After a 32-12 loss to Australia in a gut-wrenching World Cup final no-show, New Zealand’s players fared poorly in the Kingz Container Crew player ratings.

1 KALYN PONGA: Critics of the Golden Boot being awarded prior to the RLWC final got ample ammunition after KP struggled to impart his influence on the contest. Made just 94 metres from 14 runs and only occasionally looked like igniting the attack, while he threw a couple of dreadful passes that turned over possession in the second half. 5

2 JAMAYNE ISAAKO: A rocky start would be an understatement, putting the kick-off dead on the full and getting burgled one-on-one by Bostock inside eight minutes. Besides grabbing the outright record for most points in Kiwis Test history with a couple of conversions, it didn’t get much better for the usually ultra-reliable winger. Came up with a cold drop carrying the ball off the Kiwis’ line in the second half (one of four errors for the night), while clubmate opposite Jack Bostock finished with a double. Eleven runs for 72 metres. 4

3 DANE GAGAI: Another wholehearted effort from the veteran but ultimately outpointed by Newcastle centre partner Bradman Best, who scored a try and laid one on. Made 13 runs for 90 metres and nine tackles. 5.5

4 CASEY MCLEAN: Lived up to his well-earned dangerman rep by scoring the Kiwis’ first try and looked dangerous until getting head-slammed, a clear act missed by the officials that blunted his effectiveness until he was eventually given an HIA and ruled out of the game at halftime. Nine runs for 72 metres in a half a game. 6.5

5 RONALDO MULITALO: A constant threat in the air and was hard done-by courtesy of a couple of calls and non-calls. Also come up with some big defensive plays, but only eight runs for 57 metres. 6

6 KODI NIKORIMA: Produced the assist — one with a pass, the other with a grubber — for both the Kiwis’ tries. Didn’t get the opportunity to unleash his running game, but put his body on the line with 20 tackles. 7

7 JAHROME HUGHES: Try-saver on Reece Walsh but made a bad read as Best scored a few minutes later, crucially dropping the ball on a runaway from an Australian error in between. Sound kicking game and consistenly put the high ball in the right spot, but didn’t take control inside the 20-metre zone otherwise when an assertive playmaker was required. Six runs for 56 metres and eight tackles with five misses. 5

8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: The skipper shouldered a heavy workload, making 114 metres on a team-high 16 runs and reeling off 26 tackles in 55 minutes. Hard for a no-frills, actions-not-word leader like JFH to turn things around for a team that’s imploding, but there’s been some jarring big-stage losses on his watch in 2026. 6.5

9 JEREMY MARSHALL-KING: A forward pass and a strip penalty within 30 seconds was less than ideal. Zero runs, 33 tackles and was benched five minutes into the second half. 4

10 MOSES LEOTA: Had justified his starting spot up to this point, but a return of seven runs for 55 metres begs the question whether Whyte would have been a better run-on choice all along. Racked up 26 tackles. 5

11 ISAIAH PAPALI’I: Set up the Kiwis’ first try with an offload and scored the other by latching onto a grubber. Topped the tackle count with 35 and made 12 runs for 79 metres. Strong in an outplayed pack. 7

12 BRITON NIKORA: Looked up for the contest in the first half, pulling off some excellent tackles. Had to push to centre for the second half, which he did adequately in a team badly out of sorts. Eight runs for 74 metres and 24 tackles. 6

13 JOSEPH TAPINE: Arguably the Kiwis’ best during his opening stint, bending the line back and popping good offloads. But the McLean situation delayed his return to the field, by which stage the game had well and truly slipped away. Twelves runs for 99 metres and 25 tackles. 6.5

15 NAUFAHU WHYTE: Couldn’t swing the momentum when he came on and came up with a howler having the ball stripped one-on-one, which saw Martin land a hammer blow just before halftime. Finished with a team-high 116 metres on 12 runs with 23 tackles in his 50-minute stint, but overall not up to his usually standard. 5.5

16 ERIN CLARK: It’s hard to get past an inexplicable spill trying to force an low-percentage offload in the first set of the second half. Hardworking defensively with 30 tackles and got a bit of ball-playing going, but only seven runs for 56 metres. 4.5

17 XAVIER WILLISON: Entered the fray in the 25th minute and stayed on till the end. Toiled hard for 34 tackles and eight runs for 63 metres. Good tournament. 6.5

18 PHOENIX CROSSLAND: Played the last 35 minutes, made 21 tackles but — like JMK — zero runs in what was a listless dummy-half night for the Kiwis while Harry Grant ran a clinic. 5

Eighteen years ago, New Zealand celebrated its finest rugby league hour at Suncorp Stadium courtesy of World Cup final glory against Australia. Tonight, in the corresponding match against the same opponent at the same venue, the Kiwis endured what has to rank as the most deflating loss in their history.

Rated by most as at least an even-money chance of carrying off the Paul Barrière Trophy for the second time, an uncomposed, error-plagued Kiwis outfit crashed to a 32-12 defeat to a Kangaroos side that gleefully capitalised on the bevy of opportunities delivered to them on a platter.

The Kiwis recovered from a disastrous opening few minutes but the decider got away from them in the last 10 minutes before halftime, which saw them head to the sheds 24-6 down.

The forward dominance that marked the Kiwis’ tournament-opening performance failed to repeat as the Kangaroos dominated territory and possession, and came out on top in the battle in the middle.

But the basic errors, poor execution and lack of attention to detail were the most jarring elements of a performance that had the hallmarks of a team that had believed its own hype.

In a throwback to far too many Kiwis-Kangaroos Tests, New Zealand’s start was beyond diabolical. Jamayne Isaako drilled the kick-off dead on the full and Liam Martin plunged over for Australia inside two minutes.

But after a few more shaky moments, the Kiwis levelled in the 11th minute through expert international tryscorer Casey McLean on the back of handy adlib from Isaiah Papali’i and Kodi Nikorima.

Isaako’s conversion gave him the outright record as the Kiwis’ all-time top Test pointscorer.

The Kangaroos hit the front again following a couple of repeat sets, with Reece Walsh’s heads-up dummy-half play allowing Jack Bostock an easy stroll to the corner. A penalty goal from the softest escort penalty of all time against Ronaldo Mulitalo put the hosts ahead 12-6.

Referee Grant Atkins inexplicably missed a blatant head-slam when Casey McLean —who would eventually be ruled out of the game at halftime following an HIA — lost the ball 20 metres out from his own line, allowing Australia to set up camp. The Kiwis’ defence eventually buckled when Tom Dearden fired the ball wide on the last, sending Bradman Best through a gaping hole for eight minutes out from the break.

Naufahu Whyte then had the ball stripped, paving the way for Martin to grab his second in a devastating blow just before halftime.

Trying to force the issue in the first set of the second half, Erin Clark spilled the ball attempting to offload. A hot-stepping Walsh put Tom Trbojevic in and the World Cup final was essentially all over at 28-6.

Error upon blunder upon gaffe piled up for the Kiwis, until Mulitalo outleapt Trbojevic to seemingly score with 22 minutes to go — but the Bunker pulled it back after dubiously detecting a knock-on.

A glimmer of hope arrived in the 66th minute when Nikorima threaded a grubber through for Papali’i to steam onto and dive over.

A poor pass from Ponga (one of several in the second half) let the Kangaroos off the hook on the Kiwis’ next possession, however, and any semblance of a comeback was fried. Phoenix Crossland attempting an (unsuccessful) Hail Mary 40/20 on the third tackle with eight minutes left summed up how bereft of ideas New Zealand was.

A piece of Best brilliance produced an icing-on-the-cake double for Bostock in the latter stages.

While a sizeable chunk of this Kiwis group will be near enough to their prime by the time the 2030 tournament rolls around, there’s a core group — Fisher-Harris, Tapine, Leota, Hughes, Isaako, Nikorima and perhaps even Ponga — that have probably witnessed their last opportunity to win a World Cup slip away.

After a harrowing conclusion to what had been a marvellous campaign, it’s a loss that will occupy a dark corner of the hearts and minds of New Zealand’s players and fans for decades.

MEN’S RLWC FINAL: Australia 32 (Liam Martin 2, Jack Bostock 2, Bradman Best, Tom Trbojevic tries; Cameron Munster 4 goals) defeated New Zealand 12 (Casey McLean, Isaiah Papali’i tries; Jamayne Isaako 2 goals) at Suncorp Stadium.

Australia asserted its dominance over women’s rugby league with an emphatic 34-10 World Cup final victory over a sloppy and outmatched New Zealand outfit in sweltering Brisbane conditions.

The Jillaroos gave the trophy engravers the go-ahead for an early start with four converted tries in the first 18 minutes, before getting out to a 28-point halftime lead.

Mercifully, the Kiwi Ferns discovered some defensive resolve in the second stanza, but aimless, unimaginative attack near the opposition line prevented them from eating into the huge deficit until it was too late.

It’s doubtful any team in any World Cup final — in any code — has produced a worse start than the Kiwi Ferns. A half-break by the Jillaroos in the opening set sounded an ominous warning, before Kaylah Atai coughed up the ball on the Kiwi Ferns’ second run of the game. Mackenzie Wiki’s feeble attempted tackle on opposite Jamie Chapman saw the Australian winger grab a brilliant try in the corner.

A penalty soon after the ensuing restart led to Shaylee Bent brushing through listless defence to give the Jillaroos a 12-0 lead just seven minutes in.

After multiple errors by the home side, the Kiwi Ferns launched a couple of pedestrian attacking forays before Chapman capitalised on an overlap to dive in for her second. Jesse Southwell’s second sideline conversion made it 18-0.

Jillaroos centre Jessica Sergis busting through on her own side of halfway to streak away for their fourth try was the most glaring moment of a diabolical first 20 minutes for the Kiwi Ferns.

Following a much-needed drinks break, the besieged Ferns found a reprieve as interchange forward Shannon Mato plunged over from close range. It was a short-lived break from the onslaught, however, with Chapman slicing through and sprinting 50 metres for her hat-trick inside half an hour.

Capping a devastating first-half display from the Jillaroos, fullback Tamika Upton and winger Abbi Church combined for the latter to score — consigning the Kiwi Ferns to a 34-6 deficit at the break.

The tries dried up for Australia in the second half and New Zealand had a raft of opportunities to hit back, but they lacked direction and variety inside the Jillaroos’ 20-metre area and butchered several chances.

Raecene McGregor’s injury exit with 15 minutes left further derailed the Kiwi Ferns’ attack. Wiki picked up a consolation try from a Jillaroos error in the dying seconds.

Despite putting the cue in the rack to a certain extent in the second half, the Jillaroos proved too fast, too fit and too skilful for the Kiwi Ferns — who head back to the drawing board to try and figure out how to close a trans-Tasman gap that is as big as its ever been.

WOMEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP FINAL

Jillaroos (Jamie Chapman 3, Shaylee Bent, Jessica Sergis, Tamika Upton tries; Jessie Southwell 5 goals) defeated Kiwi Ferns 10 (Shannon Mato, Mackenzie Wiki tries; Chantay Kiria-Ratu goal) at Suncorp Stadium.

Rarely has New Zealand headed into a high-stakes showdown with Australia rated as strong a chance of victory as this Sunday’s Rugby League World Cup final.

If the Kiwis’ blistering form at the tournament, rampaging forward pack and a backline galvanised by the injection of Kalyn Ponga isn’t cause enough for sky-high optimism about knocking over the defending champs, the venue provides another psychological edge for the slight underdogs.

The Kiwis have won four of their last five matches at Suncorp Stadium — but their history of boilovers at the iconic Brisbane ground stretches back much further.

In fact, New Zealand’s history in Queensland’s biggest city is laced with significant victories over the past 118 years.

The famed All Golds played a maiden Test series against Australia en route home from Britain. Albert Baskerville, the chief organiser of the groundbreaking tour and regarded as one of the fathers of international rugby league, scored a try in the opening clash in Sydney but tragically died of pneumonia days later aboard the ship to Brisbane. The grieving New Zealand team regrouped to clinch the series with a 24-11 victory in front of 6,000 supporters at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground.

Australia returned the favour at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground in 1909, beating New Zealand 10-5.

The neigbouring nations did not play a Test in Brisbane again until 1948, when Newtown centre Len Smith (another tragic rugby league figure, for different reasons) led Australia to a 13-4 win over Pat Smith’s Kiwis to level a two-Test rubber at The Gabba.

The cricket ground hosted the teams again in 1952 — and Travers Harwick-led New Zealand carved out a famous 49-25 win over Clive Churchill’s Australian side, with legendary fullback Des White kicking a world record 11 goals.

It remains New Zealand’s highest score against Australia and was at least a co-holder of the mark for the biggest winning margin until the 2023 Pacific Championships final.

Australia went on a run against New Zealand in Brisbane with victories at The Gabba in the 1956 Test series and during the 1957 World Cup, as well as a 38-10 romp back at the Exhibition Ground in 1959.

Having become the home of the Queensland Rugby League during the 1950s, Lang Park began hosting international matches in the 1960s — and New Zealand marked its first visit with a shock win.

A hat-trick to winger Brian Reidy saw the Kiwis overcome a halftime deficit and pull off a 16-13 result in the second Test of the 1963 series.

Lang Park was an unhappy hunting ground for the next two decades, however. Australia won five straight Tests against New Zealand at the venue from 1967-78, scoring more than 30 points in each.

A spirited 11-8 loss for the Ces Mountford-coached Kiwis in 1982 — with a young Wally Lewis named man of the match as Australia fought back from 6-2 down at halftime — was a more encouraging Brisbane foray that set up a golden era.

After 12 winless seasons against the mighty Australian side in all matches, New Zealand found iconic success during the 1980s on the hallowed turf of Lang Park, which was simultaneously proving a State of Origin graveyard for NSW.

Under the inspirational former Ōtāhuhu and Brisbane Norths coach Graham Lowe, New Zealand produced a boilover for the ages in 1983. The Graeme West-captained Kiwis employed roughhouse tactics to get the upper hand on their big-name rivals, eventually recording a 19-12 upset — their first over the green-and-golds since winning at Carlaw Park in 1971.

The match featured a brilliant try to Joe Ropati after a Dean Bell bust and a crunching try-saver on Mal Meninga by debutant Kiwis fullback Nicky Wright.

It was a platform for New Zealand’s home cleansweep of Great Britain in 1984 and the unforgettable 1985 series against Australia, which kicked off with a heartbreaking late 26-20 defeat at Lang Park but concluded with a watershed 18-0 loss at Carlaw Park.

Lewis and Brett Kenny toyed with the Kiwis as Australia sealed a three-nil whitewash 32-12 at Lang Park in 1986, but another Brisbane boilover was just around the corner.

New Zealand, with ‘Tank’ Gordon stepping into the gap left by Lowe’s controversial axing, fielded five players making just their second Test appearance in the one-off 1987 encounter. Australia — still basking in another undefeated Kangaroo Tour of Britain and France — was ambushed in its only international of 1987 and succumbed 13-6 after a scoreless second half. Unheralded New Zealand-based youngsters Kevin Iro, Gary Mercer and Ross Taylor spearheaded the win, along with experienced campaigners Dean Bell and skipper Hugh McGahan.

Australia redressed the balance with third-Test decider defeats of New Zealand in 1991 (40-12) and 1993 (16-4).

Renamed Suncorp Stadium in 1994 in a sponsorship arrangement, the ground played host to two Tests of the 1995 series. Brad Fittler’s Australian line-up — flush with newcomers with noSuper League-aligned players allowed — won 26-8 and 46-10 in Brisbane on the way to a three-nil sweep. A 30-12 spanking awaited Frank Endacott’s Kiwis during the 1998 post-season schedule.

Trans-Tasman footy returned to Brisbane in 2005, two years after the redeveloped Suncorp Stadium reopened as arguably the best rugby league facility in the world. The Darren Lockyer-led Kangaroos won the early-season Anzac Test 32-16 — though in a harbinger of River City encounters ahead, opposing five-eighth Benji Marshall was a shining light on debut in a beaten Kiwis outfit. Australia won the 2007 Anzac Test 30-6 in a match perhaps most significant — for New Zealand, at least — for Krisnan Inu earning the fullback spot after just one NRL game for Parramatta.

But the Kiwis cocked their legs and emphatically marked their territory at Suncorp Stadium over the next eight years.

New Zealand enjoyed its greatest-ever victory in the 2008 World Cup final at the ground. Trailing Australia 10-0 early on, the Kiwis clawed back and dominated the second half in a stunning 34-20 beatdown. Fullback Lance Hohaia scored a second-half double (inlcuding a critical penalty try) as opposing No.1, Kangaroos superstar Billy Slater, produced an infamous blunder to gift a try to Marshall.

Revered coach Wayne Bennett, who had just finished a 21-season tenure as Brisbane Broncos’ foundation coach, played a crucial role in bringing the Kangaroos undone as an assistant to 36-year-old Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney.

Australia gained some retribution by winning the 2009 Anzac Test at Suncorp Stadium 38-10 less than six months later, but New Zealand had another high-stakes ambush in store in 2010.

In a tight, fiery Four Nations final, the Kiwis stayed within touching distance of a heavily-favoured Kangaroos side, before captain Marshall briliantly set up a grandstand finish via an arcing grubber for winger Jason Nightingale to score. Eventual Golden Boot winner Marshall, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Nightingale then combined to create a long-range match-winner in the dying stages, finished off by veteran halfback Nathan Fien for a euphoric 16-12 victory.

International rugby league’s heavyweights returned to Suncorp Stadium in 2014 for the Four Nations opener, where Shaun Johnson — who also went on to claim the Golden Boot — steered the Kiwis to a dominant 30-12 win over the Kangaroos. They would go on to clinch the title by defeating Australia in the Wellington final.

The 2015 Anzac Test was delayed by two days due to a massive downpour and extensive flooding in Brisbane. The extended build-up played into the Kiwis hands: Kearney’s charges recovered from a slow start to steamroll Australia 26-12 — New Zealand’s first mid-season win over the green-and-golds in 17 years.

Manu Vatuvei’s barnstorming two-try display earned the newly-struck Charles Savory Medal as player of the match.

The 2026 World Cup decider ends an 11-year trans-Tasman Test drought at Suncorp Stadium.

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Kiwis dominate second half to thwart Tonga

New Zealand booked the first spot in the World Cup final courtesy of a 34-10 win over Tonga, scoring four unanswered tries to none in the second half. A pulsating first half saw the returning Kalyn Ponga feature prominently in tries to Briton Nikora and Dane Gagai either side of a Jojo Fifita double for Tonga. Ponga, brilliant on both sides of the ball, featured promiently in the second half as the Kiwis pulled away in horrendous conditions in Newcastle.

Warrior watch: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was outstanding as a wing fill-in for the Kiwis, making a game-high 216 metres on 23 runs and a line-break, and dotting down for a late try. James Fisher-Harris’ strong captain’s knock consisted of 18 runs for 152 metres and 33 tackles. Erin Clark starred off the bench with 18 runs for 143 metres and 24 tackles, plus a superb kick to set up CNK’s try in the dying stages. Jahrome Huhges, James Fisher-Harris, Erin Clark, Casey McLean and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad were among the other standouts for the victors.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak had a fairly quiet night opposite clubmate CNK, finishing with 14 runs for 111 metres and no discernible highlights. Demitric Vaimauga’s 28 minutes off the bench featured a stunning line-break that only Kalyn Ponga’s brave tackle stopped from turning into a try; he racked up six runs for 70 metres and 14 tackles. Leka Halasima got 26 minutes from the pine but was restricted to five runs for 46 metres and seven tackles.

Kangaroos click in dominant defeat of Samoa

Australia took a big step forward from an underwhelming group-stage campaign to charge into the World Cup final, hammering a disappointing Toa Samoa 44-12 at Allianz Stadium. The Kangaroos struck early through Tom Dearden and never looked back. At halftime the hosts led 26-2 with Samoa’s serial timebomb Spencer Leniu in the sin bin. Adlib tries to Stephen Crichton and Izack Tago kept Samoa’s flame faintly flickering, but Reece Walsh scored a few minutes after each to complete a hat-trick and slammed the door shut with nine minutes to go as Jack Bostock crossed.

Warrior watch: N/A

Women’s RLWC: Kiwi Ferns and Jillaroos set up another decider as Fiji impress

The Kiwi Ferns put a patchy pool campaign behind them to keep their perfect record of qualifying for every World Cup final alive, thrashing an in-form Fetu Samoa side 32-0. New Zealand led 8-0 at halftime before their physical dominance took hold, adding another five tries. Stacey Waaka’s stellar tournament continued with three tries, while the Kiwi Ferns finished with nine line-breaks to none.

Installed as 60-point underdogs by the bookies, Fiji finished off a wonderful debut World Cup foray with a gutsy 30-14 loss to women’s rugby league juggernaut Australia. The Jillaroos were held to 8-all at halftime and only clinched their spot in the final in the last five minutes, when winger Abbi Church crossed for her fourth try.

Warrior watch: New Zealand’s veteran fullback Apii Nicholls made 14 runs for 122 metres, centre Mele Hufanga’s 117-metre contribution included a try and Stacey Waaka grabbed a hat-trick — taking her World Cup tally to nine — to go with a try assist and 12 runs for 130 metres. Outstanding second-rower Kaiyah Atai scored a try for the third straight game and racked up nine runs for 94 metres and 27 tackles. Prop Ivana Lauitiiti came off the bench with eight runs for 68 metres and 10 tackles.

Veteran front-rower Annetta Nuuausala played only the first 19 minutes for Samoa, making five runs for 38 metres. Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa came off the bench with four runs for 42 metres.

Four unanswered tries in the second half underpinned New Zealand’s emphatic 34-10 World Cup semifinal victory over Tonga.

After an instantly iconic post-haka staredown between the rival teams, the Kiwis overcame a fired-up first-half display from Tonga, their vociferous crowd support and shocking conditions in Newcastle to storm into the tournament decider.

The Kiwis posted an early try but fell behind 10-6 as Tongan winger Jojo Fifita exploded, before hitting back to lead 12-10 at the break. They withstood a barrage at the start of the second stanza then calmly capitalised on their opportunities at regular interval to take the match away from the Tongan side.

The spectacular return from a broken arm after only 23 days from fullback Kalyn Ponga headlines the Kingz Container Crew Kiwis player ratings.

21 KALYN PONGA: Extraordinary just to make it back on the field, but his performance was brilliant, brave and hugely influential. Laid on a try after just three minutes, bustled opposite Lehi Hopoate into an in-goal error for the Kiwis’ second, then threw the last pass for two second-half tries. Perhaps even more impressively given the nature of his injury, pulled off a body-on-the-line try-saver on a rampaging Demitric Vaimauga and another on Hopoate. On top of all that, 19 runs for 198 metres. Four handling errors. 9

2 JAMAYNE ISAAKO: Couldn’t stop opposing winger Jojo Fifita from completing a first-half double but was otherwise good defensively, while he made 12 runs for 116 metres. Again, perhaps his most notable contribution was a sensational goalkicking performance in a howling wind, slotting five from six — which also saw him equal Shaun Johnson as the highest Test pointscorer in New Zealand’s history. 6.5

3 DANE GAGAI: Chased through to score a vital try from Hopoate’s mistake, racked up an impressive 15 runs for 154 metres — including a line-break and four tackle-breaks — and handled the assignment against the dangerous Tolu Koula well. 7.5

4 CASEY MCLEAN: Robert Toia’s injury denied a dream individual match-up and McLean capitalised on Tonga’s misfortune to outplay clubmate Paul Alamoti. Breezed through for yet another Test try to get the scoreboard rolling in the second half, finished with two line-breaks and five tackle-breaks, made 134 metres on 12 runs and reeled off 21 tackles. 8

5 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: A superb fill-in performance from the veteran, outshining fellow Warrior DWZ. Made a line-break and four tackle-breaks along with a game-high tally of 216 metres on a massive 23 runs, before latching onto a kick for the last try in the dying stages. 8

6 KODI NIKORIMA: An understated performance that also included two errors, but had eight runs for 62 metres and a line-break assist, while he made 26 tackles including some important stops near the try-line. 6

7 JAHROME HUGHES: Exactly what you’d want to see from your No.7 in such a big game and leading into a World Cup final. Scored a solo try, set up another with a great kick to the in-goal, made nine runs for 96 metres and steered the Kiwis around very well. 8.5

8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: The skipper led the charge against a fearsome Tongan pack and chalked up 18 runs for 152 metres in 55 minutes, along with 33 tackles in arguably his strongest display of the tournament so far. 8

9 JEREMY MARSHALL-KING: Sound again without shining, making four dummy-half runs and 33 tackles before getting interchanged with 23 minutes to go — by which stage he’d played his part in putting the Kiwis in full control. 6.5

10 MOSES LEOTA: Just 33 minutes of gametime but was productive with 11 runs for 95 metres and 24 tackles. Was part of the sloppy kick-chase that led to Tonga’s first try. 6

11 ISAIAH PAPALI’I: Played all but the last two minutes and toiled for 130 metres on 15 runs and a team-high 41 tackles. Also had a handling error and was made to look pretty sluggish as Vaimauga ran around him for a line-break. 7.5

12 BRITON NIKORA: Charged over for the first try of the match, made a second line-break and had a line-break assist in a performance that encompassed 10 runs for 89 metres and 28 tackles. Also made three errors and had seven missed tackles, but more good than bad. 7

13 JOSEPH TAPINE: Packed plenty into his 46 minutes, making 15 runs for 131 metres (56 post-contact) and 23 tackles. A handling error in the first half but a clever kick to force a line dropout in the second half and keep the heat on Tonga. 7.5

15 NAUFAHU WHYTE: Quite possibly the best middle forward in the game right now lasted only 25 minutes before going off with an ankle injury in what could be a huge blow for the final. Churned out seven runs for 79 metres and 13 tackles in his limited time. 6.5

16 ERIN CLARK: Great work-rate — 18 runs for 143 metres and 24 tackles in 58 minutes — along with throwing the last pass for one try and putting in a deft kick for another in the last minute. 8

17 XAVIER WILLISON: Always seems to make an impact and did so again, scoring a big try to go with nine runs for 83 metres and 16 tackles in 36 minutes. 7

22 PHOENIX CROSSLAND: Another Knights player to make an unlikely World Cup semi return in Newcastle, Crossland came on at dummy-half with 23 minutes to go. One run and 10 tackles. 5

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This Warriors Life recaps the third and final round of 2026 Rugby League World Cup pool matches, including the performances of our Warriors reps, with the support of ComfortGlaze.

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England blow semi chances after hot start

England needed a landslide victory over Papua New Guinea in Wollongong to keep the heat on Samoa in the semifinal race — and they were on track to do so after running in four tries in the first 20 minutes. Inexplicably, the heavyweights were unable to add to their tally until the last 12 minutes and conceded the first two tries of the second half in an eventual 34-12 win. Needing Tonga to beat Samoa by 47 points to progress, England inevitably missed the World Cup semis for the first time.

Warrior watch: Kumuls halfback Bailey Biondi-Odo put in a massive shift, making 19 runs for 94 metres, reeling off 21 tackles and producing a try assist.

Kiwis bulldoze way into semis as Fiji fail to turn up

Fiji’s impressive World Cup history against New Zealand and a gallant performance against Australia counted for nought in a horrific 76-0 loss to a rampant Kiwis outfit on the Gold Coast. In a straight duel for a spot in the semis, Stacey Jones’ side piled on four tries in the opening 11 minutes and doubled their lead to 48-0 well before halftime. Kiwis winger Ronaldo Mulitalo was sent off for a high tackle and Fiji halfback Brandon Wakeham was also marched for a retaliatory punch in the 51st minute, after which New Zealand added five more tries. Centre Casey McLean crossed four times, while Jamayne Isaako kicked 13 conversions from as many attempts.

Warrior watch: James Fisher-Harris played only the first 21 minutes but made seven runs for 56 metres and scored a try. Te Maire Martin starred in the halves for the last half-hour, delivering two superb try assists. Erin Clark finished with 97 metres and 22 tackles, splitting his time between lock and hooker and powering over for a dummy-half try. Young prop Emosi Ravosai was promoted to Fiji’s starting line-up but only managed six runs for 25 metres in 58 minutes, while he made 23 tackles.

Clunky Kangaroos coast against Kukis

Still yet to fully hit their straps at this World Cup, the Kangaroos nevertheless had little trouble accounting for Pool A minnows Cook Islands 66-6 in Townsville. The teams traded tries in the opening 10 minutes before Australia took control, leading 28-6 at halftime and running in seven tries after the break. Wingers Jack Bostock and Tom Trbojevic bagged hat-tricks, while Reece Walsh staked his claim for the contentious fullback spot with two line-breaks and five try assists.

Warrior watch: Cook Islands five-eighth capped a fine tournament with 13 runs for 121 metres and 20 tackles. One to watch in the Warriors’ NSW Cup line-up next year.

Lebanon claim golden point glory in manic finish

In the only inconsequential match of the weekend, Lebanon and France delivered a dramatic spectacle at CommBank Stadium that concluded with some of most extraordinary moments in World Cup history. The rivals traded tries throughout the match with Lebanon clinging to a 20-18 lead in the dying stages. France’s claims to a last-gasp try were denied, but halfback Arthur Morgue nailed an astonishing two-point field goal from the resultant dropout to send the match into golden point. Morgue slotted a one-pointer to seemingly hand France a euphoric win, but it was pulled back for an obstruction. Lebanon counterpart Alex Conti subsequently missed with a long-range penalty goal attempt with time up in the first half of golden point. But the hapless Morgue opted to kick rather than run out the clock and it was intercepted by Cedars winger Abbas Miski, who dived in for the match-winner.

Warrior watch: N/A

Tonga edges Samoa in instant classic

Any notions of a dead-rubber — with both teams essentially guaranteed a place in the semis — were dispelled as Tonga and Samoa put together a rugby league masterpiece at CommBank Stadium. Tonga prevailed 20-18, but only after Samoa had fought back from a 10-point deficit to lead 18-14 with three straight tries. Tonga centre Robert Toia scored the only try of the first half, a blistering solo effort, while Brian To’o scored two tries for Samoa from kicks either side of opposite Jojo Fifita crossing for Tonga. Ronald Volkman’s injection for the injured Chanel Harris-Tavita after To’o’s second try sparked Samoa, with the ex-Warrior’s determined try putting them in front for the first time. But Addin Fonua-Blake brushed off Spencer Leniu for what proved to be the match-winner in the 72nd minute. The physicality, skill and desperation on display from both teams from start to finish has set the stage for a colossal semifinal weekend — with Tonga taking on New Zealand in Newcastle and Samoa facing Australia in Sydney — and the very strong possibility of a dream final rematch.

Warrior watch: Veteran Tongan winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak made a team-high 153 metres and two line-breaks, as well as coming up with some big bomb defusals early on — though he did miss a trademark tryscoring chance by putting his foot into touch. Demitric Vaimauga was in the thick of it in 37 minutes off the bench, chalking up eight runs for 56 metres and 20 tackles, as well as getting in Spencer Leniu’s face. Leka Halasima was injected late, making two runs and four tackles in 11 minutes. Chanel Harris-Tavita was prominent for Samoa, producing a try assist, seven runs for 74 metres and 17 tackles in just 53 minutes. But a hamstring injury while taking a conversion — a la Luke Metcalf — forced CHT from the field and may rule him out of the semi.

Women’s RLWC: Kiwi Ferns bumble way to semis, Jillaroos rewrite record books

New Zealand’s semifinal prospects were on tenterhooks in their final pool game, trailing Papua New Guinea 12-8 after half an hour before clicking into gear and running out 40-12 winners to top Pool A. Wingers MacKenzie Wiki and Abigail Roache both finished with doubles. The Kiwi Ferns will take on Fetu Samoa, who won their semifinal shootout with England 24-6 as winger Freedom Chrichton-Ropati grabbed a hat-trick.

Meanwhile, World Cup debutants Fiji earned a semifinal showdown with Australia thanks to a 54-6 demolition of France. The Jillaroos vaporised Wales 124-6 — the highest-ever score recorded in an international rugby league match. Winger Jamie Chapman scored six tries, while halfback Jesse Southwell racked up 44 points from a try and 20 conversions.

Warrior watch: New Zealand centre Stacey Waaka’s stellar tournament continued with the opening try, an assist and 18 runs for 183 metres. Fullback Apii Nicholls made a game-high 249 metres, a line-break and had a try assist. Burgeoning second-rower scored a try for the second straight game, chalked up two line-breaks and made six runs for 63 metres and 15 tackles. In just 27 metres off the bench, prop Ivana Lauitiiti racked up eight runs for 89 metres and 14 tackles. Samoa prop Annetta Nuuausala was a powerhouse against England, churning through 114 metres on 11 carries. Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa was ultra-busy off the bench, making eight runs for 62 metres in just 16 minutes.

After a quarterfinal boilover when these nations met at the 2017 World Cup and a nail-biter at the same stage of the 2022 edition, this shootout for a semifinal spot was expected to be similarly tight and tense.

Fiji’s stirring performance against Australia six days earlier provided further cause for Kiwi caution — but an entirely different Bati outfit turned up on the Gold Coast as a relentless New Zealand side carved out a 76-0 rout.

The match was essentially over after 12 minutes as the Kiwis ran in four tries, while Fiji had already lost Api Koroisau to a broken jaw. By the 32nd minute, the lead had doubled to an eye-watering 48-0.

Mercifully for Fiji, the onslaught slowed late in the first half and early in the second. The contest exploded in the 51st minute when halfback Brandon Wakeham reacted to Ronaldo Mulitalo’s brutal high shot on a Fiji teammate. Both players were sent off.

The Kiwis added five more tries to complete the beatdown, with Casey McLean’s incredible Test spree continuing courtesy of a four-try haul — giving the 20-year-old 15 in just seven Tests.

Meanwhile, Jamayne Isaako slotted a perfect 13 from 13, lifting him to within 10 points of Shaun Johnson’s all-time New Zealand Test pointscoring tally.

The fired-up Kiwis enjoyed 60 percent possession, made 1,726 run metres to just 851 — with Naufahu Whyte the chief runaway train in the pack — and recorded 12 line-breaks to none.

A semifinal against Tonga or Samoa awaits (the Kiwis will play the winner of Sunday night’s clash) but Mulitalo’s impending ban is a significant blow. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is a serviceable wing stopgap, though there may be a temptation to shift the more dynamic McLean out to the flank.

Get around the Kingz Container Crew Kiwis player ratings as New Zealand’s quest for a second World Cup title picks up steam.

1 KEANO KINI: Playing in the shadow of Kalyn Ponga’s potential return, Kini was a standout in the No.1 with a big play in the lead-up to the Kiwis’ first try before slicing through to score the second himself. Dashed away for the last try from broken play and finished with a game-high 260 metres along with eight tackle busts. 8

2 JAMAYNE ISAAKO: Another marvellous goalkicking display but didn’t have too much else to do in the landslide. Seven runs for 72 metres and sound defensively, including a superb try-saver on his opposite, though made a couple of errors. 6.5

3 DANE GAGAI: Pounced on a Fiji fumble to scamper in for a first-half try and notched a try assists to go with 10 runs for 96 metres, while he racked up 20 tackles. 7

4 CASEY MCLEAN: Can’t stop scoring Test tries and bagged his second haul of four in just seven appearances, running some great lines in the first half and scattering defenders in a magnificent run for his fourth. Racked up 159 metres on 15 runs and a game-high nine tackle-breaks. Elite. 8.5

5 RONALDO MULITALO: Great tap-back for JFH’s try and steamed onto a pass to score under the posts in a strong first half. But a misjudged tackle resulted in a rare send-off and could have ended his tournament. Eight runs for 79 metres along with three errors by the time he got an early shower. 6

6 KODI NIKORIMA: Had the assist for both of McLean’s first-half tries, combining nicely with Hughes, and made a line-break on one of only three runs for the match. Handled the traffic sent his way with 13 tackles (no misses). 7

7 JAHROME HUGHES: Tremendous first half with the opening try and three try assists, before getting an early mark 11 minutes into the second half. 7.5

8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: Capped a big opening stint with a try from Mulitalo’s handiwork, but sat the last hour of the match out. Had chalked up seven runs for 56 metres by that point. 6.5

9 JEREMY MARSHALL-KING: Directed traffic nicely from dummy-half and made six runs for 55 metres, along with 25 tackles before hitting the bench with 20 minutes to go. 7

10 MOSES LEOTA: A robust 50-minute display across two stints for the veteran, making 109 metres on 10 carries and 20 tackles — including arguably the hit of the tournament on Caleb Navale inside the last 10 minutes. Looks to have cemented that starting spot in a crowded front-row contingent. 8

11 ISAIAH PAPALI’I: Having a great tournament so far, which continued via 14 runs for 104 metres and a team-high 26 tackles. A couple of errors but shapes as a key figure in the bigger games ahead. 7.5

12 BRITON NIKORA: Latched onto a kick out wide to pick up a second-half try and made 10 runs for 99 metres — including five tackle-breaks — along with 15 tackles. 7.5

13 JOSEPH TAPINE: Eleven runs for 75 metres and 15 tackles in 40 minutes of gametime, while an unnecessary late shot saw him put on report. 6

14 TE MAIRE MARTIN: Made the most of his 29-minute stint in the halves, delivering a wonderful floating pass for McLean’s third and a clever kick for Nikora to score. A luxury to have in the No.14 with his ability to cover the halves and hooker — and made a genuine difference in both roles. 7.5

15 NAUFAHU WHYTE: A Payne Haas-like cheat code these days, towering over all other forwards on the field with 208 metres (84 post-contact) from 18 runs, five tackle-breaks and 15 tackles in an unbroken 59-minute stay on the paddock. Wind him up and watch him go against the Tongan or Samoan pack next week. 8.5

16 ERIN CLARK: Eleven runs for 97 metres and 22 tackles, while he marked a return to the Cbus Super Stadium venue he called home for several years with a 20-minute shift in the once-familiar hooker spot and bulldozed over for a dummy-half try. Also offloaded in the lead-up to Kini’s late four-pointer. 7.5

17 XAVIER WILLISON: Another barnstorming performance from the giant, powering through and reaching out for a first-half try, and tallying 15 runs for 138 metres and 21 tackles without a miss in 40 minutes. 8

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Tonga cruises but Cedars limit damage

Tonga made it two from two, shutting out a committed Lebanon side 36-0 at CommBank Stadium on Friday night. The Cedars trailed just 18-0 until Tonga ran in three tries in the last 11 minutes. Wingers Sione Katoa and Jojo Fifita both bagged doubles, Tolu Koula scored a blistering long-range try to go with two try assists, and veteran five-eighth Tui Lolohea — without a club for 2027 — also notched two try assists.

Warrior watch: Leka Halasima’s 29 minutes off the bench garnered a maiden Test try, along with six runs for 59 metres, five tackle-breaks and 14 tackles.

Samoa put Kumuls to the sword

A second-half demolition job propelled Samoa to their second blowout win of the World Cup, a 64-6 rout of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby. The Kumuls trailed only 18-6 at halftime, but Samoa piled on 10 tries after the break — including four in one blistering five-minute assault. Winger Sua Faalogo (who crossed four times against France in week one), fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and bench forward Shawn Blore grabbed doubles, while the scoreline could have been a lot worse had the Samoa kickers done better than a paltry six conversions from 13 attempts.

Warrior watch: Chanel Harris-Tavita delivered four try assists for Samoa — one of which came after he handed the ball off to a teammate over the tryline. CHT landed just two goals from six attempts. Starting at halfback for PNG after switching to the bench in a late change last week, recent Warriors signing Bailey Biondi-Odo scored a try for the second week in a row.

England overcome early French resistance in WA annihilation

At the 20-minute mark, France had held England to a nil-all scoreline at HBF Park in Perth. It quickly unravelled for the underdogs, however, as England piled on 14 tries in a 55-minute onslaught. An NRL-heavy back-five flourished, with Herbie Farnworth and Dom Young grabbing hat-tricks, AJ Brimson making a game-high 289 metres along with a try, five line-breaks and three try assists, and Hugo Savala slotting 13 conversions. A win over Papua New Guinea and a Samoa victory over Tonga would catapult England into the semis.

Warrior watch: N/A

Kiwis put early scare behind them to carve out 14-try win over Kukis

An eight-minute hat-trick to winger Esom Ioka gave Cook Islands a shock 16-12 lead over New Zealand after 20 minutes, but the Kiwis’ might eventually took hold in an emphatic 82-16 win under the roof in Christchurch. Jamayne Isaako clock a new Kiwis Test record with 38 points from three tries and 13 goals, while fellow Canterbury prodcut Tanner Stowers-Smith made a dream two-try debut off the bench.

Warrior watch: Tanner Stowers-Smith stole the show with a powerhouse 19-run display for 174 metres and seven tackle-breaks to go with his two tries. Jacob Laban was solid off the bench in his maiden Test outing, making 65 metres and delivering a try assist. Makeshift centre Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (nine runs for 99 metres, three try assists, one try) and Erin Clark (15 runs for 148 metres, three offloads) were very strong, while James Fisher-Harris (nine runs for 85 and 15 tackles) did his job. Te Maire Martin may have given Andrew Webster some food for thought in a 29-minute showing at dummy-half, brilliantly setting up one try, backing up to score his own and having a couple of classy touches in other four-pointers. Young playmaker Maui Winitana-Patelesio made nine runs for 43 metres, had a line-break assist and 20 tackles at five-eighth for the Kukis.

Fiji makes huge statement in gallant loss to Australia

Fiji delivered arguably the most impressive — and certainly the most overachieving — team performance of the RLWC so far, pushing Australia all the way in a 36-22 loss at Suncorp Stadium. The fired-up, physical Bati led 10-6 after 26 minutes and 16-12 early in the second half as one of the great boilovers threatened to materialise. After a couple of agonising lost opportunities for the Bati, a 15-minute hat-trick to Tom Trbojevic gave the bustled Kangaroos some breathing space. But opposing winger Semi Valemei’s third try gave Fiji a late sniff, before Jacob Preston crossed to seal the deal for hosts. Fiji five-eighth and Dolphins utility Kurt Donoghoe was a resounding man of the match, laying on three of his side’s four tries and threatening the Kangaroos all night. The Batis’ performance sets up a massive showdown with the Kiwis this Saturday with the winner progressing to the semis.

Warrior watch: Front-row tyro Emosi Ravosai produced an eye-catching 38-minute shift off the bench for Fiji, making eight runs for 68 metres and 12 tackles.

Women’s RLWC: Gulf illustrated in second-round mismatches

The weekend’s four Women’s Rugby League World Cup matches saw the four victors outscore their opponents 286 points to four. Samoa scored 14 tries in a 76-0 defeat of Wales and world champions Australia crossed 15 times in a 78-0 rout of third-ranked England. RLWC debutants Fiji followed up a gallant first-up loss to New Zealand with a 40-4 demolition of Papua New Guinea, before the Kiwi Ferns racked up a record-breaking 92-0, 18-try win over hapless France.

Warrior watch: Veteran fullback Apii Nicholls scored four tries, and centres Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga both nabbed hat-tricks and had a pair of try assists apiece. Kiwi Ferns rookie and Warriors player of the year Kaiyah Atai scored a try in the second-row, while front-rower Ivana Lauitiiti was a menace with 12 runs for 153 metres, two line-breaks and a try assist. Samoa forwards Annetta Nuuausala (12 runs for 179 metres) and Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa (seven runs for 80 metres) were a handful for Wales.

Meanwhile, thanks to Georgia Hale and Ricky Henry for going two-on-one with me in an otherwise deserted Kiwi Ferns press conference.

Overcoming a scare in the opening quarter, New Zealand accounted for Cook Islands in emphatic fashion at a packed One New Zealand Stadium in Ōtautahi Christchurch, piling on 14 tries in an 82-16 win.

The Kiwis shot out to a two-try lead with wingers Jamayne Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo crossing early. The small but vocal Cook Islands contingent of the crowd went into delirium, however, as winger Esom Ioka scored a blazing eight-minute hat-trick — two tries coming from intercepted Keano Kini passes — to give the rank underdogs a 16-12 lead.

New Zealand recalibrated to run in four unanswered tries for a 36-16 halftime scoreline.

It was one-way traffic in the second stanza, the Kiwis posting eight tries to none with hometown debutant Tanner Stowers-Smith grabbing a dream double, and fellow Canterbury product Isaako completing a hat-trick and finishing with a New Zealand Test record 38 points.

It was far from clean and clinical with the Kiwis making 12 errors and completing at only 71 percent — but comprehensive and physically dominant nonetheless. The hosts more than doubled the Kukis’ run metres tally and finished with 11 line-breaks to one and 52 tackle-breaks to 15.

Before shifting focus to what is effectively a semifinal playoff against Fiji on the Gold Coast on Saturday, check out the King Container Crew Kiwis player ratings from a comprehensive victory.

1 KEANO KINI: Brilliant touches in the Kiwis’ first two tries, which were soon negated with a pair of intercept passes that gifted tries to Esom Ioka, while he also shelled a bomb. Showed how dangerous he can be with an explosive solo try from close range to open the second-half scoring…then coughed up the ball in the Kiwis’ next set. Ran for 176 metres and made two line-breaks and seven tackle-breaks, but six errors is a glaring stat. 6

2 JAMAYNE ISAAKO: Slipped in for two of New Zealand’s first three tries and completed his hat-trick in the latter stages, while his 13 goals from 14 attempts gave him a new Kiwis Test record of 38 points — a memorable hometown outing for the Aranui junior. Also set up CNK superbly for the last try of the match. Ten runs for 169 metres and four line-breaks. 8

3 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: Threw the last pass for all three of Isaako’s tries and had the favour returned as he streaked away for an excellent four-pointer to complete the rout. Nine runs for 99 metres and 17 tackles opposite Kukis dangerman KL Iro, who gave him a bath in his last match at centre (for the Warriors at Cronulla earlier this year). Solid performance. 7

4 CASEY MCLEAN: Set up Mulitalo’s try and scorched in for his own late in the first half and added another tackle-busting four-pointer midway through the second. Made nine runs for 155 metres with five tackle-breaks and generally looks a class above whenever he takes the field these days. 7.5

5 RONALDO MULITALO: Ran in an early try but was outjumped by Ioka for a Cook Islands four-pointer soon afterwards. Completed his double midway through the second half, climbed to take a bomb and set up Martin’s try, and finished with a team-high 206 metres on 18 carries and seven tackle-breaks in a typically energetic display. 7.5

6 KODI NIKORIMA: Deft pass to send Scott Sorensen over the first half, had a key hand in several others and snaffled a bomb to score in the second half before setting up McLean’s second. Classy. 8

7 JAHROME HUGHES: Two try assists — one with a pass, another with a kick — along with 13 runs for 98 metres and a sound all-round kicking game. Got an early mark with 14 minutes to go. 7

8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: A characteristically tradesmanlike showing from the skipper, racking up nine runs for 85 metres and 15 tackles in 45 minutes. 6.5

9 JEREMY MARSHALL-KING: Nice pass from dummy-half to lay on TSS’s try, a couple of testing runs and a team-high 26 tackles before heading to the bench 11 minutes into the second half. 6.5

10 JOSEPH TAPINE: It’s been a rousing start to the tournament for the veteran and he led the Kiwis forwards on Sunday with 15 runs for 180 metres, along with three offloads and 20 tackles. A vital cog in this title-contending machine. 8

11 XAVIER WILLISON: The Cook Islands rep looks very much at home in the black-and-white jersey and was a huge handful for his former team, racking up 16 runs for 167 metres (including a game-high 108 post-contact) and 23 tackles without a miss after playing the full 80 minutes. 8

12 SCOTT SORENSEN: Ran a nice line to score his maiden Test try and coupled 11 runs for 78 metres with 20 tackles. Also made two errors and gave away a six-again. 6

13 ERIN CLARK: Had the Kukis defence backpedalling with 148 metres on 15 runs, and produced three offloads and a line-break assist, as well as a bit of ball-playing. 7.5

14 TE MAIRE MARTIN: Marked his return to dummy-half for the first time since last year with a nifty kick and regather to set up Ronaldo Mulitalo’s second try. Grabbed his first Test try since a 2017 World Cup hat-trick in Christchurch (despite almost having his head taken off) and had a brilliant hand in CNK’s closer. Could be the key to adding some bench spark to the Kiwis’ arsenal for the rest of the tournament. 7.5

15 LEO THOMPSON: Another middle forward to make a strong statement, the Bulldogs front-rower kicked off his tournament with 13 runs for 134 metres and 18 tackles in 55 minutes of gametime. 7.5

16 TANNER STOWERS-SMITH: Yet to bag an NRL try but needed only five minutes of Test footy to power over for a dream debut four-pointer in his home city. Ploughed over for a second early in the second half after a defence-scattering charge for good measure. Finished with 19 runs for 174 metres (72 post-contact) and seven tackle-breaks to confirm he will not let the jersey down if he can force his way into the 17 for the Kiwis’ remaining games. 8.5

17 JACOB LABAN: A solid 32-minute Test debut for the Warriors back-rower, making seven runs for 63 metres and delivering a try assist for Martin. 6

This is a Frank podcast 🎙️

Brought to you by the Warriors- and Kiwis-mad legends at Kingz Container Crew ❤️👑

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This Warriors Life bundles up the first round of Rugby League World Cup matches into a neat little package, including the performances of our Warriors reps, with the support of ComfortGlaze.

ComfortGlaze are the retrofit double-glazing experts — timber and aluminium — and have branches in Christchurch, Hamilton and Auckland. Head to comfortglaze.co.nz for a free quote, select This Warriors Life in the ‘How did you hear about us?’ section and you’ll get a nice wee discount.

Walsh has final say in stunning Ponga duel as Kangaroos win all-time classic

Australia and New Zealand kicked the 2026 Rugby League World Cup off in spectacular style in Sydney, producing one of the great Test matches. Origin-like intensity, drama and quality, laced with huge moments. But ultimately the Kiwis will be ruing a 24-22 loss after dictating the majority of the contest, while Kalyn Ponga’s stellar two-try debut was tempered by a likely tournament-ending broken arm.

Physically dominated during the first half, the Kangaroos went to the sheds at 10-all after two long-range intercept tries. The Kiwis did not trail during the second half until the 76th minute, when Kangaroos winger Jack Bostock completed a debut hat-trick by climbing over clubmate Jamayne Isaako for the second time. A contentious selection over James Tedesco, had an absorbing fullback battle all night with Ponga — who had scored a sensational solo try after suffering his injury — and scorched away for a crucial 70-metre try with 12 minutes to go.

Nafahu Whyte and Isaiah Papali’i were standouts in a rampaging Kiwis forward pack display, while Casey McLean and Ronaldo Mulitalo produced superb performances out wide. Jahrome Hughes had a few untidy moments as the visitors failed to close out a match in which they were behind for less than 10 minutes in total.

Warrior watch: Captain James Fisher-Harris was authoritative up front in his first stint and racked up 142 metres from 13 tackles along with 25 tackles, but he made a glaring play-the-ball error in the second half. Erin Clark came off the bench with seven for 65 minutes and 26 tackles without a miss, while he was busy in the ball-playing department. Te Maire Martin and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad were the two unused interchange players with Keano Kini replacing the injured Ponga.

Sacré bleu! Samoa annihilate France

The starkest mismatch of the World Cup’s opening weekend saw Samoa pile on 14 tries in a 78-4 drubbing of France at CommBank Stadium. Brisbane winger Deine Mariner raced in for the first try before leaving field only 10 minutes in; his replacement, Melbourne’s Sua Faalogo, had a field day with four tries and two try assists. The French resistance fell away completely as the game wore on, leaking six tries in the last 17 minutes.

Warrior watch: Warriors playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita was a standout at five-eighth for Samoa, scoring a try, setting up another, making 88 metres from eight runs and reeling off 18 tackles.

Kumuls see off plucky Cedars in Port Moresby

Papua New Guinea scored seven tries to subdue Lebanon 42-18 in a scrappy contest at Santos National Football Stadium. After scoring the first three tries of the match and the first two tries of the second half, the Kumuls were pegged back to tenuous 18-12 and 30-18 leads by a feisty Cedars outfit that had just 46 percent possession. Two tries in the last 10 minutes from the hosts repelled the outsiders’ challenge in a match that featured 27 errors.

Warrior watch: Recent Warriors recruit Bailey Biondi-Odo came off the bench after being named at halfback, but he made the most of a 17-minute cameo by scoring the last try of the match among four runs for 55 metres.

Tonga wear down England to put one hand on semis berth

Tonga took a massive step towards a place in the World Cup’s last four courtesy of a gritty, professional 30-12 win over fellow contender England in Perth. In contrast to pre-match expectations, England created the majority of first-half chances with several exciting busts, but Tonga led 10-0 at halftime after Isaiya Katoa put Stefano Utoikamanu over with a short ball and added two penalty goals.

George Williams and Hugo Savala combined twice to set up tries for AJ Brimson and Dom Young in the second half. But physical Tonga turned the screws with three tries from grubbers close to the line and another pair of penalties. England could take some heart from making seven line-breaks to four and chalking up more run metres than the big Tongan side — but a 17-10 error count and lack of finishing polish let them down and their path to a semifinal spot is now a whole lot harder. Halfback Katoa’s performance, in particular, put the tournament’s big guns on notice.

Warrior watch: A typically high-energy Dallin Watene-Zelezniak had an eventful first half in his belated Tonga debut, finishing with 12 runs for 75 metres. Leka Halasima (eight runs for 59 metres, three tackle-breaks, 15 tackles) and Demitric Vaimauga (five runs for 42 metres, three tackle-breaks, 14 tackles) made their presence felt off the bench for the victors.

Bati blow away Kukis in first-half onslaught

A five-try blitz in the opening 40 minutes set up a 40-12 victory over Cook Islands in Newcastle on Sunday. With makeshift halves pairing Brandon Wakeham and Kurt Donoghoe pulling the strings, the Bati led 28-0 at the break and posted the first try of the second half. The Kukis stemmed the flow of points against them and crossed twice in the space of five minutes, but Wests Tigers winger put the exclamation point on a convincing win with his second try of the match.

Warrior watch: Debuting at five-eighth for Cook Islands, young Warriors half/hooker Maui Winitana-Patelesio scored a blistering solo try to put his side on the board, finished with 14 runs for 140 metres and kicked two conversions. Tyro prop Emosi Ravosai played 33 minutes off the bench for Fiji, contributing five runs for 67 metres and 10 tackles.

Women’s RLWC: Jillaroos fire, Kiwi Ferns get out of jail

Australia asserted its favouritism for a fourth straight women’s World Cup title with a clinical 40-0 rout of Samoa on Friday, featuring seven different tryscorers. Papua New Guinea crushed France 58-4 with winger Naomi Kelly crossing four times, while centre Connie Boyd and winger Anna Davies blazed in for hat-tricks in England’s 70-6 demolition of Wales.

New Zealand received a massive wake-up call from World Cup debutant Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday. Cross-code star Stacey Waaka scored two tries in the first half of her maiden Kiwi Ferns appearance, but the Bulikula took the fight right back to the heavyweights and held the lead — or a share of it — for a 44-minute stretch. Error-prone and ill-disciplined, the Kiwi Ferns managed to hold the gallant underdogs scoreless in the second half, nudging in front via a penalty goal with six minutes left then sealing an 18-12 result when halfback and captain Raecene McGregor popped a brilliant kick for winger Leianne Tufaga to dive over.

Warrior watch: Stacey Waaka had a team-high 149 metres on top of her first-half double, Mele Hufaga notched a try assist along with 124 metres, veteran fullback Apii Nicholls made a line-break and produced a try assist, and debutant back-rower Kaiyah Atai made eight runs and 21 tackles.

Week two schedule

Men’s RLWC

Friday — Tonga v Lebanon

Saturday — Papua New Guinea v Samoa, England v France

Sunday — New Zealand v Cook Islands, Australia v Fiji

Women’s RLWC

Friday — Samoa v Wales

Saturday — Papua New Guinea v Fiji, Australia v England

Sunday — New Zealand v France

Australia and New Zealand kicked the 2026 Rugby League World Cup off in spectacular style in Sydney, producing one of the great Test matches. Origin-like intensity, drama and quality, laced with huge moments. But ultimately the Kiwis will be ruing a 24-22 loss after dictating the majority of the contest, while a potential tournament-ending injury could have a catastrophic impact on their title hopes.

The Kiwis were relentless from the outset and grabbed a sensational early try through Casey McLean. But despite utter physical dominance throughout the first half, the teams went to the sheds 10-all thanks to two coast-to-coast intercept tries to the Kangaroos.

The momentum swung back somewhat in the second stanza as errors crept into the visitors’ game, but the Kiwis twice pushed out to six-point leads via tries to magnificent international debutant Kalyn Ponga — the second a mind-blowing solo effort.

But with the fullback eventually succumbing to an arm injury and a couple of crucial missteps counting against New Zealand, Australia finished with a wet sail. Reece Walsh squared the ledger in his absorbing duel with Ponga by scoring a scorching 70-metre try, before wing newcomer Jack Bostock climbed over Dolphins clubmate Jamayne Isaako for the second time to snatch the 76th-minute match-winner.

The Kiwis had 52 percent possession, made almost 300 more run metres as their forward pack lived up to the pre-game hype, and they finished with five line-breaks to one. There were myriad positives to take out of the performance that would otherwise shift the tournament favouritism needed towards Stacey Jones’ side.

But failing to get the job done when they were in the box seat and being unable to convert their overwhelming ascendancy into points against the reeling world champs may foster some mental demons.

Meanwhile, the sight of Ponga in a sling — with a fracture suspected — arguably dents their chances of lifting the Paul Barrière Trophy more than the positives of the night enhanced them.

Here’s your first edition of Rugby League World Cup Kingz Container Crew player ratings.

1 KALYN PONGA: Perhaps the greatest Kiwis debut of all time and the most exhilarating individual performance in the black-and-white jersey since Shaun Johnson tore up the 2014 Four Nations. Looked dangerous from his first touch, made a searing first-half line-break and kept the Kangaroos on their toes with his ball-playing. His support play netted the first try of the second half, while that vintage solo effort on the hour mark will be replayed ad nauseum for decades. Still finished with a game-high 253 metres despite leaving the field with 10 minutes left…but will that be his last on-field contribution in this tournament? 9

2 JAMAYNE ISAAKO: Dutifully made his yardage carries (15 runs for 139 metres) and didn’t do a lot wrong — the handling error that the Bunker refused to overturn was highly dubious — but got few chances to shine. Meanwhile, he was schooled in the air by lanky clubmate Bostock for two second-half tries that effectively decided the result. 6

3 DANE GAGAI: A solid display from the oldest Kiwis debutant since 1910, though he was burgled one-on-one by Bostock in the first half and had another handling error. Had 13 runs for 122 metres but New Zealand’s attack concentrated on the left side. Kept Latrell Mitchell in check in a big defensive shift, making 26 tackles. 7

4 CASEY McLEAN: Astounding early try and overcame a shoulder problem from that airborne effort to tear the Kangaroos apart on several other occasions, making a second-half line-break and racking up seven tackle-breaks along with 14 runs for 175 metres. Not quite perfect with an intercept pass for Trbojevic’s try and another loose speculator after a long run that didn’t need to be thrown, plus a couple of handling errors. Very sound defensively. A special player. 8

5 RONALDO MULITALO: A memorable night for the abrasive Sharks flyer. His aerial ability set up McLean’s try, he had two line-break assists to go with 14 runs for 178 metres and seven tackle-breaks, and a big night on D was highlighted by a couple of crunching tackles on Kotoni Staggs. Built for this arena. 8

6 KODI NIKORIMA: A fairly conservative first half included a forced line dropout with a clever grubber, while he offered more spark after the break and had a key hand in Ponga’s first try. Had a line-break assist, 10 runs for 75 metres and made 21 tackles, standing up impressively after typically having plenty of traffic sent his way. 6.5

7 JAHROME HUGHES: First-half kicking game was particularly good, setting up the early try and keeping the Kangaroos hemmed down their end. Organisation and control got a bit ragged after the break, while a terrible kick that gave away a seven-tackle set late in the game proved disastrous. Nine runs for 92 metres and 15 tackles with five misses, plus a high tackle penalty. Great to see him back for the first time since 2023 but he’d like to redo that second half. 6

8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: Barnstorming first stint and finished the night with 142 metres on 13 carries, along with 25 tackles. A play-the-ball gaffe in the second half was a regrettable moment. 7.5

9 JEREMY MARSHALL-KING: Played the full 80 minutes — something of a rarity for JMK in 2026 — and was decent, but lacked a bit of zip with his running game never really getting going. Topped the tackle count with 40…but where was he when the Kiwis didn’t have a dummy-half on the last in the dying minutes?! 5.5

10 MOSES LEOTA: Justified his contentious retention in the starting side with an authoritative opening stint, popping a couple of good offloads, shortening up some Aussie ball-runners and making some strong charges. Less noticeable when he returned in the second half. Ten runs for 76 metres and 15 tackles. 7

11 ISAIAH PAPALI’I: A man-of-the-match contender with arguably his best display at Test level. Threw the last pass for two tries among six offloads for the night, made 125 metres from a game-high 19 runs, reeled off 37 tackles without a miss and superbly defused a bomb in-goal during the second half. A couple of penalties and a ruck infringement conceded were the only marks against the ex-Warrior’s name. 8.5

12 BRITON NIKORA: Ran some nice lines and looked dangerous without getting a highlight reel moment. Ten runs for 73 metres, 25 tackles with five misses, an error and a penalty. 6

13 JOSEPH TAPINE: Looked a cut above the Kangaroos during a rousing opening stint, playing a big role in Kiwis’ early dominance. Finished with 108 metres on 14 runs and 23 tackles in 39 minutes — perhaps not enough gametime for a player of his quality and leadership. Gallant chase on a runaway Walsh saved two points. 8

15 NAUFAHU WHYTE: This guy is operating on another Haas-like plane. An absolute monster with 13 runs for 160 metres (70 post-contact) in 43 minutes, as well as 15 tackles. Despite Leota’s solid showing, there’s still a case to be made for Whyte to start in the big games, such is his current level. 8

16 ERIN CLARK: A hand in Ponga’s first try in a handy ball-playing shift, 26 tackles without a miss, but only seven runs for 65 metres in 39 metres. Did nothing wrong but perhaps could have stood out more. 6.5

17 XAVIER WILLISON: Especially strong running the ball with 74 metres on seven carries in just 28 minutes, though a handling error was a rough moment. Overall enhanced his claims for a spot in a first-choice 17 despite a host of strong contenders. 7

19 KEANO KINI: Pitched into the action for the last 10 minutes and did everything he could to spark things from the back, making 56 metres from five runs. Could now have a massive role to play in the tournament. 6

PLUS some Warriors news - Sam Healey free to negotiate, the Leka empire, yada yada yada.

This is a Frank podcast 🎙️

Brought to you by the Warriors- and Kiwis-mad legends at Kingz Container Crew ❤️👑

And ComfortGlaze, the retrofit double-glazing experts 🪟

ComfortGlaze teamed up with This Warriors Life in 2026 to support our coverage of the club’s lower-grade teams and next-gen talent — and they’re staying on throughout the Rugby League World Cup, presenting post-match reports and rolling summaries of all our Warriors competing at the tournament.

First up, though, we run the rule over all 10 squads lining up at the RLWC with the international rugby league extravaganza just days away.

ComfortGlaze are the retrofit double-glazing experts — timber and aluminium — and have branches in Christchurch, Hamilton and Auckland. Head to comfortglaze.co.nz for a free quote, select This Warriors Life in the ‘How did you hear about us?’ section and you’ll get a nice wee discount.

AUSTRALIA

Schedule: New Zealand @ Sydney, October 15; Fiji @ Brisbane, October 25; Cook Islands @ Townsville, October 31

Form and history: The preeminent force in international rugby league for more than half a century, Australia has won 12 of the 16 World Cups to date — including nine of the last 10. The Kangaroos took home the trophy in 2013, 2017 and 2022 in largely convincing style and have won 29 of their last 32 Tests. Since a record-breaking loss to the Kiwis in the 2023 Pacific Championships final, the green-and-golds dominated the 2024 Pacific Championships before sweeping England 3-0 in last year’s Ashes series.

Coach: Kevin Walters won two of four Origin series in charge of Queensland before taking the Broncos to a grand final in 2023 during a four-season tenure. His first foray as Australian coach garnered an Ashes cleansweep in the Old Dart.

Key man: Part of the 2017 squad and five-eighth in the 2022 final win, Cameron Munster is one of the Kangaroos’ elder statesmen and eager to finish the year on a high after a campaign that saw him feature in an Origin series loss, battle injury, fail to play finals for the first time and now face contract uncertainty.

Who they’re missing: Nathan Cleary is a huge out, while Lindsay Collins withdrew due to a foot injury after originally being named, and Selwyn Cobbo and Dylan Edwards were also unavailable. Robert Toia opted to represent Tonga instead.

One to watch: Inventive halfback Sam Walker has ticked every box so far in 2026, starring in his debut Origin series for Queensland before making a remarkable recovery from an ankle injury to steer the Roosters to the premiership. A memorable introduction to international footy beckons.

Big selection call: Reports have emerged that Reece Walsh is set to be retained for the tournament opener ahead of Clive Churchill Medal winner James Tedesco. There’s also a huge decision to be made at halfback: Walker or veteran Mitch Moses.

Warrior factor: Mitch Barnett was one of the more surprising omissions — particularly after Collins pulled out, with Lindsay Smith called up instead — while Wayde Egan remains stuck in the dummy-half queue behind Harry Grant and Blayke Brailey. Reece Walsh makes up the former Warrior contingent in the Kangaroos squad.

COOK ISLANDS

Schedule: Fiji @ Newcastle, October 18; New Zealand @ Christchurch, October 25; Fiji @ Gold Coast, October 31

Form and history: Debuting at the World Cup under the great Kevin Iro’s leadership in 2000, Cook Islands have made subsequent appearances in 2013 and 2022 — beating Wales at both UK-hosted tournaments. The Kukis have played in the past three Pacific Bowls against PNG and Fiji, holding their own but failing to pick up a win. A strong line-up thrashed South Africa 58-6 in a World Cup qualifier last November.

Coach: Code-hopping champion Karmichael Hunt has been in charge of the Cook Islands national team and Queensland Cup outfit Souths Logan Magpies since 2023.

Key man: Co-captain KL Iro — the son of New Zealand and Cook Islands icon Kevin — embodies the modern spirit of international rugby league, forgoing a likely Kiwis call-up to represent the Pacific minnows. Making his Test debut back in 2019, five years before becoming a regular in the NRL, Iro has now scored 30 tries in 61 top-grade games for Cronulla. He’ll relish the opportunity to line-up alongside first-time Kukis selection Valentine Holmes.

Who they’re missing: Broncos back-rower Brendan Piakura played for the Cook Islands last year but sits out the RLWC after playing just 12 NRL games this season. Xavier Willison and former Kukis rep Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad are in the New Zealand squad.

One to watch: From the Riccarton Knights club in Canterbury (NZ), 20-year-old newcomer K-Ci Newton-Whare played 23 NSW Cup games in the front-row for Melbourne this season and scored five tries.

Big selection call: Another former Kiwi, Esan Marsters has been a versatile mainstay for Cook Islands, making Test appearances at second-row, centre, five-eighth and halfback. How to best utilise the Bradford star — or which gap he can most effectively plug in this line-up — is a key decision for Hunt.

Warrior factor: Newcastle-bound Warriors veteran Marata Niukore co-captains the side with former Warriors junior Iro, while young playmaker Maui Winitana-Patelesio made his NSW Cup debut for the Warriors this year. Kukis regulars Paul Ulberg and Pride Petterson-Robati both reached NSW/Queensland Cup level with the Warriors.

ENGLAND

Schedule: Tonga @ Perth, October 17; France @ Perth, October 24; Papua New Guinea @ Wollongong, October 30

Form and history: Great Britain won the inaugural 1954 World Cup and saluted again in 1960 and 1972. England was a gallant runner-up in 2017, losing an epic final to Australia 6-0, before being upset in the semis by Samoa on home soil in 2022. After solid home series wins over Tonga (2023) and Samoa (2024), England was swept 3-0 in hosting the first Ashes series in 23 years in 2025…scoring just two tries across three Tests.

Coach: A Great Britain rep during the 1990s, Brian McDermott took the England reins from Shaun Wane this year after coaching Harlequins, Leeds, Toronto and Featherstone in more than 400 games. He has also had a stint as USA’s coach.

Key man: While NRL hotshots Herbie Farnworth, Victor Radley and Dom Young unsurprisingly attract most attention in the squad, England desperately need impetus in the spine — which was severely lacking in the Ashes. Dolphins-bound five-eighth George Williams has been retained as captain and needs to lead the way, with his 23 Test appearances dwarfing the rest of the England squad.

Who they’re missing: The big talking point was Jake Connor again being overlooked — the Leeds linchpin won the 2024 Man of Steel and racked up 43 try assists this year — while wingers Joe Burgess and Tom Johnstone, centre Harry Newman, props Mike McMeeken and Matty Lees, and long-serving back-rowers Kallum Watkins and Alex Walmsley are among the Ashes servants absent.

One to watch: Versatile Roosters tyro Hugo Savala could be a breakout star for England in the centres or in the halves if he gets the opportunity, while Wigan hooker Brad O’Neill took out the Man of Steel award this season.

Big selection call: St Helens fullback Jack Welsby was axed after the first Ashes Test last year in favour of Gold Coast livewire AJ Brimson, who played in the remaining two Tests. Welsby is tipped to get the No.1 jumper for their massive opener against Tonga. O’Neill and incumbent Jez Litten are also battling it out for the starting hooker role.

Warrior factor: N/A

FIJI

Schedule: Cook Islands @ Newcastle, October 18; Australia @ Brisbane, October 25; New Zealand @ Gold Coast, October 31

Form and history: Fiji made the World Cup semis in 2008, 2013 and 2017 — the latter after an unforgettable 4-2 win over New Zealand in a Wellington quarterfinal — and almost tipped up the Kiwis in the 2022 quarters. They were pumped by Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Bowl in the past three seasons, however.

Coach: The vastly experienced Mick Potter returns after early coaching Fiji to the 2017 World Cup semis.

Key man: Elite hooker Api Koroisau returns to the Fiji side for the first time since the 2022 World Cup, where he played in the quarters against the Kiwis at five-eighth. The Bati’s play will revolve around the Wests Tigers skipper.

Who they’re missing: Fiji’s chances of nabbing a semifinal spot were dealt a savage blow with the unavailability of Jahream Bula and Viliame Kikau, while Jethro Rinakama is also injured, and the Tigers’ Fainu brothers couldn’t provide enough evidence of their Fijian heritage.

One to watch: A breakout star with the Dolphins who was touted as a possible Kangaroos bolter, Kurt Donoghoe is a huge in for Fiji as a dummy-half or middle forward.

Big selection call: Where to play Koroisau. He may be the best option in the halves Fiji has available.

Warrior factor: Bati newcomer Emosi Ravosai has played 31 Jersey Flegg games for the Warriors over the past two seasons, while the 20-year-old prop also made three NSW Cup appearances this year. The enigmatic Taane Milne, a Warriors one-gamer in 2019, is back for another Fiji campaign.

FRANCE

Schedule: Samoa @ Sydney, October 16; England @ Perth, October 24; Lebanon @ Sydney, November 1

Form and history: The inaugural World Cup hosts in 1954, France was the runner-up that year and again in 1968. But France’s status has plummetted since its last notable success, a 2-0 home series win over the 1978 Kangaroos. At the 2022 World Cup they beat Greece but conceded 60-plus to both England and Samoa. France was supposed to host this tournament a year ago.

Coach: Former French international Laurent Frayssinous has been at the helm of the national side since 2021. During five seasons at Catalans (2013-17), his highwater mark was leading the club to within a win of the 2014 Super League grand final.

Key man: With Catalans for the past two seasons, half Theo Fages has played well over 250 Super League games and won grand finals with St Helens in 2019 and 2020.

Who they’re missing: Toulouse trio Anthony Marion, Maxime Stefani and Pierre-Jean Lima were among the more notable players to miss out after being named in a initial 40-man squad. A winger at NSW Cup level with the Roosters, Enzo Griffier also failed to make the cut after representing France for the past three years.

One to watch: The only current NRL player in the French squad, 25-year-old Latrell Siegwalt made eight appearances in the centres for Souths — scoring two tries and kicking 28 gaols — this season.

Big selection call: Siegwalt is also experienced at five-eighth and fullback at Queensland Cup level, so there could be a temptation to break up the halves pairing of Fages and Cesar Rouge, or bump Arthur Mourge out of the No.1 jumper.

Warrior factor: N/A

LEBANON

Schedule: Papua New Guinea @ Port Moresby, October 17; Tonga @ Sydney, October 23; France @ Sydney, November 1

Form and history: Lebanon lines up at the World Cup for the fourth time, having debuted in 2000 before returning in 2017 and coming desperately close to rolling Tonga in the quarterfinals. The Cedars made the quarters again in 2022 after a spirited loss to the Kiwis and wins over Ireland and Jamaica, eventually halted 48-4 by Australia. Their only match since was a narrow win over Italy last October with only a couple of players who will feature in this campaign.

Coach: Ex-Wallabies coach and current Roosters assistant Michael Cheika leads Lebanon into a World Cup for the second time.

Key man: Jacob Kiraz is the closest thing Lebanon has to an Origin-level player, but given their lack of NRL-experienced players in the pack Wests Tigers workhorse Alex Twal arguably has an even more important role to play. Jason Saab provides crucial scoring strike.

Who they’re missing: Mitch Moses was picked for Australia, while Adam Doueihi was unavailable — both hammer blows to the Cedars’ chances.

One to watch: Centre Jordan Samrani has developed into a cult hero with 12 tries in 28 NRL games for Parramatta and will be fizzed up to debut for Lebanon.

Big selection call: Choosing a halfback with Moses and Doueihi out of the mix is Cheika’s most crucial call, but with 10 tries and 16 try assists in his debut NSW Cup campaign for Canterbury, Alex Conti appears well-qualified to step up.

Warrior factor: N/A

NEW ZEALAND

Schedule: Australia @ Sydney, October 15; Cook Islands @ Christchurch, October 25; Fiji @ Gold Coast, October 31

Form and history: The only other nation to win the World Cup in the past 50 years besides Australia, New Zealand’s 2008 triumph feels like yesterday. After a horrific 2017 campaign that ended in the quarterfinals via losses to Tonga and Fiji, the Kiwis made hard work of another quarterfinal against the Bati in 2022 but were gallant in a tight semifinal loss to Australia. Michael Maguire guided the Kiwis to a famous Pacific Championships rout of the Kangaroos in 2023, while Stacey Jones’ tenure has included a loss to Tonga that kept them out of the final of the same tournament in 2024, and convincing wins over Tonga and Samoa to take out the 2025 title.

Coach: A contentious choice as coach in 2024 after Maguire was ruled out for taking on the NSW Origin job and with Wayne Bennett also throwing his hat in the ring, Kiwis legend and long-time assistant Stacey Jones has produced solid results in two seasons in charge — particularly in last year’s comprehensive Pacific Championships success.

Key man: It’s hard to go past megastar debutant Kalyn Ponga, who is coming off an inspirational role in Newcastle’s run to an unlikely grand final berth — he provides an array of strengths the Kiwis haven’t enjoyed at fullback for some time. Returning to the black-and-white jersey for the first time since the 2023 Pacific Championships success, halfback Jahrome Hughes isn’t far behind in the importance stakes as he looks to put an injury-interrupted season for the Storm behind him.

Who they’re missing: Potential inclusions Kaeo Weekes, Trey Mooney and Matt Timoko unavailable due to injury, while Phoenix Crossland’s highly-publicised preliminary final suspension was a blow. It’s unclear whether 2026 grand final second-row tyros Francis Manuleleua and Salesi Foketi — who were both named in a preliminary 40-man squad last month but will line up for Samoa — were left out or were wanted by the Kiwis but pledged for Samoa.

One to watch: Tanner Stowers-Smith is among a bloated contingent of props in the Kiwis’ squad, but after a wonderful season for the Warriors the international rookie could nudge his way of a couple of bigger names in the pecking order.

Big selection call: The first-choice 17 more or less picks itself, though whether to start Joe Tapine at prop or lock — with Naufahu Whyte and Erin Clark both vying for starting spots in those positions — is an intriguing decision for Jones. Te Maire Martin would seem an obvious pick for the No.14 jumper as cover for Jeremy Marshall-King, the only hooker in the squad.

Warrior factor: After some lean years for the club Kiwis selection-wise, the Warriors contribute six players to this squad with captain James Fisher-Harris, Erin Clark, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Te Maire Martin returning, while Tanner Stowers-Smith and Jacob Laban are set to become the first players to debut for New Zealand from the Warriors since 2018. Ex-Warriors Isaiah Papali’i (the last Warriors Kiwi debutant) and Kodi Nikorima are also on deck.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Schedule: Lebanon @ Port Moresby, October 17; Samoa @ Port Moresby, October 24; England @ Wollongong, October 30

Form and history: A permanent World Cup fixture since the 1980s, Papua New Guinea made the quarterfinals in 2000, 2017 and 2022 — going down to England at the latter two. The Kumuls have won the Pacific Bowl in each of the past three years, getting the better of Fiji and Cook Islands.

Coach: Jason Demetriou took over as coach in 2024, a few months after getting the sack from South Sydney.

Key man: Recent Warriors playmaker signing Bailey Biondi-Odo will make his debut for the Kumuls and shapes as the likely No.7 linchpin with Lam absent. The former Canterbury Bulldogs playmaker carved up for Queensland Cup outfit Townsville Blackhawks this season, chalking up 13 tries and 19 assists in 17 games.

Who they’re missing: Lachlan Lam, Cooper Bai and Alex Johnston were unavailable in a devastating injury triple-blow.

One to watch: After getting a taste of NRL with Wests Tigers in 2023-24, Josh Feledy took his opportunity with Manly this year — the centre made 12 appearances and scored five tries in the last three rounds.

Big selection call: Cowboys centre Zac Laybutt is perhaps the most talented player in the Kumuls’ squad and can play anywhere in the backline. He could be the best option available at five-eighth or fullback.

Warrior factor: Biondi-Odo gets an early opportunity to capture the attention of the Warriors’ coaching staff as he comes into a halves contingent that has just lost Luke Metcalf, Luke Hanson and Jett Cleary to rival NRL clubs.

SAMOA

Schedule: France @ Sydney, October 16; Papua New Guinea @ Port Moresby, October 24; Tonga @ Sydney, November 1

Form and history: A permanent World Cup fixture since 1995 (as Western Samoa under the coach of Graham Lowe), Samoa had largely underachieved at the tournament — including a disastrous, winless 2017 campaign — but that all changed in 2022. Matt Parish’s Toa Samoa side recovered from an opening 60-6 loss to England to upset Tonga in the quarterfinals and edge England 27-26 in an epic semi, before losing the final to Australia 30-10. After a disappointing 2023 Pacific Championships foray and a 2-0 series loss in England in 2024, Samoa again rolled Tonga at the 2025 Pacific Championships and led the Kiwis at halftime of the final before going down 36-14.

Coach: An assistant at Penrith during the 2023-24 premiership years — among a host of other assistant and NSW Cup roles — Gardiner took over as Samoa’s coach in 2023. The long-time Kiwis assistant and 2023 Māori All Stars coach is Mal Meninga’s right-hand man at Perth Bears.

Key man: The likely halves combination of Jarome Luai and Chanel Harris-Tavita has to stand up, but in a mouth-watering back-five — arguably the strongest of any team at the tournament — Stephen Crichton is the team’s leader who must set the tone.

Who they’re missing: The withdrawal of Payne Haas and Terrell May is an almighty blow, leaving Spencer Leniu and Junior Paulo to carry the front-row load.

One to watch: His NRL career is only 15 games old, but Knights second-rower Francis Manuleleua tore the finals series apart and shapes as a real weapon for Toa Samoa.

Big selection call: While Storm livewire Sua Faalogo seems likely to get first crack at fullback given Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s excellent Origin performances at centre, there could be a temptation to put the ‘Hammer’ in the No.1 jersey with depth in the three-quarter line certainly no issue.

Warrior factor: Chanel Harris-Tavita, a veteran of 10 Tests for Toa Samoa and hooker in the 2022 World Cup final, was the only current Warriors player originally selected in the squad, reuniting with recently minted Super League winner Jazz Tevaga (who returns to the Samoa fold for the first time since the 2017 World Cup) and Parramatta half Ronald Volkman. But Eddie Ieremia-Toeava has earned a late call-up to the squad on the back of a breakout year for the Warriors.

TONGA

Schedule: England @ Perth, October 17; Lebanon @ Sydney, October 23; Samoa @ Sydney, November 1

Form and history: Tonga made a memorable World Cup debut in 1995 — coming with an ace of beating New Zealand and drawing with PNG — and has appeared at every edition since. Mate Ma’a Tonga turned the international scene on its head in 2017, with the likes of Jason Taumalolo joining the cause and spearheading a historic win over the Kiwis on the way to the semis. The 2022 World Cup was a missed opportunity, losing to Samoa in the quarters, while they were thumped by their island rivals and New Zealand in last year’s Pacific Championships, after beating the Kiwis to reach the final of the 2024 tournament.

Coach: Three-time Super League-winning coach and current history-making Dolphins mentor Kristian Woolf has overseen Tonga’s rugby league revolution, coaching the national side since 2014.

Key man: An 18-year-old Isaiya Katoa was yet to make his NRL debut when he was blooded by Tonga at the 2022 World Cup. Four years on, he is one of the game’s dominant playmakers and the hub this team’s campaign will revolve around. The Dolphins linchpin didn’t have the happiest Pacific Championships campaign last year and was hobbled during the prelim loss to the Roosters, but he should be raring to go over the next month.

Who they’re missing: Daniel Tupou and Isaiah Iongi headline Tonga’s unavailable list, while Moe Fotuaika was the player to drop out after a 24-man squad was named instead of the allowed 23 players. The likes of Eliesa Katoa, Siliva Havili and Will Penisini featured in 2025 but won’t be there this time around.

One to watch: Snubbing Australia to don the red jersey of Tonga, Robert Toia was electrifying for Queensland and the Roosters in just his second season in the big time and is already in the ‘world’s best centre’ conversation.

Big selection call: Leka Halasima lit it up for the Warriors after switching to the centres at the start of August, but Toia and Tolu Koula would appear to have the No.3 and 4 jerseys sewn up. Will Woolf pitch game-breaking Leka into the second-row or opt for a more industrious option like Siua Wong or Kulikefu Finefeuaki to partner Haumole Olakau’atu, instead utilising Halasima as a bench weapon?

Warrior factor: Blooded during last year’s Pacific Championships, emerging Warriors superstars Leka Halasima and Demetric Vaimauga shape as trump cards for Tonga. Meanwhile, former Kiwis captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is set to make a belated debut for Tonga. Former Kiwi reps and ex-Warriors Addin Fonua-Blake is a co-captain and Tui Lolohea will look to add to his 22 appearances for the island nation.

This is a Frank podcast 🎙️

Brought to you throughout the RLWC by the Warriors- and Kiwis-mad legends at Kingz Container Crew ❤️👑

And ComfortGlaze, the retrofit double-glazing experts 🪟

Kingz Container Crew is onboard with This Warriors Life to bring you extensive coverage of the Kiwis’ 2026 Rugby League World Cup campaign, including player ratings for each of New Zealand’s matches at the tournament.

To kick off the countdown to next Thursday’s opener against Australia, we’re running a fine-tooth comb over Stacey Jones’ Kiwis squad announced last night.

NEW ZEALAND KIWIS 2026 RLWC SQUAD (*denotes debutant): Erin Clark, James Fisher-Harris (c), Dane Gagai*, Jahrome Hughes, Jamayne Isaako, Keano Kini, Jacob Laban*, Moses Leota, Jeremy Marshall-King, Te Maire Martin, Casey McLean, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Briton Nikora, Kodi Nikorima, Isaiah Papali’i, Kalyn Ponga*, Scott Sorensen, Tanner Stowers-Smith*, Joseph Tapine, Leo Thompson, Naufahu Whyte, Xavier Willison. Coach: Stacey Jones.

Fullback

The international eligibility changes have delivered the Kiwis one of rugby league’s most influential, dynamic players — and they couldn’t be getting Kalyn Ponga at a better time.

The Newcastle captain is coming off a watershed month leading his club on an extraordinary run to the NRL grand final. Injuries have been a persistent bugbear for Ponga (he hasn’t played more than 20 games in his decade-long NRL career) and he missed six-week stretch early in the year. But he recovered to play a full Origin series for Queensland for just the second time and was a mainstay for the Knights down the home stretch.

Ponga’s leadership and elite ball-playing from fullback are massive coups for the Kiwis, whose squad contains two other specialists.

Incumbent No.1 Keano Kini had 13 try assists and 18 line-breaks in a stellar season for battling Gold Coast — the pint-sized game-breaker shapes as a tantalising six-man interchange option.

Versatility and loyalty has perhaps allowed Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to retain a spot after essentially being displaced at club level by fringe Kiwis contender Taine Tuaupiki. Just five of CNK’s 16 Test appearances have come at fullback and he was shuffled out of the custodian role in favour of Kini during last year’s Pacific Championships. Nevertheless, the 31-year-old could be a valuable bench option and provides solid injury cover in multiple spots.

Wing

Pointscorer extraordinaire Jamayne Isaako (nine tries in 14 Tests) and the abrasive Ronaldo Mulitalo (seven tries in nine Tests) provide the Kiwis with a more than satisfactory first-choice wing pairing — but it could be a busy tournament for the duo.

Isaako, who scored 23 tries and 310 points for the high-flying Dolphins this year, and Mulitalo, who ruptured his ACL in the first round of the 2025 Pacific Championships but returned in May to score 13 tries in 17 games for the Sharks, are the only specialist wingers picked in the New Zealand squad.

Casey McLean scored four tries on Test debut on the wing in 2024 against Papua New Guinea and pushed out to the flank for the 2025 final against Samoa, crossing for another try, and filled in superbly off the bench on Origin debut for NSW this year. Meanwhile, all of Dane Gagai’s seven Tests for Australia and 12 of his 23 Origins for Queensland were as a winger.

But given McLean and Gagai are almost certain centre starters, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad would seem to be the first drop wing option. Having not played there since the 2018 NSW Cup season, CNK scored seven tries in six games as a gap-filler for the Warriors this year — but his limitations as a winger were exposed during the finals.

In short, an injury to Isaako or Mulitalo would be a major blow. It’s unclear whether Auckland-born Newcastle grand final winger Greg Marzhew, selected for Samoa, was available for the Kiwis. Replacement cover from outside the squad would seemingly be headlined by Brisbane’s Josiah Karapani, brought in during the 2025 Pacific Championships, 2022 Kiwi Sebastian Kris and dual eligible Alofiana Khan-Pereira.

Centre

Another spot where the Kiwis appear well-served by their first-choice players but look very thin otherwise.

Still only 20, Casey McLean has emerged as one of the NRL’s elite centres at Penrith and would have been one of the first players picked in this squad. He was brilliant in the round-robin Tests against Samoa and Tonga at centre — scoring three tries — before reverting to the wing for the final.

McLean’s experience in the Origin arena and a second NRL finals campaign only enhance his big-game chops.

Dane Gagai only emerged as a shock Kiwis option, publicly at least, over the weekend — and he’s walked straight into the side and most likely the starting line-up.

A winger in the Kangaroos’ 2017 World Cup success who played against the Kiwis in 2018, Gagai will join a very select group that includes the likes of Dally Messenger, Bill Kelly and Tonie Carroll to represent both trans-Tasman nations at Test level.

Mild controversy aside, the former Origin great’s switch is a much-needed boost for the Kiwis. Matt Timoko, who was coming off a patchy season for Canberra that saw him play NSW Cup, lined up in all nine of the Kiwis’ 2023-25 Tests but was unavailable due to off-season surgery.

The 35-year-old Gagai wound back the clock to help inspire the Knights’ grand final run. He outplayed Latrell Mitchell in the elimination final and had great battles with Leka Halasima, McLean and Billy Smith in subsequent weeks.

Seb Kris, dual-eligible Jack Howarth and even Warriors duo Ali Leiataua and Adam Pompey could have come into the selection mix if not for Gagai being parachuted into the side.

Again, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is the only real centre cover. He’s played seven Tests there — including three matches at the 2022 World Cup and last year’s Pacific Championships final against Samoa — but had a dreadful time there in a two-game NRL stint earlier this season.

Second-rower Briton Nikora slotted in at centre against Ireland during the 2022 World Cup, but you wouldn’t want to have to rely on that option for a semi or final next month.

Halves

Dylan Brown’s season-ending injury robbed the Kiwis of a trump card — he was shortlisted for the Golden Boot after a stellar 2025 Pacific Championships foray.

But rejuvenated veteran Kodi Nikorima is coming off a near-career-best season for the Dolphins in time to slot neatly into the New Zealand No.6 jersey. Last starting in the halves for the Kiwis in 2018, Nikorima is the consensus pick at five-eighth after delivering 16 try assists in 22 games as the Dolphins reached the finals for the first time.

Fellow 32-year-old Jahrome Hughes was an automatic selection and looms as the Kiwis’ most important player alongside Ponga. Taking over the New Zealand No.7 jersey for the 2022 World Cup, Hughes was outstanding as the Kiwis carried off the 2023 Pacific Championships title but he’s been unavailable for the past two seasons.

Hughes is also backing up from an injury-stunted NRL campaign, playing just 18 games. A hamstring complaint sidelined him for a month before he returned for the ailing Storm’s last two regular-season matches.

After a stellar stint (finals notwithstanding) deputising at halfback for the Warriors during the second half of 2025, Te Maire Martin is the most likely first drop No.7 — despite Nikorima playing much more footy there over the course of their careers.

Martin is also a more than handy five-eighth option, while gifted playmaker Ponga has a smattering of experience in the halves (most recently an aborted stint for the Knights in 2023) and that man again Nicoll-Klokstad was New Zealand’s five-eighth — with limited success — throughout the 2024 Pacific Championships and has filled in impressively at NRL level.

Hooker

There’s been plenty of speculation and drama surrounding the Kiwis’ dummy-half options — but the eventual upshot is they will carry just one specialist hooker into tournament.

Wayde Egan qualified on residential grounds but ultimately made himself unavailable, as revealed yesterday by Stacey Jones.

Phoenix Crossland was superb for New Zealand throughout the 2024 and 2025 Pacific Championships, but his highly-publicised hip drop suspension means he would have been unavailable for the Kiwis’ three pool games. Consequently, he was left out altogether.

That leaves Jeremy Marshall-King as the Kiwis’ only NRL regular in the position. Injured during the Pacific Championships opener last year after securing the No.9 jersey, JMK had a strong season for history-making Dolphins after finally returning to action in Round 10.

Marshall-King played the full 80 minutes in only four of his 18 games this year, though, which would suggest Te Maire Martin — a bench hooker for the Warriors for much of 2025 and for the Kiwis last year after a seven-year international absence — is a big chance of nabbing the No.14 jersey.

Kodi Nikorima’s dummy-half experience goes way back to playing in the 2015 grand final as a rookie for the Broncos off the bench, while he performed the same role intermittently for the Warriors and Souths, started a Test at hooker at short notice in 2019 and was an interchange in all three matches of the Kiwis’ 2024 Pacific Championships campaign.

Erin Clark also has ample history in the position but is a bit burlier now than when he was a hooker regular for the Titans.

Prop

New Zealand’s embarrassment of riches in the front-row department has resulted in a whopping seven specialist props being chosen for the World Cup.

Dally M Captain of the Year James Fisher-Harris is the Kiwis’ captain for the third straight year and should be the first prop picked, while Roosters sensation Naufahu Whyte will surely have ousted Moses Leota — a starter throughout the 2023 and 2025 Pacific Championship campaigns — for a run-on role.

Four of Whyte’s six Tests were off the bench; he started twice (once each at prop and lock) in 2024 with Leota sitting out the tournament.

Raiders prop Joe Tapine has been a pillar of the Kiwis’ pack for nearly a decade but has been utilised almost exclusively as starting lock since 2019 and is the favourite to do so again.

Newcomer Tanner Stowers-Smith has been rewarded for an outstanding sophomore NRL season with the Warriors and could be a smoky to reprise his high-energy bench role in a first-choice prop rotation.

Brisbane tyro Xavier Willison came off the bench against Tonga and in the final against Samoa last year, while he was regularly used on the edge for the injury-stricken Broncos this season — enhancing his claims for a place in Stacey Jones’ 17.

Impressive though he was for the Kiwis in 2023-24, Leo Thompson is arguably the most fortunate selection in the squad given the glut of middle forwards and questionable depth in other areas. Injury delayed the start of his first season at the Bulldogs and he didn’t exactly live up to his marquee signing status when he eventually got on the park.

Second-row

Another area of the squad that is likely to go through to the keeper from a wider media perspective, but I think it deserves a little scrutiny.

Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora have been the Kiwis’ first-choice second-row pairing since initially starting alongside one another in the 2022 World Cup semi against Australia.

They’re a great duo — Papali’i, a two-try hero in the 2025 Pacific Championships final against Samoa, was an ironman for the Panthers this year. Nikora debuted for Queensland this year following the eligibility changes.

Beyond those two, I don’t know what else Jordan Riki has to do to get picked for the Kiwis again after getting a Test debut during the 2024 Pacific Championships. The Broncos workhorse played the full 80 minutes in 18 of his 22 appearances this season and is a model of consistency.

Scott Sorensen is a fine player but at 33 is very much in the twilight of his career and was almost exclusively a bench player for Penrith this year, even when Liam Martin was out for a period.

Potential debutant Jacob Laban enjoyed a breakout season for the Warriors — earning the club’s Players’ Player award — but had a torrid finals series punctuated by errors and glaring defensive misses. Nevertheless, Laban is a tremendous talent and being involved in this campaign will be another big step in his development. Should he already have leapfrogged Riki in the pecking order, though?

Whether Sorensen, Laban or possibly middle/edge Xavier Willison grabs a bench spot for the big games during the tournament is one of the more intriguing selection areas in a team that largely picks itself.

It’s likely to remain a mystery what would have happened if Francis Manuleleua had not pledged for Samoa. Named in the Kiwis’ 40-man ‘training’ squad last month, the Knights rookie was unbelievable during the finals…and I would have had him over Sorensen and Laban if available. Ditto another Auckland-born tyro, Roosters premiership winner and Tonga squad member Salesi Foketi.

Lock

The Kiwis boast several blue-chip options for the No.13 jersey among an overstocked middle forward contingent.

Joe Tapine is a veteran of 25 Tests for the Kiwis and lined up at lock for all but two (where he was at prop) of his 16 appearances from 2019.

Meanwhile, 2025-26 Dally M Lock of the Year Erin Clark would absolutely not look out of place in the starting line-up. He debuted as an interchange in the promotion final against Papua New Guinea in 2024 and came off the bench in all three matches of the 2025 Pacific Championships, scoring a try in the final.

Naufahu Whyte made a tryscoring appearance at lock in the aforementioned 2024 clash with the Kumuls and has donned the No.13 frequently with the Roosters. Leo Thompson started there in the 2024 loss to Tonga (with Tapine at prop) and Isaiah Papali’i has regularly played at lock for the Warriors, Eels, Tigers and Panthers.