New Zealand name Ponga for Tonga semi
Kalyn Ponga is listed in New Zealand's squad as a possible returnee for its Rugby League World Cup semi-final against Tonga. New Zealand's players, in listed order, are Keano Kini,...
New Zealand's late swap draws scrutiny
Phoenix Crossland could return for New Zealand's Rugby League World Cup semi-final against Tonga after serving a four-game suspension. The hooker was banned for the tackle that broke Nathan Cleary's...
Walsh defends Australia's under-fire forwards
Reece Walsh scored and provided five try assists against the Cook Islands, after Australia's forwards gave the attack a better platform. Before the Kangaroos' semi-final against Samoa, Walsh defended the...
France coach questions rules after loss
Most of France's squad, apart from unused Latrell Siegwalt, play in Super League, a contrast Laurent Frayssinous raised after his team's World Cup exit. Lebanon beat France in their final...
New Zealand recall Crossland after ban
New Zealand will meet Tonga in Saturday night's Rugby League World Cup semi-final at McDonald Jones Stadium, Phoenix Crossland's NRL home ground. Crossland has joined the Kiwis squad after serving...
McKinnon urges Samoa-Tonga Test in Hawaii
The Tonga-Samoa Test averaged 1.5 million television viewers, a record for a non-Kangaroos rugby league match. CommBank Stadium was 98 per cent full for Sunday night's game. Tonga beat Samoa...
NSW Blues coach ready for scrutiny
Matt King begins his first major head-coaching role with NSW, saying he is prepared for the intense scrutiny of State of Origin. He spent three seasons at South Sydney under...
Morris calls Kangaroos' Latrell omission bizarre
Bradman Best kept his place in Australia's centres for the final pool match against the Cook Islands, with Latrell Mitchell left out. Walters had started Mitchell against New Zealand, then...
Tonga-Samoa Hype Meets Last-Minute Drama
Lebanon's late match against France produced a sequence the writer rated among the greatest finishes ever: a near-try, a 40-metre drop goal, a disallowed winning field goal and a missed...
Australia-Fiji semi pits rehab buddies
Australia coach Jess Skinner expects a difficult World Cup semi-final against Fiji, who have reached the last four in their tournament debut. "They're going to be tough," Skinner said. She...
New Zealand Kiwis replace injured Laban
Phoenix Crossland has been brought into New Zealand's squad after Jacob Laban was ruled out of the Rugby League World Cup campaign. Scans confirmed a lower-leg injury for 22-year-old Laban...
Australia's Southwell shrugs off pressure
At 21, Jesse Southwell says her older sister Hannah has helped her stay grounded and keep learning as her profile has grown. The Australian Jillaroos star has earned major honours...
Australia weigh Mitchell's semi-final role
Reece Walsh's five try assists and a try against the Cook Islands strengthened his case to start as Australia prepares for its Rugby League World Cup semi-final against Samoa. The...
New Zealand face Ponga-Kini dilemma
Phoenix Crossland is available for Saturday's semi-final against Tonga after a four-match ban for the hip-drop tackle that seriously injured Nathan Cleary in the NRL preliminary final. His return offers...
Australia wary of Fiji's World Cup run
Fiji's Bulikula have reached the World Cup semi-finals in their tournament debut, setting up a clash with Australia for a place in the final. The game pits Sydney Roosters teammates...
Tonga-Samoa rivalry rivals State of Origin
Tonga's 20-18 win over Samoa booked a World Cup semi-final against New Zealand on Saturday; Samoa will face Australia on Sunday night. Addin Fonua-Blake scored the winning try with eight...
Kangaroos' Walsh faces fullback battle
Reece Walsh says learning from James Tedesco has been a highlight of Australia's World Cup camp as the pair compete for the fullback role. "I feel like being in camp...
Samoa's Paulo on suspension tightrope
Tonga's victory over Samoa at a packed CommBank Stadium earned them a Rugby League World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Newcastle on Saturday. Samoa face Australia in Sydney on...
Tonga, Samoa's World Cup pay gap
Sunday night's sold-out match at CommBank was every bit as compelling as any State of Origin game I have watched. That makes the pay gap difficult to justify: Australian players...
Samoa sweat over semi-final availability
Tonga's 20-18 victory over Samoa on Sunday earned them a Rugby League World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, while Samoa are set to meet Australia. Samoa face selection concerns after...
Lebanon's Cheika leaves league door open
Abbas Miski's golden-point try against France gave Lebanon its first win of the 2026 World Cup and made him the Cedars' all-time leading try scorer. The dramatic finish was Michael...
Australia's Walsh presses for fullback spot
Reece Walsh set up five tries in Australia's 66-6 win over Cook Islands, earning his second man-of-the-match award at the World Cup. He took another knock to his left ankle,...
Tonga-Samoa thriller turns on missed goals
Samoa scored four tries to Tonga's three but missed three of four conversions, falling 20-18 after Addin Fonua-Blake's 72nd-minute try. The victory at CommBank Stadium, watched by 29,411 people, kept...
Lebanon coach Cheika open to league return
Lebanon ended its World Cup campaign with a chaotic 24-20 golden-point victory over France on Sunday, giving Michael Cheika a memorable send-off from league. The Cedars missed the knockout stage,...