The 2008 Rugby League World Cup featured the national teams (selected from twenty-four-man squads) of ten nations: Australia, England, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, France, Scotland, Ireland, Samoa, and Tonga. [1] [2]
Head coach: Ricky Stuart   
 
 Assistant coaches: John Cartwright and Allan Langer  [3] 
 
 | Player | Games | Points | Position | Club | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darren Lockyer (capt) | 4 | 8 | FE | Brisbane Broncos | 
| Darius Boyd 1 | 1 | 0 | WG | Brisbane Broncos | 
| Terry Campese | 1 | 0 | FE | Canberra Raiders | 
| Petero Civoniceva | 4 | 0 | PR | Penrith Panthers | 
| Craig Fitzgibbon | 3 | 0 | SR | Sydney Roosters | 
| Israel Folau | 5 | 8 | CE | Melbourne Storm | 
| Paul Gallen | 5 | 4 | SR | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 
| Kurt Gidley | 1 | 0 | UB | Newcastle Knights | 
| Karmichael Hunt 1 | 3 | 0 | FB | Brisbane Broncos | 
| Greg Inglis | 4 | 24 | UB | Melbourne Storm | 
| Brent Kite | 5 | 0 | PR | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 
| Anthony Laffranchi | 4 | 8 | SR | Gold Coast Titans | 
| Joel Monaghan | 5 | 16 | CE | Canberra Raiders | 
| Josh Perry | 3 | 0 | PR | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 
| Steve Price | 4 | 0 | PR | New Zealand Warriors | 
| Scott Prince | 2 | 24 | HB | Gold Coast Titans | 
| Billy Slater | 4 | 28 | FB | Melbourne Storm | 
| Cameron Smith | 5 | 2 | HK | Melbourne Storm | 
| Glenn Stewart | 4 | 0 | SR | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 
| Brent Tate | 4 | 8 | CE | New Zealand Warriors | 
| Johnathan Thurston | 4 | 50 | HB | North Queensland Cowboys | 
| Anthony Tupou 2 | 5 | 4 | SR | Sydney Roosters | 
| Anthony Watmough | 2 | 0 | SR | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 
| David Williams | 2 | 16 | WG | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 
1 Replaced originally selected Brett Stewart and Justin Hodges who withdrew on 16 October. [4]
2 Replaced originally selected Michael Crocker who withdrew due to injury on 9 October. [5]
Head coach: Tony Smith   /
 /  
 
Assistant coach: Steve McNamara 
| Player | Games | Points | Position | Club | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie Peacock (capt) | 4 | 4 | PR | Leeds Rhinos | 
| Rob Burrow | 4 | 22 | SH | Leeds Rhinos | 
| Mark Calderwood | 3 | 0 | WG | Wigan Warriors | 
| Gareth Ellis | 4 | 0 | SR | Leeds Rhinos | 
| Maurie Fa'asavalu | 2 | 0 | PR | St. Helens | 
| Ade Gardner | 3 | 8 | WG | St. Helens | 
| Martin Gleeson | 4 | 12 | CE | Warrington Wolves | 
| James Graham | 3 | 0 | PR | St. Helens | 
| Mickey Higham | 2 | 4 | HK | Warrington Wolves | 
| Gareth Hock | 4 | 0 | SR | Wigan Warriors | 
| Jamie Jones-Buchanan | 1 | 0 | SR | Leeds Rhinos | 
| Jamie Langley | 1 | 0 | LF | Bradford Bulls | 
| Danny McGuire | 3 | 8 | FE | Leeds Rhinos | 
| Adrian Morley | 4 | 0 | PR | Warrington Wolves | 
| Leon Pryce | 3 | 0 | SO | St. Helens | 
| Rob Purdham | 2 | 0 | LF | Harlequins RL | 
| James Roby | 3 | 4 | HK | St. Helens | 
| Keith Senior | 4 | 0 | CE | Leeds Rhinos | 
| Kevin Sinfield | 3 | 8 | LK | Leeds Rhinos | 
| Lee Smith | 2 | 12 | WG | Leeds Rhinos | 
| Paul Sykes | 1 | 0 | CE | Bradford Bulls | 
| Paul Wellens | 4 | 0 | FB | St. Helens | 
| Ben Westwood | 1 | 0 | SR | Warrington Wolves | 
| Jon Wilkin | 3 | 0 | SR | St. Helens | 
Head coach: Stephen Kearney   
 
Assistant coach: Wayne Bennett   
 
 
 | Player | Games | Points | Position | Club | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Cayless (capt) | 4 | 0 | PR | Parramatta Eels | 
| Adam Blair | 5 | 8 | PR | Melbourne Storm | 
| Greg Eastwood | 5 | 4 | LK | Brisbane Broncos | 
| David Fa'alogo | 4 | 4 | SR | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 
| Nathan Fien | 5 | 4 | UH | New Zealand Warriors | 
| Dene Halatau | 1 | 0 | HK | Wests Tigers | 
| Bronson Harrison 1 | 3 | 4 | SR | Wests Tigers | 
| Lance Hohaia | 5 | 16 | UH | New Zealand Warriors | 
| Krisnan Inu | 1 | 10 | UB | Parramatta Eels | 
| David Kidwell | 1 | 0 | SR | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 
| Thomas Leuluai | 5 | 0 | HB | Wigan Warriors | 
| Issac Luke | 4 | 16 | HK | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 
| Simon Mannering | 5 | 8 | SR | New Zealand Warriors | 
| Sika Manu | 4 | 4 | PR | Melbourne Storm | 
| Benji Marshall | 5 | 14 | FE | Wests Tigers | 
| Steve Matai | 2 | 2 | CE | Manly Sea Eagles | 
| Jason Nightingale 2 | 1 | 4 | WG | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 
| Sam Perrett | 4 | 12 | UB | Sydney Roosters | 
| Sam Rapira | 4 | 0 | PR | New Zealand Warriors | 
| Jerome Ropati | 5 | 16 | CE | New Zealand Warriors | 
| Setaimata Sa | 1 | 0 | CE | Sydney Roosters | 
| Jeremy Smith | 5 | 12 | SR | Melbourne Storm | 
| Evarn Tuimavave 2 | 1 | 0 | PR | New Zealand Warriors | 
| Manu Vatuvei | 5 | 16 | WG | New Zealand Warriors | 
1 Replaced originally named Iosia Soliola who withdrew due to injury on 21 October. [6]
2 Replaced originally named Brent Webb and Jeff Lima who withdrew due to injury on 7 October. [7]
Head coach: Adrian Lam   [8]  [9]
  [8]  [9] 
| Player | Games | Points | Position | Club | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Wilshire (capt) | 3 | 10 | UB | Salford City Reds | 
| David Moore | 3 | 0 | WG | Gold Coast Titans | 
| George Keppa | 2 | 8 | WG | Norths Devils | 
| Stanley Gene | 3 | 0 | LK | Hull Kingston Rovers | 
| Keith Peters | 3 | 0 | HB | Penrith Panthers | 
| Charlie Wabo | 2 | 0 | PR |  MMabey & Johnson Muruks | 
| Rodney Pora | 1 | 0 | PR |  Mabey & Johnson Muruks | 
| George Moni | 2 | 0 | SR |  MMabey & Johnson Muruks | 
| Nickson Kolo | 1 | 0 | CE |  Masta Mark City Rangers | 
| Paul Aiton | 3 | 4 | HK | Penrith Panthers | 
| Jessie Joe Parker | 3 | 0 | FE |  Masta Mark City Rangers | 
| Makali Aizue | 2 | 0 | PR | Hull Kingston Rovers | 
| Trevor Exton | 3 | 0 | SR | Ipswich Jets | 
| Neville Costigan | 3 | 0 | SR | Canberra Raiders | 
| James Nightingale | 3 | 0 | LK | Penrith Panthers | 
| Rod Griffin | 3 | 4 | LK | Northern Pride | 
| Larsen Marabe | 0 | 0 | FB |  Agmark Gurias | 
| Kevin Prior | 1 | 0 | CE | Wentworthville Magpies | 
| Jay Aston | 1 | 0 | SR | Melbourne Storm | 
| Tu'u Maori | 3 | 0 | WG | Sydney Roosters | 
| Menzie Yere | 1 | 4 | FE |  Agmark Gurias | 
| Jason Chan | 3 | 4 | CE | Windsor Wolves | 
| Nico Slain | 1 | 0 | HK |  Bintangor Lahanis | 
| Anton Kui | 1 | 0 | HB |  Bingtangor Lahanis | 
Head coach: Joe Dakuitoga   
 
Head coach: John Monie   [10]
  [10] 
| Player | Games | Points | Position | Club | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jérôme Guisset (capt) | 3 | 12 | PR | Catalans Dragons | 
| Éric Anselme | 2 | 0 | CE | Leeds Rhinos | 
| Jean-Philippe Baile | 1 | 0 | CE | Catalans Dragons | 
| Jean-Christophe Borlin | 1 | 0 | FR | Saint-Gaudens Bears | 
| Thomas Bosc | 3 | 16 | FE | Catalans Dragons | 
| Laurent Carrasco | 2 | 0 | LK | Villeneuve Leopards | 
| Rémi Casty | 2 | 0 | PR | Catalans Dragons | 
| Olivier Elima | 3 | 0 | SR | Catalans Dragons | 
| Jamal Fakir | 3 | 0 | SR | Catalans Dragons | 
| Adel Fellous | 2 | 0 | PR | Lézignan Sangliers | 
| Maxime Grésèque | 2 | 0 | HB | Pia Donkeys | 
| Mathieu Griffi | 1 | 0 | FR | Catalans Dragons | 
| Christophe Moly | 3 | 4 | UH/UB | AS Carcassonne | 
| Grégory Mounis | 3 | 0 | LK | Catalans Dragons | 
| Justin Murphy | 2 | 0 | WG | Catalans Dragons | 
| Dimitri Pelo | 2 | 0 | WG | Catalans Dragons | 
| Sébastien Planas | 1 | 4 | WG | Toulouse Olympique | 
| Sébastien Raguin | 3 | 4 | SR | Catalans Dragons | 
| Julien Rinaldi | 1 | 0 | HB | Harlequins RL | 
| Teddy Sadaoui | 3 | 0 | CE | AS Carcassonne | 
| Jared Taylor | 3 | 4 | FB | Lézignan Sangliers | 
| John Wilson | 3 | 8 | CE | Catalans Dragons | 
| James Wynne | 2 | 0 | HB | Lézignan Sangliers | 
Except for Edinburgh Eagles stand-off Paddy Couper, all of the Scottish team's players were selected under the grandparent rule. [11]
Head coach: Steve McCormack   
 
| Player | Games | Points | Position | Club | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Brough (capt) | 2 | 12 | HB | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 
| Chris Armit | 3 | 0 | PR | Bulldogs RLFC | 
| Dean Colton | 1 | 4 | WG | Doncaster | 
| Paddy Coupar [12] | 1 | 0 | HB/CE | Edinburgh Eagles | 
| Gavin Cowan | 2 | 0 | CE | Easts Tigers | 
| John Duffy | 3 | 0 | HB | Widnes Vikings | 
| Ben Fisher | 2 | 0 | HK | Hull Kingston Rovers | 
| Andrew Henderson | 3 | 0 | HK | Castleford Tigers | 
| Ian Henderson | 3 | 0 | HK | New Zealand Warriors | 
| Kevin Henderson | 3 | 0 | CE | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 
| Jack Howieson | 1 | 0 | PR | Sheffield Eagles | 
| Paul Jackson | 2 | 0 | PR | Huddersfield Giants | 
| Wade Liddell | 2 | 0 | FB | Easts Tigers | 
| Scott Logan | 3 | 0 | PR | Canberra Raiders | 
| Neil Lowe | 1 | 0 | SR | Keighley Cougars | 
| Dave McConnell | 1 | 0 | HK | Leigh Centurions | 
| Duncan MacGillivray | 2 | 0 | SR | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 
| Iain Morrison | 3 | 0 | SR | Widnes Vikings | 
| Gareth Morton | 1 | 0 | CE | Oldham | 
| Mick Nanyn | 3 | 0 | CE | Oldham | 
| Lee Paterson | 1 | 0 | FE | Widnes Vikings | 
| Michael Robertson | 3 | 4 | WG | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 
| Jon Steel | 2 | 8 | WG | Hull Kingston Rovers | 
| Oliver Wilkes | 3 | 8 | PR | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 
Head coach: Andy Kelly   
 
| Player | Games | Points | Position | Club | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Grix (capt) | 3 | 4 | FB | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 
| Ross Barbour | 0 | 0 | CE |  Carlow Crusaders | 
| Bob Beswick | 3 | 0 | LK | Halifax | 
| Damien Blanch | 3 | 20 | WG | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 
| Mick Cassidy | 1 | 0 | SR | Barrow Raiders | 
| Ged Corcoran | 1 | 0 | PR | Sheffield Eagles | 
| Lee Doran | 3 | 0 | SR | Widnes Vikings | 
| Liam Finn | 3 | 4 | HB | Dewsbury Rams | 
| Simon Finnigan | 3 | 4 | SR | Huddersfield Giants | 
| Karl Fitzpatrick | 3 | 0 | FB | Salford City Reds | 
| Stevie Gibbons | 0 | 0 | WG | London Skolars | 
| Sean Gleeson | 3 | 4 | CE | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 
| Brendan Guilfoyle | 0 | 0 | PR |  Treaty City Titans | 
| Gareth Haggerty | 3 | 0 | PR | Harlequins RL | 
| Ben Harrison | 3 | 0 | PR | Warrington Wolves | 
| Graham Holroyd | 0 | 0 | FE | Halifax | 
| Wayne Kerr | 1 | 0 | PR | London Skolars | 
| Stuart Littler | 3 | 0 | CE | Salford City Reds | 
| Michael McIlorum | 3 | 0 | HK | Wigan Warriors | 
| Shayne McMenemy | 0 | 0 | SR | WA Reds | 
| Eamon O'Carroll | 3 | 0 | PR | Wigan Warriors | 
| Michael Platt | 3 | 4 | FB | Bradford Bulls | 
| Pat Richards | 3 | 28 | WG | Wigan Warriors | 
| Ryan Tandy | 3 | 0 | PR | Wests Tigers | 
Head coach: John Ackland   
 
| Player | Games | Points | Position | Club | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigel Vagana (capt) | 2 | 8 | CE | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 
| George Carmont | 3 | 8 | WG/CE | Wigan Warriors | 
| David Faiumu | 0 | 0 | HK | North Queensland Cowboys | 
| Harrison Hansen | 3 | 0 | SR | Wigan Warriors | 
| Ali Lauitiiti | 3 | 0 | SR | Leeds Rhinos | 
| Tuaalagi Lepupa | 0 | 0 | Marist Saints | |
| Kylie Leuluai | 2 | 0 | PR | Leeds Rhinos | 
| Wayne McDade | 2 | 0 | PR | Auckland Vulcans | 
| Francis Meli | 3 | 8 | WG | St Helens R.F.C. | 
| Joseph Paulo | 3 | 4 | SR/FE | Penrith Panthers | 
| Frank Puletua | 3 | 4 | PR | Penrith Panthers | 
| Tony Puletua | 3 | 0 | SR | Penrith Panthers | 
| Ben Roberts | 3 | 18 | HB/FE | Bulldogs RLFC | 
| Tangi Ropati | 1 | 0 | FB | Easts Tigers | 
| Smith Samau | 3 | 0 | WG | Gold Coast Titans | 
| Lagi Setu | 2 | 0 | SR | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 
| Terrence Seu Seu | 3 | 0 | HK | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 
| David Solomona | 2 | 4 | SR | Bradford Bulls | 
| Willie Talau | 2 | 0 | CE | St Helens R.F.C. | 
| Alby Talipeau | 2 | 0 | HB | Souths Logan Magpies | 
| Misi Taulapapa | 2 | 8 | WG | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 
| Ben Te'o | 1 | 8 | SR | Wests Tigers | 
| Tupu Ulufale | 0 | 0 | Marist Saints | |
| Matt Utai | 3 | 8 | WG | Bulldogs RLFC | 
Head coach: Jim Dymock   
 
| Player | Games | Points | Position | Club | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lopini Paea (capt) | 3 | 0 | PR | Sydney Roosters | 
| Andrew Emelio | 1 | 0 | CE | Bulldogs RLFC | 
| Richard Fa'aoso | 2 | 0 | SR | Newcastle Knights | 
| Awen Guttenbeil | 1 | 0 | SR | Castleford Tigers | 
| Michael Jennings | 3 | 12 | CE | Penrith Panthers | 
| Antonio Kaufusi | 3 | 0 | SR | Melbourne Storm | 
| Toshio Laiseni | 1 | 0 | FB | Newtown Jets | 
| Stephen Latu | 100 | 3,015 | WG | Parramatta Eels | 
| Epalahame Lauaki | 3 | 0 | SR | New Zealand Warriors | 
| Tevita Leo-Latu | 3 | 4 | HK | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 
| Willie Manu | 3 | 0 | SR | Hull F.C. | 
| Manase Manuokafoa | 2 | 0 | SR | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 
| Feleti Mateo | 3 | 4 | SR | Parramatta Eels | 
| Sam Moa | 3 | 0 | PR | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 
| Eddie Paea | 2 | 6 | HB | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 
| Mickey Paea | 1 | 0 | SR | Sydney Roosters | 
| Fetuli Talanoa | 3 | 4 | WG | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 
| Joel Taufa'ao | 1 | 4 | HB | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 
| Esikeli Tonga | 2 | 4 | FB | Gold Coast Titans | 
| Etuate Uaisele | 3 | 8 | WG | Parramatta Eels | 
| Kim Uasi | 2 | 0 | HK | Auckland Vulcans | 
| Cooper Vuna | 3 | 12 | WG | Newcastle Knights | 
| Tony Williams | 3 | 24 | WG | Parramatta Eels | 
As part of the official opening of the World Cup on 26 October, an exhibition game was played between an Aboriginal selection and a New Zealand Māori side. [18]
Head coach: Neil Henry   
 
| Player | Games | Points | Position | Club | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhys Wesser | 1 | 8 | FB | Penrith Panthers | 
| Justin Carney | 1 | 4 | WG | Canberra Raiders | 
| Maurice Blair | 1 | 0 | CE | Penrith Panthers | 
| Jamal Idris | 1 | 0 | CE | Bulldogs RLFC | 
| Ty Williams | 1 | 0 | WG | North Queensland Cowboys | 
| Jamie Soward | 1 | 10 | FE | St George Illawarra Dragons | 
| Preston Campbell (capt) | 1 | 0 | HB | Gold Coast Titans | 
| Carl Webb | 1 | 0 | PR | North Queensland Cowboys | 
| Ian Lacey | 1 | 0 | HK | Ipswich Jets | 
| George Rose | 1 | 0 | PR | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 
| Daine Laurie | 1 | 0 | SR | Wests Tigers | 
| Derrick Watkins | 1 | 0 | SR | Brisbane Broncos | 
| Dean Widders | 1 | 0 | LK | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 
| Chris Sandow | 1 | 0 | HB | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 
| Rod Jensen | 1 | 8 | UB | Huddersfield Giants | 
| Yileen Gordon | 1 | 4 | CE | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 
| Peter Jensen | 1 | 0 | UB | CRL | 
| Denis Moran | 0 | 0 | HB | Narwan Eels | 
Head coach: Luke Goodwin   [19]  [20]
  [19]  [20] 
| Player | Games | Points | Position | Club | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronx Goodwin | 1 | 4 | FB,WG | Canberra Raiders | 
| Jordan Rapana | 1 | 4 | WG | Gold Coast Titans | 
| Chase Stanley | 1 | 6 | CE | St George Illawarra Dragons | 
| Karl Johnson | 1 | 0 | CE | Central Comets | 
| Shaun Kenny-Dowall | 1 | 4 | WG,CE | Sydney Roosters | 
| Arana Taumata | 1 | 4 | FE | Bulldogs RLFC | 
| Rangi Chase | 1 | 0 | HB,FE | St George Illawarra Dragons | 
| Weller Hauraki | 1 | 0 | PR | Parramatta Eels | 
| Ben Ellis (capt) | 1 | 0 | HK | St George Illawarra Dragons | 
| Sam McKendry | 1 | 4 | FR | Penrith Panthers | 
| Wairangi Koopu | 1 | 0 | S1 | New Zealand Warriors | 
| Craig Smith | 1 | 0 | S2 | Unattached | 
| Lee Te Maari | 1 | 0 | LF,S1 | Bulldogs RLFC | 
| Charlie Herekotukutuku | 1 | 0 | FB,WG,HB | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 
| Joseph Cahill | 1 | 0 | Sydney Roosters | |
| Chance Bunce | 1 | 0 | Cronulla Sharks | |
| James Tamou | 1 | 0 | HK | Sydney Roosters | 
| Kevin Proctor | 0 | 0 | SR | Melbourne Storm | 
| Northern Hemisphere terms | Southern Hemisphere terms | 
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