Iliesa Tora
RNZ Pacific senior sports journalist
The Pacific
dream at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) comes down
to this weekend’s final round of group games.
Only the
Australians have secured their semifinal spots in both the
men’s and women’s categories of the
competition.
Everything is on the line for the Pacific
Island teams that have set themselves in the running for top
two finish.
In the men’s Group A, New Zealand and Fiji
will play off for a spot in the semifinals on the Gold Coast
on Saturday.
Both sides won a game each, and lag
behind the defending champions Australia, which is two out
of two, but have Cook Islands in their last game this
weekend.
The combine Groub B and C is more
complicated, with four teams fighting for a top-two finish
on the combined table.
Currently, Samoa and Tonga have
two wins each, while Papua New Guinea and England have one
each to their names.
It is win or go home on Friday
night at WIN Stadium when England face the PNG
Kumuls.
Whoever wins that clash stands a chance of
getting into the top two, but will then have to wait for the
result of the Samoa v Tonga clash.
Sunday night’s
showdown between fierce Pacific rivals Tonga and Samoa at a
sold-out CommBank Stadium will decide who tops the combine
Pool B and C.
In the women’s competition, New Zealand
and Fiji are chasing wins to secure a top-two finish in Pool
B.
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Fiji has won one out of two and face France in
their last match.
New Zealand takes on the Papua New
Guinea Orchids.
In Pool B, England and Samoa will
play-off for a semifinal berth at WIN Stadium on Friday
night.
A win for Samoa will see them join Australia in
the final four.
Men’s
competition
England v Papua New
Guinea
Kick off: Friday, 30 October,
10:05pm
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
PNG
Kumuls head coach Jason Demetriou has made several changes
to his line-up ahead clash against England.
Some of
the changes made are positional, while others reflect the
recovery of previously injured players.
The match
could also be the last for captain Rhyse Martin, who is
retiring after the world cup.
The equation for the
Kumuls to progress further is simple, beat England and hope
Samoa defeats Tonga by a big margin to keep their
semi-finals hopes alive.
The Kumuls are currently 88
points behind Tonga on for and against and a Tonga victory
will end PNG’s dreams.
Papua New Guinea:
1. Zac Laybutt 2. Robert Derby 3. Josh Feledy 4.
Nene Macdonald 5. Dudley Dotoi 6. Gairo Voro 7. Bailey
Biondi-Odo 8. Epel Kapinias 9. Edwin Ipape 10. Luca Moretti
11. Rhyse Martin (c) 12. Nixon Putt 13. Liam Horne;
Interchange: 14. Finley Glare 15. Jacob
Taulani 16. Robert Mathias 17. Sanny Wabo 18. Valentine
Richard 19. Zev John; Reserves: 20. Morea
Morea 21. Rodrick Tai 22. Alex Max.
England:
1. AJ Brimson 2. Dominic Young 3. Hugo Savala 4.
Herbie Farnworth 5. Matty Ashton 6. George Williams (c) 7.
Harry Smith 8. Max King 9. Jez Litten 10. Luke Thompson 11.
Junior Nsemba 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Morgan Knowles;
Interchange: 14. Mikey Lewis 15. Sam
Walters 16. Ethan Havard 17. Victor Radley 18. Ben Currie
19. Jack Welsby; Reserves: 20. Brad O’Neill
21. Zach Eckersley 22. Kallum Watkins.
New
Zealand v Fiji
Kick off: Saturday, 31
October, 5:30pm
Cbus Super Stadium,
5:30pm
Bati captain Api Koroisau is adamant his young
squad can repeat the 2017 beating of New Zealand, when the
two teams meet on Saturday.
Back then Fiji won 4-2 in
the quarterfinals.
Koroisau told RLWC2026 last
weekend’s morale-boosting 36-22 loss to the Kangaroos in
Brisbane, has given the players confidence.
“I thought
we were actually on top of that first half and had some
really good field position and the confidence is really
high,” Koroisau said.
“I think it’s just really driven
that belief into the boys knowing that they can do it, and
we have so many young guys who really stood
up.”
Koroisau was part of that victory.
But the
Kiwis will not be easy beat, with a star-studded lineup
named to face the Fijians.
Fiji: 1.
Sunia Turuva 2. Ronald Philitoga 3. Waqa Blake 4. Solomone
Saukuru 5. Semi Valemei 6. Kurt Donoghoe 7. Brandon Wakeham
8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Apisai Koroisau (c) 10. Emosi Ravosai
11. Taane Milne 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Caleb Navale;
Interchange: 14. Josese Lanyon 15. Elijah
Keung 16. Jordan Miller 17. Joseph Litidamu 18. Jordin Leiu
19. Apenisa Driti; Reserves: 20. Zion
Johnson 21. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 22. Kylan
Mafoa.
New Zealand: 1. Keano Kini 2.
Jamayne Isaako 3. Dane Gagai 4. Casey McLean 5. Ronaldo
Mulitalo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. James
Fisher-Harris (c) 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Moses Leota
11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Briton Nikora 13. Joseph Tapine;
Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin 15.
Naufahu Whyte 16. Erin Clark 17. Xavier Willison 18. Charnze
Nicoll-Klokstad 19. Scott Sorensen; Reserves:
20. Leo Thompson 21. Jacob Laban 22. Tanner
Stowers-Smith.
Australia v Cook
Islands
Kick off: Saturday, 31
October, 10:05pm
Queensland Country Bank
Stadium
Cook Islands Aitu captain KL Iro believes his
team will be better off with the experience of playing
against Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.
Grouped in
the ‘pool of death’ the side have had their share of
challenges but Iro believes the team is learning along the
way.
They are out of the running for the
semifinals.
Australia, meanwhile, have rotated their
team again, resting a number of players who played against
Fiji last weekend.
Cook Islands: 1.
Valentine Holmes 2. Paul Ulberg 3. KL Iro (c) 4. Reubenn
Rennie 5. Cameron Brown 6. Maui Winitana-Patelesio 17. Brad
Takairangi 8. Davvy Moale 9. Ruatapu Ngatikaura 10. Rhys
Dakin 11. Amare Milford 12. Delahia Wigmore 13. Mason Teague
Internchange: 7. Esan Marsters 14. K-Ci
Newton-Whare 15. Makahesi Makatoa 16. David Tuariki 18.
Chaev Kolone 19. Glassie Glassie; Reserves:
20. Brody Tamarua 21. Pride Petterson-Robati 22.
Esom Ioka 23. Reuben
Porter.
Australia: 1. Reece Walsh 2.
Jack Bostock 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Bradman Best 5. Tom
Trbojevic 6. Cameron Munster 7. Tom Dearden 8. Patrick
Carrigan 9. Harry Grant 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Jacob
Preston 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo (c)
Internchange: 14. Ethan Strange 15. Keaon
Koloamatangi 16. Cameron Murray 17. Reuben Cotter 18.
Lindsay Smith 19. James Tedesco; Reserves:
20. Sam Walker 21. Latrell Mitchell 22. David
Fifita.
Tonga v
Samoa
Kick off: Sunday, 1 November,
10:05pm
CommBank Stadium, 10:05pm
Tonga
XIII co-captain Jason Taumalolo knows Sunday night’s
showdown against Samoa in Sydney is going to be a
thriller.
He believes while some of his players will
be playing against Toa Samoa for the first time, he is
confident the team will be at their best against their
Polynesian rival.
Taumalolo, who switched from New
Zealand to Tonga in 2017, setting the trend for others from
the Pacific to join their heritage teams, said Samoa will
not be easy.
Toa Samoa co-captain Junior Paulo said
the past results will not count and his team will have to
focus on the game.
The winner gets a semifinal spot
while the loser will know their fate with the count back on
points for and against, with PNG and England also in the
running for semifinal spots.
Tonga:
1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3.
Tolutau Koula 4. Robert Toia 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Tuimoala
Lolohea 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Salesi
Foketi 10. Jason Taumalolo (c) 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12.
Siua Wong 13. Tyson Frizell; Interchange:
14. Soni Luke 15. Stefano Utoikamanu 16. Demitric
Vaimauga 17. Taniela Paseka 18. Leka Halasima 19. Latu Fainu
Reserves: 20. Paul Alamoti 21. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 22.
Sione Katoa.
Samoa: 1. Hamiso
Tabuai-Fidow 2. Brian To’o 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton
5. Sualauvi Faalogo 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Jarome Luai
(c) 8. Francis Molo 9. Benaiah Ioelu 10. Junior Paulo (c)
11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Francis
Manuleleua; Interchange: 14. Jazz Tevaga
15. Spencer Leniu 16. Shawn Blore 17. Ata Mariota 18.
Clayton Faulalo 19. Ronald Volkman Reserves: 20. Pasami
Saulo 21. Enari Tuala 22. Deine
Mariner.
Women’s
competition
Samoa v
England
Kick off: Friday, 30 October,
7:45pm
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Fetu
Samoa coach Frank Pritchard knows England will not be easy
but he has confidence in his squad.
The performance of
debutants in the past two matches has given the side a lot
more depth and selection headaches for the
coach.
Whoever wins gets into the top
two.
Samoa: 1. Destiny Mino-Sinapati,
2. Mercedez Taulelei-Siala, 3. Monica Tagoai, 4. Tyra
Ekepati, 5. Freedom Crichton Ropati, 6. Evania Isa’ako, 7.
Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, 8. Annetta Nuuausala, 9. Mary-Jane
Taito , 10. Laikha Clarke, 11. Leilani Wilson, 12. Ivana
Lolesio, 13. Tavana Papalii; Interchange:
14. Jetaia Faifuya ,15. Fanua Rimoni, 16. Jaydika
Faifua, 17. Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa, 19. Christian
Pio, 20. Evelyn Roberts, 21. Anastasia Leatupue, 22. Amani
Misa.
Fiji Bulikula v
France
Kick off: Saturday, 31
October, 3:20pm
Cbus Super Stadium, Gold
Coast
Jone Wesele’s message to the Bulikula has been
simple: “Go out there and show them that you are a warrior
too.”
It had inspired the side to almost upsetting New
Zealand in their first round game and took them to the top
against the PNG Orchids.
A win over France will send
them into the final four.
Fiji: 1.
Cassie Staples, 2. Maria Paseka, 3. Isabella Waterman, 4.
Taina Naividi, 5. Sienna Laing, 6. Luisa Yaranamua, 7.
Losana Lutu, 8. Latisha Smythe, 9. Sereana Naitokatoka, 10.
Leilani Ahsam, 11. Elizabeth Naleba, 12 (17). Nanise
Vakacavu, 13. Talei Holmes; Interchange:
14. Tahlia Marshall, 15. Teaghan Hartigan, 16.
Lorren Ieli, 17 (18). Naomi Tegu; Reserves: 18 (12) Ema
Masi, 19. Aliti Namoce, 20. Rory Muller, 21. Ebony Laing,
22. Abigayle Sekitoga.
PNG Orchids v Kiwi
Ferns
Kick off: Saturday, 31 October,
7:45pm
Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
A
tougher battle than the past two matches is in store for the
Orchids.
The Kiwi Ferns have been on fire and that
makes the Orchids’ challenge tough this weekend.
They
still have a chance to qualify for the semifinals but will
have to be consistent from the word go.
PNG
Orchids: 1. Anika Butler, 2. Ivania Wong, 3. Relna
Wuruki-Hosea, 4. Tia Molo, 5. Naomi Kelly, 6. Fleur Ginn, 7.
Cynthiah Peters, 8. Elsie Albert (c), 9. Ua Ravu, 10.
Jafinda Sap, 11. Vanesa Nakas, 12. Shellie Long, 13. Emily
Veivers; Interchange: 14. Therese Aiton,
15. Essay Banu, 16. Jenny David, 17. India Seeto, 18. Gemma
Walker, 19. Myra Muller; 20. Jasmine Joe, 21. Mala Mark, 22.
Belinda
Gwasamum.
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