The top eight teams of the Rugby League World Cup have been decided, with Papua New Guinea booking their spot against England in game three of the quarter-finals after their 36-0 win over Wales.

The other games will see Australia take on Lebanon in the first quarter-final match, New Zealand takes on Fiji, and then no doubt an explosive and physical battle will erupt between Samoa and Tonga for the last game of the weekend.

“Like everybody following the tournament, I couldn’t be more excited to now be reaching the business stage of the men’s competition, with the quarter-final lineup set to provide some thrilling matches,” said RLWC 2021 CEO Jon Dutton.

“This is when the best teams in the world really start to click into gear, with the prospect of lifting the Paul Barrière Trophy, getting ever closer.

“The stakes are high and across the weekend we will witness unscripted drama, athleticism, skill and cultures both colliding and uniting.”

Friday November 4

Australia v Lebanon at Kirklees Stadium, Huddersfield, 7.30pm (6.30am Saturday AEDT)

The Aussies have barely broken a sweat through the group stages but will narrow in on their best 17 for the Lebanon game. Michael Cheika’s Cedars pose a threat with their unorthodox style of strips and kicks and will look to Mitchell Moses and Adam Doueihi as their main attacking outlets.

Saturday November 5

England v Papua New Guinea at DW Stadium, Wigan, 2.30pm (1.30am Sunday AEDT)

These two sides met in Melbourne in 2017 and while England will have hometown advantage, this Kumuls side have shown they can push anyone the distance. The battle between Justin Olam and England centre Kallum Watkins makes this compelling viewing but England’s pack gives them the upper-hand.