Rugby League World Cup

“A lot of fans will be coming in and also watching back at home. There’s a lot of pressure on us but it’s important we get off to a good start against Wales.

The Kumuls had their final training session this morning at the Oil Search National Football Stadium.

“We had the final session with the captain’s run. The 18 man-squad has been named and they’re looking forward to taking the field tomorrow.

Marum confirmed that vice-captain and five-eighth, Ase Boas will take the field tomorrow.

“Ase finished today’s session and he’s ready to go.

Johnson endured a miserable back-end to the 2017 NRL season, injuring his knee and missing six games as his Warriors outfit missed the finals.

But with almost two months separating his last Warriors match and Saturday's clash with Toa Samoa, the star halfback said he felt like a new man.

A host of injuries and squad defections - most prominently Jason Taumalolo - had allowed coach David Kidwell to start afresh with combinations.

With Kieran Foran out injured, Johnson will likely start in the halves alongside in-form Cowboys young gun Te Maire Martin.

The PNG Kumuls 23 men squad resumed camp in Port Moresby as the countdown continues to the world cup.

Kumuls moved into camp at the new Kumuls Headquarters at Gateway Hotel that will be their home for the next three weeks.

The players were on a break from camp for a few days after the Ti Nations in Fiji. 

Training began with a gym session and with the wet weather kicking in this week, field sessions are expected to go ahead.

Bennett has joined up with his players at their training camp in Perth, where they are preparing for their first group game against the defending champions in Melbourne on Friday, October 27.

England also play Lebanon and France, with three teams going through to the quarter-finals.

Betts, a decorated former England captain who joined Wayne Bennett's coaching group last year, says O'Loughlin's consistency and big game temperament is an example for the other squad members to follow.

"He gives you direction," Betts said. 

RLWC2017 head of officiating Tony Archer today announced a squad of match officials for the World Cup and for the first time each of the 26 is drawn from the NRL or Super League competitions only.

Mark Aston has kept the core squad together that have been a part of the last few European Championships and the players that qualified for the tournament last Autumn.

The evergreen Liam Finn and Scott Grix lead the side as captain and vice-captain with over 20 years of experience now playing for Ireland.