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SYDNEY - The 2008 Rugby League World Cup is about much more than just wins and losses for the seven emerging nations taking part in the tournament.
While none are expected to challenge the might of Australia, England and New Zealand for the right to contest the November 22 final in Brisbane, the competition is seen as a platform for growth.
Whether it be harnessing the enormous talent pool in the Pacific island nations of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji or restoring a former powerhouse such as France, the 2008 World Cup is about building for the future.
"The players, they can't all play for Australia or New Zealand. These emerging nations, they want to get their own identity, especially the islands," Tonga coach Jim Dymock said.
"Hopefully this won't be the last of games for the emerging nations, hopefully we can keep doing it every year and get more games for them.
"If we get more games I think, you'll see more of the boys playing for the islands - like the Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga."
A sign of the changing times is evident in the strength of the Tongan and Samoan squads.
While New Zealand selectors were given first crack at all eligible players, veterans such as Samoan pair Tony Puletua and Ali Lauititi and Tongan brothers Fraser and Louis Anderson asked to be overlooked by the Kiwis in favour of playing for the place of their ancestry.
"A lot of the boys want to put their hand up for Tonga so we can lay down a strong platform so that younger players coming through the ranks can opt to play for Tonga," Tongan prop Lopini Paea said.
"It's more than just playing for the nation, we're really trying to push forward for the future of Tonga as well."
Tonga appear favourites to emerge from pool 3 to book one place in the semifinal qualifier, but first they have to overcome Samoa in their preliminary match in Penrith on October 31.
The winner of that game will almost certainly progress through to meet the winner of pool 2, likely to be either Fiji or France, for the right to join the top three sides from pool 1 in the semifinals.
"There's a big history between Tonga and Samoa. They're next door neighbours and obviously there's a lot of war in the history," Paea said.
"That's all done and dusted now but I suppose that rivalry still hangs in there."
For the other teams, just making it to the final 10 sides is an honour in itself.
Ireland could be up against it to get a win against either Tonga and Samoa, but they are sure to get plenty of support from the Irish community with their two matches to be played at Parramatta Stadium.
Likewise Scotland could also struggle on the scoreboard against both France and Fiji in pool 2.
"I myself was quite surprised they got up and won," Scotland and Bulldogs prop Chris Armit said of his side's qualifying win over Wales.
"They ended up getting through on aggregate (differential), but they've done pretty well to get this far."
- AAP
