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