2008 Rugby League World Cup Group C

2008 Rugby League World Cup Group C was one of the three groups of teams that competed in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup tournament's group stage. Group C consisted of three teams: Ireland, Tonga and Samoa. After all teams played had each other once, only Ireland advanced to 2008 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage.

Group C[]

Tonga vs Ireland[]

27 October

Tonga	22 – 20	Ireland
Tries: Michael Jennings 10' c Cooper Vuna 36' m Etuate Uaisele 59' c Esikeli Tonga 74' m Goals: Joel Taufa'ao (2) Tony Williams (1)	(report)	Tries: Damien Blanch 26' m, 51' m, 67' c Michael Platt 30' c Goals: Pat Richards (2)

Parramatta Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 6,165 Referee: Steve Ganson

Tonga

Ireland

FB 1 Fetuli Talanoa RW 2 Cooper Vuna RC 3 Michael Jennings LC 4 Etu Uaisele LW 5 Esikeli Tonga FE 6 Feleti Mateo HB 7 Joel Taufa'ao PR 8 Antonio Kaufusi HK 9 Tevita Leo-Latu PR 10 Manase Manuokafoa SR 11 Lopini Paea (c) SR 12 Richard Fa'aoso LK 13 Willie Manu Substitutions: IC 14 Sam Moa IC 15 Epalahame Lauaki IC 16 Kim Uasi IC 17 Tony Williams Coach: Jim Dymock

FB 1 Michael Platt RW 2 Damien Blanch RC 3 Sean Gleeson LC 4 Stuart Littler LW 5 Pat Richards SO 6 Scott Grix (c) SH 7 Karl Fitzpatrick PR 8 Eamon O'Carroll HK 9 Bob Beswick PR 10 Ryan Tandy SR 11 Ben Harrison SR 12 Lee Doran LF 13 Simon Finnigan Substitutions: IC 14 Michael McIlorum IC 15 Liam Finn IC 16 Gareth Haggerty IC 17 Mick Cassidy Coach: Andy Kelly

Samoa vs Tonga[]

31 October

Samoa	20 – 12	Tonga
Tries: Francis Meli Nigel Vagana Matt Utai George Carmont Goals: Ben Roberts (2)	(report)	Tries: Michael Jennings Tevita Leo-Latu Goals: Tony Williams (2)

Penrith Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 11,787 Referee: Shayne Hayne

Samoa

Tonga

FB 1 Smith Samau RW 2 Matt Utai RC 3 Willie Talau LC 4 George Carmont LW 5 Francis Meli FE 6 Nigel Vagana (c) HB 7 Ben Roberts PR 8 Kylie Leuluai HK 9 Terrence Seu Seu PR 10 Tony Puletua SR 11 Lagi Setu SR 12 David Solomona LK 13 Harrison Hansen Substitutions: IC 14 Frank Puletua IC 15 Ali Lauitiiti IC 16 Joseph Paulo IC 17 Alby Talipeau Coach: John Ackland

FB 3 Michael Jennings RW 2 Cooper Vuna RC 1 Fetuli Talanoa LC 4 Etu Uaisele LW 5 Esikeli Tonga FE 6 Feleti Mateo HB 9 Tevita Leo-Latu PR 8 Antonio Kaufusi HK 13 Willie Manu PR 10 Awen Guttenbeil SR 11 Lopini Paea (c) SR 12 Richard Fa'aoso LK 20 Tony Williams Substitutions: IC 14 Manase Manuokafoa IC 15 Epalahame Lauaki IC 16 Sam Moa IC 17 Eddie Paea Coach: Jim Dymock

Ireland vs Samoa[]

5 November

Ireland	34 – 16	Samoa
Tries: Pat Richards 12', 43', 79' Simon Finnigan 14' Sean Gleeson 19' Liam Finn 71' Goals: Pat Richards (5)	(report)	Tries: Nigel Vagana 25' Misi Taulapapa 35' David Solomona 75' Goals: Ben Roberts (2)

Parramatta Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 8,067 Referee: Thierry Alibert Man of the Match: Pat Richards

Ireland

Samoa

FB 1 Michael Platt RW 2 Damien Blanch RC 3 Sean Gleeson LC 4 Stuart Littler LW 5 Pat Richards SO 6 Scott Grix (c) SH 7 Liam Finn PR 8 Eamon O'Carroll HK 9 Bob Beswick PR 10 Gareth Haggerty SR 11 Ben Harrison SR 12 Lee Doran LF 13 Simon Finnigan Substitutions: IC 14 Michael McIlorum IC 15 Karl Fitzpatrick IC 16 Wayne Kerr IC 17 Ryan Tandy Coach: Andy Kelly

FB 1 Smith Samau RW 2 Matt Utai RC 3 Willie Talau LC 4 George Carmont LW 5 Francis Meli FE 6 Nigel Vagana (c) HB 7 Ben Roberts PR 8 Wayne McDade HK 9 Terrence Seu Seu PR 10 Tony Puletua SR 11 Lagi Setu SR 15 Ali Lauitiiti LK 13 Harrison Hansen Substitutions: IC 12 David Solomona IC 14 Frank Puletua IC 16 Joseph Paulo IC 17 Misi Taulapapa Coach: John Ackland

Final standings[]

Team v t	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Ireland	2	1	0	1	54	38	+16	2
Tonga	2	1	0	1	34	40	−6	2
Samoa	2	1	0	1	36	46	−10	2

In the 2008 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage Ireland played in the qualifying final while Tonga and Samoa played for 7th and 9th place respectively.

References[]