, Cairns Attendance: 4,309 Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia) Player of the Match: Danny Addy (Scotland)

| FB | 1 | Young Tonumaipea |
| - | - | - |
| WG | 2 | Ricky Leutele |
| CE | 3 | Tim Lafai |
| CE | 4 | Joseph Leilua |
| WG | 5 | Matthew Wright |
| FE | 6 | Jarome Luai |
| HB | 7 | Fa'amanu Brown |
| PR | 8 | Junior Paulo |
| HK | 9 | Jazz Tevaga |
| PR | 10 | Herman Ese’ese |
| SR | 11 | Josh Papalii |
| SR | 12 | Frank Winterstein |
| LK | 13 | Bunty Afoa |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Pita Godinet |
| IC | 15 | Joseph Paulo |
| IC | 16 | Leeson Ah Mau |
| IC | 17 | Sam Tagataese |
| Coach: ||
| Matt Parish ||
| FB | 1 | Lewis Tierney |
| WG | 2 | Shane Toal |
| CE | 3 | Ben Hellewell |
| CE | 4 | Lachlan Stein |
| WG | 5 | Matty Russell |
| FE | 6 | Danny Addy |
| HB | 7 | Oscar Thomas |
| PR | 8 | Luke Douglas (c) |
| HK | 9 | Callum Phillips |
| PR | 10 | Ben Kavanagh |
| SR | 11 | Frankie Mariano |
| SR | 12 | Dale Ferguson |
| LK | 13 | James Bell |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Kane Bentley |
| IC | 15 | Brandan Wilkinson |
| IC | 16 | Andrew Bentley |
| IC | 17 | Jarred Anderson |
| Coach: ||
| Steve McCormack ||
