The 2026 Rugby League World Cup continues after an opening weekend of thrilling action. This week we are set to see some huge scores racked up as the big hitters take on some of the lesser lights.
Can the Kumuls put up a decent fight against Samoa and their two Chief signings, Jarome Luai and Brian To'o? Can England do enough in their final two games, starting this week against France, to keep their hopes alive?
Friday, October 23
Tonga vs. Lebanon
CommBank Stadium, 8:05pm (AEDT)
Tonga: 1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Sione Katoa 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Tuimoala Lolohea 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Salesi Foketi 10. Stefano Utoikamanu 11. Haumole Olakau'atu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Jason Taumalolo (c) Bench: 14. Soni Luke 15. Taniela Paseka 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima Reserves: 18. Latu Fainu 19. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 20. Talatau Amone 21. Robert Toia 22. Siua Wong
Lebanon: 1. Jacob Kiraz 2. Tony Francis 3. Michael Gabrael 4. Jordan Samrani 5. Jason Saab 6. Khaled Rajab 7. Alex Conti 8. Jaxson Rahme 9. Moustafa Dirani 10. James Roumanos 11. Tony Sukkar 12. Mikael Ibrahim 13. Alex Twal (c) Bench: 14. Yehya Ayache 15. Tupou Francis 16. Jalal Bazzaz 17. Khalil Rahme Reserves: 18. Joseph Nohra 19. Abbas Miski 20. Ibrahim El Labban 21. Mohamed Alameddine 22. Cameron Kanaan
Officials
Referee: Liam Moore Touchies: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Jarrod Cole
Bunker: Grant Atkins
Prediction: Tonga were very impressive in their opening game against England. Their defensive resolve, in particular, sets them up for a charge deep into the tournament. Their destructive pack was too much for England to handle and the likes of Haumole Olakau'atu, Addin Fonua-Blake and Stefano Utoikamanu will take some stopping against Lebanon.
Lebanon would have been disappointed by the error rate in their opening loss to Papua New Guinea. They will feel they can play much better, and will have to if they are any chance of avoiding a humiliating drubbing in this one. On paper and on first-up form, you would have to expect a comfortable victory for Tonga to start the second week action.
Tip: Tonga by 46
PointsBet odds: Tonga $1.001 (-46.5 $1.90) Lebanon $41 (+46.5 $1.90)
Saturday, October 24
Papua New Guinea vs. Samoa
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, 3:25pm (AEST)
Papua New Guinea: 1. Morea Morea 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 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. Jack de Belin Bench: 14. Finley Glare 15. Liam Horne 16. Valentine Richard 17. Khaiya Waiembi Reserves: 18. Rodrick Tai 19. Josh Feledy 20. Sylvester Namo 21. Sanny Wabo 22. Zev John
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 Bench: 14. Jazz Tevaga 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Shawn Blore 17. Ata Mariota Reserves: 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Ronald Volkman 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Enari Tuala 22. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Officials
Referee: Chris Kendall Touchies: Kieren Irons, Daniel Luttringer
Bunker: Liam Kennedy
Prediction: The Kumuls started their campaign with an impressive victory over Lebanon in front of their adoring fans. They host Samoa this week in what will be a decidedly tougher test of their credentials.
Samoa started their tournament by piling on the points against France. Sualauvi Fa'alogo scored four tries despite starting the game from the bench, his footwork being more than a match for the best defences. If the Kumuls leave the slightest of gaps in their line, he'll step through and be gone.
Jarome Luai and Brian To'o will be playing in front of a Papua New Guinean crowd for the first time ahead of joining the Chiefs in 2028.
Tip: Samoa by 28
PointsBet odds: Papua New Guinea $10 (+29.5 $1.90) Samoa $1.05 (-29.5 $1.90)
England vs. France
HBF Park, Perth, 5:35pm (AEDT)
England: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Dominic Young 3. Hugo Savala 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Zach Eckersley 6. George Williams (c) 7. Harry Smith 8. Max King 9. Brad O'Neill 10. Luke Thompson 11. Junior Nsemba 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Victor Radley Bench: 14. Jez Litten 15. Ben Currie 16. Ethan Havard 17. Sam Walters Reserves: 18. Jack Welsby 19. Matty Ashton 20. Kallum Watkins 21. Mikey Lewis 22. Ben Talty
France: 1. Arthur Mourgue 2. Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet 3. Latrell Siegwalt 4. Roméo Tropis 5. Benjamin Laguerre 6. Thomas Lacans 7. Théo Fages 8. Romain Navarrete 9. Amir Bourouh 10. Julian Bousquet 11. Arthur Romano 12. Mathieu Jussaume 13. Benjamin Garcia (c) Bench: 14. César Rougé 15. Lambert Belmas 16. Mathieu Cozza 17. Louis Grossemy Reserves: 18. Jordan Dezaria 19. Fouad Yaha 20. Jowasa Drodrolagi 21. Tiaki Chan 22. Alrix Da Costa
Officials
Referee: Adam Gee Touchies: Jon Stone, Matt Noyen
Bunker: Chris Butler
Prediction: England showed some fight against Samoa last week after falling behind, but they just couldn't contain the hard-running Tongan forwards. They should find this game more to their liking, as they face a France team loaded with Catalan Dragons players.
England's NRL stars need to contribute much more to the cause, and I expect AJ Brimson and Herbie Farnworth to cut the France defence up out wide. England need a massive boost to their for-and-against record in order to remain in the hunt for a spot in the semifinals, so France could be in for a long evening in Perth.
Tip: England by 48
PointsBet odds: England $1.001 (-43.5 $1.90) France $41 (+43.5 $1.90)
Sunday, October 25
New Zealand vs. Cook Islands
One NZ Stadium, Christchurch, 4:05pm (AEDT)
New Zealand: 1. Keano Kini 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 4. Casey McLean 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. James Fisher-Harris (c) 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Xavier Willison 12. Scott Sorensen 13. Erin Clark Bench: 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Leo Thompson 16. Tanner Stowers-Smith 17. Jacob Laban Reserves: 18. Isaiah Papali'i 19. Briton Nikora 20. Dane Gagai 21. Naufahu Whyte 22. Moses Leota
Cook Islands: 1. Valentine Holmes 2. Paul Ulberg 3. KL Iro 4. Reubenn Rennie 5. Cameron Brown 6. Maui Winitana-Patelesio 8. Davvy Moale 9. Ruatapu Ngatikaura 10. Rhys Dakin 11. Amare Milford 12. Delahia Wigmore 13. Mason Teague 17. Brad Takairangi 7. Esan Marsters Bench: 14. K-Ci Newton-Whare 15. David Tuariki 16. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Chaev Kolone Reserves: 19. Glassie Glassie 20. Brody Tamarua 21. Esom Ioka 22. Pride Petterson-Robati
Officials
Referee: Ashley Klein Touchies: Drew Oultram, David Munro
Bunker: Wyatt Raymond
Prediction: New Zealand did enough last week to upset Australia and they would have been disappointed that they weren't able to finish the job against the tournament favourites. They return home to Christchurch for this clash against the Cook Islands.
The Cook Islands played Fiji in the final game of the opening weekend and lost all hope of victory in the first half, conceding five tries before the break. They weren't able to crack the Fiji defence until halfway through the second half. They will spend a lot of time standing behind their try line this weekend as the Kiwis put on a points scoring exhibition.
Tip: New Zealand by 72
PointsBet odds: New Zealand $ N/A (-53.5 $1.90) Cook Islands $81 (+53.5 $1.90)
Australia vs. Fiji
Suncorp Stadium, 8:05pm (AEDT)
Australia: 1. James Tedesco (c) 2. Jack Bostock 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Bradman Best 5. Tom Trbojevic 6. Tom Dearden 7. Sam Walker 8. Keaon Koloamatangi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Lindsay Smith 11. David Fifita 12. Reuben Cotter 13. Cameron Murray Bench: 14. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 15. Jacob Preston 16. Patrick Carrigan 17. Cameron Munster Reserves: 18. Reece Walsh 19. Latrell Mitchell 20. Liam Martin 21. Harry Grant 22. Isaah Yeo
Fiji: 1. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Waqa Blake 4. Solomone Saukuru 5. Semi Valemei 6. Kurt Donoghoe 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Apisai Koroisau (c) 10. Mitchell Prest 11. Taane Milne 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Caleb Navale Bench: 14. Josese Lanyon 15. Emosi Ravosai 16. Elijah Keung 17. Ronald Philitoga Reserves: 18. Jordin Leiu 19. Apenisa Driti 20. Joseph Litidamu 21. Zion Johnson 22. Kylan Mafoa
Officials
Referee: Gerard Sutton Touchies: Nick Pelgrave, Michael Wise
Bunker: Chris Butler
Prediction: Australia were caught in a tough battle against the Kiwis last week, with two intercept tries and another from long range keeping them in the game, despite being completely overpowered through the middle of the field. Coach Kevin Walters has kept his promise to give everyone a run with several players making their way into the team for this clash.
Fiji had a good start to the tournament against the Cook Islands, but this game will clearly be a step up in class. They have enough talent to compete with the Kangaroos for patches of the game, but will eventually succumb.
Tip: Australia by 58
PointsBet odds: Australia $1.001 (-44.5 $1.90) Fiji $41 (+44.5 $1.90)
All odds correct at time of publication. Check pointsbet.com.au for the latest.
