RLWC 2026

[Billy]

So picked for international squads so far

1 Ponga
2 Young
3 Gagai
4 Best
5 Marzhew
6
7
8 Saifiti
9 Crossland
10 Saulo
11 McEwen
12 Manuleleua
13 Frizzel

14 Jacob Taulani

Harry Graham has also dropped out of the USA squad due to a clash with childbirth

 

[Newygirl]

Going to be very interesting to see what KP can do behind that NZ forward pack, Whyte, JFH, Tapine, Leota & Clarke. He’s never had the chance to play behind a pack anything like that, not even at Origin level.

Assuming the halves will be Hughes and Nikorima?

 

[jamesgould]

Just Ponga and Gagai in the Kiwis, no Crossland.

 

[jamesgould]

Just mentioned on the tv news that apparently Crossland will be with the squad, but can only play if injuries occur. So I assume the first three games must still count as part of his suspension and wipe that out?

Seems a bit weird.

 

[Lynchyknight]

Would hope they count to his suspension definitely weird if not
Otherwise he misses first 3 rounds next season

 

[jamesgould]

Here's a blurb from an article, still a bit unclear ... might count towards his suspension if the Kiwis get an injury, but otherwise not. Or will there be a pre-planned "injury" come the semis haha:

The biggest surprise was the inclusion of just one specialist hooker in Jeremy Marshall-King, with Phoenix Crossland serving a suspension that meant he wouldn’t be available until the semi-finals should the Kiwis make it that far, while Brandon Smith made himself unavailable.

While not selected, Jones said Crossland could still be picked should any injuries arise.

It leaves the Kiwis in a pickle for the pool stages as Kodi Nikorima, Te Maire Martin or possibly Erin Clark will have to spend time covering dummy half.

Ponga among four debutants in Kiwis World Cup squad, one specialist hooker selected

Both the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have named 23-strong squads for the Rugby League World Cup.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[Macca89]

I reckon it counts as he would have been picked if not for the suspension

 

[Billy]

2nd row/lock Jacob Taulani picked in the PNG squad (22 year old in his second year at the Knights - played 19 games of reserve grade this year.

 

[jamesgould]

Niukore is the Cook Islands captain.

 

[krustykraz]

Niukore is the Cook Islands captain.

Nice,
He'll have a point to prove.

 

[101k]

Holy **** that kiwis pack is insane, the skip behind that pack. Golden boot incoming ?

 

[Thieves Like Us]

Holy **** that kiwis pack is insane, the skip behind that pack. Golden boot incoming ?

For Harry Grant (again)?

 

[Wagyu Patty]

Holy **** that kiwis pack is insane, the skip behind that pack. Golden boot incoming ?

I reckon barring injury Kalyn is a shoe-in for the Golden Boot.

First tournament for NZ, star studded forward pack and a Kiwis side without Brown means he's probably going to do the bulk of the playmaking, and I wouldn't be too surprised to see them adapt a similar setup to Newcastle.

(Ponga in his own role, Hughes in the Sharpe role and Nikorima in the Smith role)