League: Team-by-team analysis

Aussie legend Darren Lockyer. Photo / Getty Images

A comparison of the teams and the stars as they face off.

* NEW ZEALAND

Competition record: P17 W7 D2 L8

Titles: 1 (2005)

Tournament odds: $3.20

In brains we trust: After teaming up with Wayne Bennett to deliver his country's finest hour, newly appointed Parramatta coach Stephen Kearney has made a great fist (something he did a fair bit of as a player) of doing the job on his own. He won't look back at last year's decision to play Kieran Foran at centre against the English when Krisnan Inu was available as one of his finest, but other than that he's hardly put a foot wrong. Ably assisted by Tony Iro, another coming man of Kiwi coaching.

Shine a light on me: Stardom seems to agree with Benji Marshall. He's happy enough to have the spotlight on him and clever enough to do it on his on own terms. Having truly embraced the media side of his career, Marshall needs to make sure his performances match his profile. The stick funnyman Tigers teammate Beau Ryan copped when his form tailed off this season is a cautionary tale, however with Marshall's talent, living up to expectations shouldn't be a problem.

Making the plays: Marshall again. With Foran out, the Kiwis captain shoulders even more of the game-breaking responsibility. Nathan Fien is an honest halfback but hardly a creative genius. When Marshall's not providing the big plays, expect them to come from hooking duo Issac Luke and Thomas Leuluai.

He's a hitman: Ben Matulino hates talking about big hits, regarding his monster tackles as nothing more than flukes. Fair enough, but in that case the Wellington hard nut is a very flukey customer. Jared Waerea Hargreaves loves dishing out the pain but he also copped some in the NRL finals (take a bow Simon Dwyer), so it will be interesting to see how he responds.

The missing: Foran is the big injury casualty, while Steve Matai is missing because he keeps illegally sending opponents to casualty.

He could be anything, that boy: Just how good will Jason Nightingale get? The star of the NRL finals, Nightingale can cement his place as one of the top finishers in the game with a strong tournament.

* AUSTRALIA

Competition record: P18 W12 D2 L4

Titles: 4 (1999, 2004, 2006, 2009)

Tournament odds: $1.35

In brains we trust: One of the great veteran coaches of the NRL, Tim Sheens' teams have always played the game the way fans love to watch it. With the level of talent at his disposal in the Kangaroos, that is a scary prospect.

Shine a light on me: Billy Slater will always have a special place in New Zealand league folklore after handing Benji Marshall the winning try in the 2008 World Cup final. Some would say that abiding memory is unfair on a player who has done so many brilliant things in his stellar career. Some people are idiots. Thanks a bunch Billy. Keep up the good work.

Making the plays: With no Johnathan Thurston, Australia are as good as dead and buried. Unless of course they pick Cooper Cronk at seven - or maybe Todd Carney - to partner, er, Darren Lockyer in the halves. Bastards.

He's a hitman: The one area the Aussies don't look so clever. Raiders duo David Shillington and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs are big, useful units and Paul Gallen is hard, but there is not a lot of fear factor in a pack that might rank third-best in the tournament.

The missing: Thurston, Jarryd Hayne, Greg Inglis ... the list goes on and on. And still the Roos are massive favourites with the bookies. Bastards.

He could be anything, that boy: Todd Carney has it all - pace, power, vision and skill. Until this season he'd largely pissed it up against a wall but his efforts in helping turn around the Roosters suggest he has grown up. We might just be about to see the best of Carney. Scary stuff.

* ENGLAND

Competition record: P18 W7 D0 L11 * Also as GB

Titles: 0

Tournament odds: $13

In brains we trust: Steve McNamara has long been rated one of the best young coaches in England. His results with Bradford hardly back up that claim, but he inherited a financially challenged club going in the wrong way rapidly. England are his chance to turn it around. Roosters mentor Brian Smith is dishing the inside dirt on the Kiwis' and Roos' NRL foibles.

Shine a light on me: Sam Burgess was a star in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Downunder he is a superstar. Not bad for a young kid with just one season of NRL for a team that didn't even make the finals under his belt. Burgess has flown the British flag proudly, though, living up to the hype after Russell Crowe lured him out of Bradford with some Hollywood hospitality.

Making the plays: Sam Tomkins guided Wigan to their first English title in 12 years this season. Slightly built but still a tough customer, Tomkins is one of the new breed of English players tasked with lifting the country out of the doldrums. Unfortunately for England, stand-off Kevin Brown and back-up Luke Robinson aren't - so it's all up to Tomkins really. Good luck with that, chap.

He's a hitman: He made his name by knocking Fuifui Moimoi on his jacksy when he was just 18 and Sam Burgess has spent the following three years proving that YouTube classic was no fluke. Burgess carries the hopes of a nation on his broad shoulders.

The missing: Adrian Morley's departure was just the latest in a run of calamities to hit the English. Talented St Helens half Kyle Eastmond will be badly missed, as will Danny McGuire, Chris Bridge and regular captain Jamie Peacock.

He could be anything, that boy: Centre Ryan Atkins wasn't rated among the better talents in Bradford's academy so he left to join Wakefield where he immediately marked himself as a prolific try-scorer. Strong and fast, Atkins was headhunted by Warrington who forked out £100,000 a season for his services. Money talks, and that sort of dosh says Atkins' can play a bit.

* PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Competition record: 0 matches

Titles: 0

Tournament odds: $200

In brains we trust: Stanley Gene, who has no known coaching experience, stepped in when Adrian Lam pulled the pin at the 11th hour. Unfortunately Lam's assistants were issued with the team's clobber and nutritional supplements, meaning Gene has spent much of his time trying to outfit the side and find his players some power bars to eat.

Shine a light on me: Cronulla hooker Paul Aiton is the team's captain and only NRL regular. The team also has four England-based professionals, although all come from non-Super League clubs.

Making the plays: Benjamin John is a halfback who has played four games for his country. Is he any good? Well, he plays his footy for the Parkes Spacemen, so you tell me.

He's a hitman: Let's take a punt here and say that back rower Nickson Kolo, of Masta Mak Rangers, might put in a few big shots.

The missing: Titans starlet David Mead was the star of the show in last year's Pacific Cup, scoring two tries against Tonga and a hat-trick against the Cook Islands in a one-sided final to book the Kumuls' Four Nations place. Former skipper John Wilshire and Neville Costigan are also among the absentees.

He could be anything, that boy: David Loko, of the Mioks, hasn't played for his country yet and is so mysterious his photo doesn't appear in the media guide. So he really could be anything. Or anyone for that matter.