Australia will go into the Rugby League World Cup as favourites, but do they deserve to be?

As the Rugby League World Cup kicks off in spectacular fashion with the Kangaroos taking on the Kiwis on Thursday night, we run our eye over the contenders for the biggest prize on the international stage. As always, the tournament favourites. However, there are many obstacles – Kiwis aside – that the locals will need to overcome. There’s the absence of the best player in the game, injured halfback Nathan Cleary. The unavailability of props Payne Haas and Lindsay Collins, which leaves the Kangaroos light up front, could be just as telling.