By Jack Lacey-Hatton

New Zealand head coach Michael Maguire and Lebanon’s Michael Cheika have revealed their match day squads for their Rugby League World Cup opener on Sunday.

Both sides will be looking to make the perfect start to life in Group C at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium, with Ireland and Jamaica making up the group.

The Kiwis, who were the last team other than Australia to lift the trophy back in 2008, go with a 19-strong team that includes star winger Jordan Rapana and captain Jesse Bromwich.

Lebanon include Mitch Moses in their 19-man squad with the 28-year-old skipper fresh from a superb NRL campaign with the Parramatta Eels.

New Zealand: 1 Joseph Manu, 2 Ronaldo Mulitalo, 21 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 4 Peta Hiku, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Dylan Brown, 22 Jeremy Marshall-King, 8 Jesse Bromwich (C), 9 Brandon Smith, 10 James Fisher-Harris, 11 Isaiah Papali’I, 12 Kenny Bromwich, 13 Joseph Tapine, 14 Kieran Foran, 23 Scott Sorensen, 16 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 17 Briton Nikora, 19 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Marata Niukore

Lebanon: 17 Jalal Bazzaz, 6 Adam Doueihi, 10 Hanna El-Nachar, 11 Elie El-Zakhem, 8 Kayne Kalache, 15 Andrew Kazzi, 1 Jacob Kiraz, 14 Anthony Layoun, 2 Josh Mansour, 21 Josh Maree, 5 Abbas Miski, 4 Brandon Morkos, 7 Mitch Moses (C), 19 Khalil Rahme, 20 Jaxson Rahme, 16 Reece Robinson, 13 James Roumanos, 9 Mikey Tannous, 12 Charbel Tasipale

READ MORE: Sleep is precious for Lebanon coach Cheika in cross-code challenge

Head-to-head

The two sides only previous meeting also came on English soil, 22 years ago this month at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.

New Zealand ran out 64-0 winners in the Group Two clash at the Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester, with the Kiwis going on to reach the final.

Fun fact

Lebanon’s sole previous win at the World Cup also came in their first game of the tournament.

They began their 2017 campaign with an entertaining 29-18 win over France. Can they make another perfect start this time?

New Zealand record

The number one ranked side in the world have a stellar Rugby League World Cup record, the highpoint coming in 2008 when they defeated hosts Australia in the final to lift the Paul Barrière Trophy for the first time.

While the pandemic has curtailed the international game in recent years, the Kiwis did win their first game in just over two-and-a-half years last time out with a win over Tonga.

READ MORE: Kiwi coach Maguire right at home back in England

Lebanon record

Lebanon have won their last two internationals with wins against Malta and Fiji, albeit the latter took place back in 2019.

The Cedars have previously competed at the Rugby League World Cup finals on two occasions, going out at the group stage in 2000 but making a strong return in 2017 with a run to the last eight.

Players to watch

• New Zealand’s Joseph Manu made 145 tackle breaks for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL, second only to club teammate James Tedesco in the entire league.
• Lebanon’s Mitch Moses kicked 95 goals in the NRL last season the second highest in the competition.

The Rugby League World Cup promises to be the biggest, best and most inclusive event in the sport’s 127-year history with men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams competing in 61 games across 21 venues throughout England. Tickets are available via rlwc2021.com/tickets