The World Cup is on our doorstep and rugby league nations are preparing themselves for a title charge with a number of warm-up matches.
England and Samoa kick off the tournament at 12:30am (AEDT) on Sunday October 16 and the hosts feeder side delivered in a warm-up clash against Scotland.
Meanwhile Lebanon, Wales, Greece, Tonga, France and New Zealand have all taken the field — and there were some surprising results.
Read below for a wrap-up of all the World Cup warm-up matches!
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NEW ZEALAND 74 vs LEEDS RHINOS 0
The Rhinos were no match for a star-studded New Zealand team only two weeks after going down to St Helens in the Super League grand final.
Leeds conceded their highest ever points tally as the Kiwis ran in 14 tries, including a first-half hattrick from Raiders gun Sebastian Kris.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Ronald Mulitalo, Jesse Bromwich, Jeremy Marshall-King, Briton Nikora, Jahrome Hughes and Brandon Smith all crossed for four-pointers.
Meanwhile, former Panthers centre Dean Whare also featured and scored while the clash also farewelled former Warrior Thomas Leuluai.
The Kiwis’ campaign kicks off on Monday October 17 when they take on Lebanon.
GREECE 34 vs BRADFORD BULLS 34
Rabbitohs young gun Lachlan Ilias had a chance to seal victory for Greece in the final minute of this encounter.
Unfortunately the 22-year-old’s penalty goal hit the upright and the clash finished with a draw.
In a positive display, Greece were able to bring the scores level after being down 22-12 at halftime.
Greece face France on Tuesday October for their first match of Pool A, with England and Samoa making up the group.
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LEBANON 38 vs WALES 22
Without gun halfback Mitch Moses, Lebanon were still able to get the job done with a strong performance to best Wales.
Bulldogs young gun Jacob Kiraz starred at fullback while Rabbitiohs winger Josh Mansour and Tigers gun Adam Doueihi also featured.
Lebanon held a 24-6 lead at halftime as the Welsh side fought back to score 16 second half points, but it wasn’t enough in the end.
Wales first World Cup encounter is against the Cook Island on Thursday October 20.
ENGLAND KNIGHTS 28 vs SCOTLAND 4
England’s development team, which is considered the first team’s feeder side, were able to beat Scotland in their warm-up clash.
In worrying signs, Scotland were almost held scoreless if it wasn’t for former Cowboys centre Kane Linnett’s four-pointer.
Scotland’s world cup campaign begins on Monday October 17 against Italy and Dolphins gun Euan Aitken is their only NRL player to feature.
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TONGA 48 vs FRANCE 12
Titans bowling ball David Fifita starred for Tonga as they beat France convincingly.
The 22-year-old scored a hattrick while Manly young gun Tolu Koula, former Titan Konrad Hurrell and Dragons star Junior Amone also crossed.
Haumole Olaka’atu joined Fifita in the backrow while Rabbitiohs gun Keaon Koloamatangi wore the No.13 jersey.
Tonga’s World Cup campaign begins on Wednesday October 19 when they take on Papua New Guinea.
Tonga came desperately close to making the grand final in the 2017 World Cup, going down to England in the semi finals, and beat the Kangaroos when they last faced off in 2019.
