The battle for England World Cup places will range over four semi-finals and a Grand Final on both sides of the globe this weekend.

There’s major interest across the north of England in the NRL semi finals, with huge pride in the success of Herbie Farnworth and Morgan Knowles at the Dolphins, and of Dom Young’s part in the Newcastle Knights fairytale.

And the same goes for Hollie-Mae Dodd with the Canberra Raiders in the NRLW, as the 23-year-old Yorkshirewoman continues to make such a success of the bold step she took as a teenager four years ago.

Dodd will doubtless have a close eye on what happens at home on Sunday, as her former York Valkyrie team-mates take on Wigan Warriors in the Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final.

Photo: Raiders forward Hollie-Mae Dodd will be a key player for England. @NRL Photos

The Valkyrie, coached by former Great Britain utility Leon Pryce – the man who famously declared his preference for Blackpool over Bondi during the 2006 Tri-Nations – are a truly international group, with former Bulldogs and Dragons half-back Ellie Williamson pulling the strings, another Aussie, Monique Donovan, at full-back and Canadian trailblazer Megan Pakulis in the pack.

But Wigan are strong favourites to complete their second consecutive League and Cup double with a team built around the exciting local talent of Grace Banks, Izzy Rowe and Jenna Foubister – who are set to form the nucleus of England’s World Cup team.

Wigan’s men are also at short odds to reach their Grand Final, at the Old Trafford home of Manchester United FC next weekend – with a home semi-final against Wakefield Trinity on Saturday evening UK time.

Bevan French and Jai Field remain the cutting edge for Matt Peet’s Warriors, but the key to their sensational form in the second half of the season has been the growing influence of half-back Harry Smith and hooker Brad O’Neill – suggesting they are set for World Cup call-ups from the new England coach Brian McDermott.

Wakefield Trinity are one of the great historic clubs of Rugby League, owing their nickname to the involvement of a nearby church more than 150 years ago. But they have made little impact in the three decades since the foundation of the Super League in 1996 until a recent takeover and the appointment of Daryl Powell as coach transformed the mood at Belle Vue – or the DIY Kitchens Stadium, as it is now known.

An intriguing theme of the weekend’s matches, especially for McDermott, will be the form of the wingers.

Young’s NRL success makes him favourite for the right wing berth, but Wakefield’s Tom Johnstone has continued to impress this season after playing in last year’s Ashes series.

And the first of the weekend’s Super League semi finals on Friday night UK time will see another strong wing contender, Matty Ashton, with a chance to stake his claim for Warrington Wolves against Leeds Rhinos.

Ashton is one of a number of players who have excelled under the coaching of Sam Burgess in 2026 – and even though the Wolves have to travel to Headingley after finishing below Brad Arthur’s Rhinos in the table, their impressive form allied to a recent Leeds stumble has many good judges tipping a first Grand Final for Burgess as a coach in his third year in charge of the Wolves.

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