A place in the Rugby League World Cup Final is on the line as Australia and Samoa meet in a blockbuster semi-final at Allianz Stadium. The Kangaroos remain unbeaten but have been far from dominant throughout the tournament, surviving stern tests from New Zealand and Fiji before finding form against the Cook Islands. Samoa, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the competition’s genuine title contenders after dominant victories over France and Papua New Guinea, before narrowly falling to Tonga in one of the matches of the tournament.
With elite talent across the park and contrasting strengths in the forward pack and backline, this shapes as Australia’s toughest assignment of the World Cup so far. The winner will earn a place in the final, while the loser will see their title hopes come to an end.
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Men’s Rugby League World Cup
- New Zealand vs Tonga → new-zealand-vs-tonga-rlwc-semi-final-preview-2026
- Australia vs Samoa → australia-vs-samoa-rlwc-semi-final-preview-2026
Matchday Details
Sunday, November 8, 8:05pm AEDT at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Adam Gee | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
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), 14. Ethan Strange, 15. Keaon Koloamatangi, 16. Cameron Murray, 17. Reuben Cotter, 18. Latrell Mitchell, 19. James Tedesco, R. Lindsay Smith, R. Sam Walker, R. Blayke Brailey
Samoa: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Brian To’o, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Sualauvi Fa’alogo, 6. Ronald Volkman, 7. Jarome Luai (c), 8. Francis Molo, 9. Benaiah Ioelu, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Connelly Lemuelu, 12. Jermaine McEwen, 13. Francis Manuleleua, 14. Jazz Tevaga, 15. Spencer Leniu, 16. Shawn Blore, 17. Ata Mariota, 18. Clayton Faulalo, 19. Deine Mariner, R. Pasami Saulo, R. Enari Tuala, R. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Match Preview
Australia are aiming for their seventh straight World Cup Final since the tournament format resumed in 1995, while Samoa are aiming for their second straight World Cup Final.
Australia have been underwhelming in the Pool stage despite going through undefeated: they had close wins over New Zealand and Fiji and a 60-point win over the Cook Islands (with a 66 per cent completion rate and 15 errors). The Kangaroos have struggled with some key omissions: no Nathan Cleary, Mitchell Moses lasting half a game, and no specialist wingers (Josh Addo-Carr, Mark Nawaqanitawase, and Selwyn Cobbo unavailable and Tom Jenkins named as a shadow player). The makeshift wingers Tom Trbojevic (seven) and Jack Bostock (six) have scored a combined 13 tries, including two hat-tricks each. Though the forced changes have unsettled Australia’s edge defence, with the Kangaroos conceding multiple tries against the Kiwis and Fiji, including three down their right edge for Semi Valemei’s hat-trick.
Reece Walsh has arguably been Australia’s best player. Despite not playing any footy since August (with Clive Churchill Medallist James Tedesco the logical fullback choice on form), Walsh has repaid Kevin Walters’ faith with big games against New Zealand and the Cook Islands. Once again, Walsh has shown that he thrives when the spotlight is on him, so don’t be surprised if he’s the game breaker in the semi-final. Jacob Preston has had a fine debut World Cup, scoring two tries and setting up a few others. While some of Walters’ choices have been puzzling (like Kotoni Staggs playing ahead of Latrell Mitchell), he’s gotten Walsh and Preston right, and the Trbojevic/Bostock pairing has worked so far, at least in attack. He’s also stuck with the experienced Cameron Munster to partner Tom Dearden.
Samoa have been one of the most dominant sides in the World Cup, beating France 78-4 and PNG 64-6. Any concerns about Samoa being underdone vanished after the blockbuster Tonga game. While Samoa lost 20-18, they came back from 14-4 down and would have won if Sualauvi Fa’alogo’s foot hadn’t gone out (when he was trying to score in the left corner). It would have been his seventh try in this World Cup, building on his excellent season for the Storm (winning the Cameron Smith Player of the Year award). His four tries off the bench against France ensured that he stayed in the starting side, though he’s had to play on the wing to accommodate Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. And then there’s Sua’s wing partner Brian To’o, who’s a proven match winner for Penrith and scored two tries against Tonga.
There’s no changes to Australia’s starting line-up, though Cameron Murray returns to the bench after missing the Cook Islands game. For Samoa, Ronald Volkman retains the five-eighth jersey, partnering Jarome Luai in the halves. Volkman had a memorable cameo against Tonga, replacing Chanel Harris-Tavita (hamstring), playing 27 minutes, and scoring a try to put Samoa ahead 18-14.
While Australia has won all five games against Samoa (including the 2021/2022 World Cup Final), this is Samoa’s best chance to beat the Kangaroos. They have a massive advantage in the forwards: Francis Molo, Junior Paulo, Connelly Lemuelu, Jermaine McEwen, and Francis Manuleleua, with Spencer Leniu and Ata Mariota playing impact roles off the bench.
After struggling against New Zealand and Fiji, Australia’s forward pack faces their biggest challenge against Samoa. While the Kangaroos will take confidence from the Cook Islands win, they’ll need to match it with Samoa’s forwards, have a high completion rate, better edge defence against To’o and Fa’alogo, and give enough opportunities for Trbojevic, Bostock, and Walsh to score.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Samoa by 6.
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