US qualify for Rugby League World Cup

The United States became the 11th team to qualify for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup with a 34-24 win over Canada in Florida on Saturday.

Danny Howard, who plays for Sydney club Wentworthville in the NSW Cup, scored three of his side's eight tries in Jacksonville.

It confirmed the Hawks' place at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand following their success at the 2013 World Cup in which they were surprise quarter-finalists before going down 62-0 to the Kangaroos.

Howard and brother Stephen were born in Los Angeles before their family moved back to Canberra when they were young.

The US had lost twice to the Canadians in the 2015 Colonial Cup but Saturday's triumph rounded off a spectacularly successful year for their new part-time head coach Brian McDermott, who guided Leeds Rhinos to the domestic treble of Challenge Cup, Super League leaders' shield and grand final.

Source:
nrl.com