Fiji, Samoa And Tonga Name 2026 Rugby League World Cup Squads

Iliesa Tora
RNZ Pacific senior sports journalist

Fiji, Samoa
and Tonga have named their men’s squads for the 2026 Rugby
League World Cup.

While the three teams look strong on
paper, with star players included, the omission of some key
players stood out when all three teams were
announced.

The Fiji Bati squad announced on Tuesday
does not include star forwards Tui Kamikamica, who has since
retired after suffering a stroke four months ago, and
Viliame Kikau, who is out because of an ankle
injury.

Fullback Jahream Bula is out also due to
post-season shoulder surgery.

Samoa will miss tough
forward Payne Haas because of injury, along with Simi
Sasagi, who is also out awaiting surgery.

Also missing
are Queensland stars Jeremiah Nanai and Murray Taulagi, who
have both missed the cut.

Tonga have opted to leave
out veteran Roosters winger Daniel Tupou, who claimed his
fourth National Rugby League grand final title on Sunday
night, while one of the 24 named on Tuesday morning will
still have to be omitted from the final 23.

New Bati
leader

The absence of Kamikamica and Kikau means the
Fiji Bati will have a new captain at the world
meet.

Head coach Mick Potter, who took Fiji Bati to
the semi-finals at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, told the
Fiji Sun a new captain will be named, as the squad started
their preparation at the Uprising Resort in Deuba, which is
about 45 minutes drive outside Suva.

With Kamikamica,
who was Bati captain, and Kikau, who deputised at times,
both unavailable, the likely choice would be veteran West
Tigers captain and three-time premiership winner Apisai
Koroisau.

Potter is likely to select a leadership
team, with the focus on the team combining together to
produce the results.

“The expectation is that they
individually do their best and col-lectively they do their
best,” he told the Fiji Sun.

“I think that’s what
their country wants, what their family wants and what I
want. I’m pretty confident they’ll do that, and I don’t
think there’ll be any stone left unturned in terms of
preparation.”

As of Monday evening, a total of 19
players were in camp. The remaining squad members are
expected to join the team in Newcastle, Australia, on
Sunday.

Flight changes had also affected the team,
Potter said, with several play-ers going through changed
flights.

“It was nearly like travelling to Europe as
opposed to travelling to Fiji, just to get to Fiji, so
they’re all very tired,” he said.

“We’ve got a good
squad here and they need to keep training, other-wise
they’re going to get an injury. It’s commendable that they
do that in their own time.”

Potter has moved on from
the Fainu brothers, Latu, Samuela and Sione, who have not
been allowed to play for Fiji because their documentation
does not meet International Rugby League
requirements.

The absences have forced Potter to
reshuffle three positions, cre-ating opportunities for
younger players.

Newcastle Knights prop Jacob Saifiti
is free to play for the Bati, following the completion of
his four-match ban for a high shot on Warriors winger Luke
Laulilii in the team’s NRL round 26 match.

The veteran
prop is an important inclusion, especially with Kamikamica
and Kikau both missing.

The Bati have been top
performers at the World Cup and reached the semi-finals in
2008, 2013 and 2017 only to be knocked out by Australia on
each occasion.

They will meet Cook Islands, Australia
and New Zealand in pool play, in what is the toughest pool
for the event.

Fiji Bati squad:
Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, Waqa Blake, Kurt
Donoghoe, Apenisa Driti, Kitione Kautoga, Elijah Keung,
Apisai Koroisau, Josese Lanyon, Jordan Leiu, Joseph
Litidamu, Kylan Mafoa, Taane Milne, Caleb Navale, Jimmy
Ngutlik, Ronald Philitoga, Mitchell Prest, Emosi Ravosai,
Jacob Saifiti, Solomone Saukuru, Sunia Turuva, Brandon
Wakeham, Jordan Miller

Toa Samoa stars

A
star-studded squad will take Toa Samoa to the 2026 Rugby
League World Cup.

Captain and veteran forward Junior
Paulo, PNG Chiefs bound Jarome Luai, Canterbury Bulldogs
star Stephen Crichton, Penrith Panthers winger Brian To’o
and Dolphins speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are some of the
big names in the squad.

Sua Fa’alogo, Clayton Faulalo,
Deine Mariner and Greg Marzhew, who is coming off a
heartbreaking Grand Final loss to the Roosters, plus
Warriors playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita are some exciting
names that will feature along the backline.

Samoa will
play their first World Cup match next Friday, 16 October,
against France.

Head coach Ben Gardiner told the media
in Australia, following the squad announcement, the squad
will play for the people of Samoa, with large crowds
expected at all their matches, especially with battle
against Tonga in their last pool game.

“One of the
great things rugby league does is bring people together,”
Gardiner said.

“As we build towards our first World
Cup game, we want to thank all Samoans around the world for
their ongoing support. Your blessings and prayers are
welcomed, whether you are in Samoa, elsewhere around the
world, taking part in a parade or marching into the ground,
we see you and thank you for your love and
support.

“Our staff and players look forward to seeing
our colours, flags and supporters over the coming five
weeks. We encourage everyone to celebrate safely and
positively, showing our men’s and women’s teams love and
blessings from near and far.

“As we pull on the blue
jersey in Rugby League Samoa’s 40th anniversary year, we
carry the pride and resilience of generations of players
before us, while seeking to inspire the future of our game
and our country.”

Experience is something the Toa
Samoa will have a lot of, with their backliners in Crichton
bringing 16 international caps and 14 State of Origin
appearances, To’o having already represented Samoa 20 times
and NSW 17 times and Luai, who has 13 caps for the Toa and
12 State of Origin appearances.

Samoa’s forward pack
combines established international experience alongside
Paulo, with Roosters NRL final winner Spencer Leniu adding
to that.

Francis Manuleleua and Jermatime McEwen, who
helped Newcastle to a Grand Final this year, are also in the
squad as young guns.

Tabuai-Fidow’s inclusion is
particularly significant, with the Dolphins star having
previously represented Australia.

Toa Samoa
squad: Shawn Blore Anae Ulesese (Melbourne
Storm), Stephen Crichton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs),
Sua Fa’alogo (Melbourne Storm), Clayton Faulalo (Manly
Warringah Sea Eagles), Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors),
Benaiah Ioelu (Sydney Roosters), Connelly Lemuelu
(Dolphins), Spencer Leniu (Sydney Roosters), Jarome Luai
(Wests Tigers), Francis Manuleleua (Newcastle Knights),
Deine Mariner (Brisbane Broncos), Ata Mariota (Canberra
Raiders), Greg Marzhew (Newcastle Knights), Jermaine McEwen
(Newcastle Knights), Francis Molo (Dolphins), Junior Paulo
(Parramatta Eels), Pasami Saulo (Newcastle Knights), Hamiso
Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers), Jazz
Tevaga (Wakefield Trinity), Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers),
Enari Tuala (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Ronald Volkman
(Parramatta Eels)

Tonga’s balanced team

Tonga
Rugby League chairman Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua, who is also
the country’s prime minister, believes the squad named is
well-balanced with a lot of firepower across the
field.

The headache for the coaching team will be who
will they leave out from the 24 named in Nuku’alofa on
Tuesday.

Three Roosters players, who claimed the
National Rugby League grand final on Sunday night, have made
the cut, when Tonga’s Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala
revealed the squad make-up.

Tonga’s head coach
Kristian Woolf will take an exciting squad into the World
Cup, with one final player still to be cut before their
opening match against England on Saturday 17 October in
Perth.

Manly provides the biggest contingent with four
players, Haumole Olakau’atu, Lehi Hopoate, Taniela Paseka
and Tolutau Koula. The Roosters and the New Zealand Warriors
follow with three each, while the Dolphins, Sharks, Titans
and Cowboys each have two representatives.

The only
players from outside the NRL are Huddersfield Giants’
Tuimoala Lolohea and Junior Amone who has most recently
played in the Queensland Cup with Wynnum
Manly.

Roosters trio Salesi Foketi, Siua Wong and
Robert To’ia have all been named in the Tongan squad, two
days after helping the Sdney club claim in the 2026 NRL
title.

Veteran forward Jason Taumalolo, Newcastle
Knights Tyson Frizell, Warriors Leka Halasima, Manly’s
Haumole Olakau’tau and Cronulla Sharks Addin Fonua-Blake are
some star players included in the squad.

Dolphins
coach and longtime Tonga coach Woolf will map out the side’s
campaign against England on October 17, with Lebanon and
Samoa as their other pool opponents.

His club
playmaker Isaiya Katoa, who was under injury worry, will
provide a pin-point kicking and passing game for the side,
with a lot of power and speed along the backline.

Lehi
Hopoate, Jojo Fifita, Paul Alamoti, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak,
Rob Toia, Tolu Koula and Sione Katoa can all run in at the
centres or on the wing.

Upfront Foketi will join
Olakau’atu and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki while Taumalolo, Moeaki
Foutaika, Stefano Utoikamanu and Fonua-Blake will provide
plenty of size and brutal strength up front.

Latu
Fainu is the likely leading contender to partner Katoa, but
Tuimoala Lolohea, Talatau Amone and even Koula are all
options.

Tonga squad: Addin
Fonua-Blake (Cronulla Sharks), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (New
Zealand Warriors), Demitric Vaimauga (New Zealand Warriors),
Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Sea Eagles), Isaiya Katoa
(Dolphins), Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys), Jojo
Fifita (Gold Coast Titans), Talatau Amone (Wynnum-Manly
Seagulls), Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Dolphins), Latu Fainu
(Wests Tigers), Lehi Hopoate (Manly Sea Eagles), Moeaki
Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans), Paul Alamoti (Penrith
Panthers), Robert Toia (Sydney Roosters), Salesi Foketi
(Sydney Roosters), Sione Katoa (North Queensland Cowboys),
Siua Wong (Sydney Roosters), Soni Luke (North Queensland
Cowboys), Stefano Utoikamanu (Melbourne Storm), Taniela
Paseka (Manly Sea Eagles), Tolutau Koula (Manly Sea Eagles),
Tuimoala Lolohea (Huddersfield Giants), Tyson Frizell
(Newcastle
Knights)

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