New Zealand have named their Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns squads for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, with Stacey Jones and Ricky Henry finalising their groups ahead of a tournament that opens next week.
The Kiwis meet the Kangaroos in the Pool A opener at Allianz Stadium on Thursday, 15 October, a fortnight after Newcastle’s grand final loss to the Sydney Roosters. Kalyn Ponga is in Jones’ squad for a first World Cup in the black jersey after being cleared to switch from Australia, having previously represented the Kangaroos at the 2019 World Cup Nines.
Dane Gagai is the other headline inclusion. The Newcastle centre, a 2017 World Cup winner with Australia who last played a Kangaroos Test in 2018, was cleared by an International Rugby League appeals committee to change Tier 1 eligibility. He qualifies for New Zealand through his mother. Selection sets up a possible reunion with Latrell Mitchell in the Sydney opener after the pair clashed in the NRL finals.
Jones has gone with a 23-man group built around the New Zealand Warriors. Erin Clark, James Fisher-Harris, Jacob Laban, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Tanner Stowers-Smith are the six Warriors selected. Jahrome Hughes, Kodi Nikorima and Te Maire Martin give the Kiwis options in the halves, with Jeremy Marshall-King and Erin Clark covering dummy-half.
Phoenix Crossland, suspended for the first three matches of the tournament, is not in the final squad. Several players from New Zealand’s extended group, including Naufahu Whyte and Matthew Timoko, have also missed the cut.
Kiwis squad: Erin Clark (New Zealand Warriors), James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand Warriors), Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights), Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne Storm), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Keano Kini (Gold Coast Titans), Jacob Laban (New Zealand Warriors), Moses Leota (Penrith Panthers), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Te Maire Martin (New Zealand Warriors), Casey McLean (Penrith Panthers), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (New Zealand Warriors), Briton Nikora (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins), Isaiah Papali’i (Penrith Panthers), Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights), Scott Sorensen (Penrith Panthers), Tanner Stowers-Smith (New Zealand Warriors), Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders), Leo Thompson (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Naufahu Whyte (Sydney Roosters), Xavier Willison (Brisbane Broncos).
Coach: Stacey Jones
Kiwis pool fixtures
| Round | Date | Kick-off | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thursday 15 October | 7:05pm | Australia | Allianz Stadium, Sydney |
| 2 | Sunday 25 October | 6:05pm local (4:05pm AEDT) | Cook Islands | One NZ Stadium, Christchurch |
| 3 | Saturday 31 October | 3:30pm AEDT | Fiji | Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast |
Ricky Henry’s Kiwi Ferns are in Pool B with Fiji, France and Papua New Guinea. They open against Fiji at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Sunday, 18 October, then return home for a double-header with the Kiwis at One NZ Stadium on Sunday, 25 October. France are the opponents in Christchurch before a Pool B closer against Papua New Guinea on the Gold Coast.
The 23 includes five Warriors — Kaiyah Atai, Mele Hufanga, Ivana Lauitiiti, Apii Nicholls and Stacey Waaka — alongside NRLW regulars Raecene McGregor, Georgia Hale, Abigail Roache and Otesa Pule.
Kiwi Ferns squad: Brooke Anderson (St George Illawarra Dragons), Kaiyah Atai (New Zealand Warriors), Annessa Biddle (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Brianna Clark (Brisbane Broncos), Georgia Hale (Gold Coast Titans), Mele Hufanga (New Zealand Warriors), Chantay Kiria-Ratu (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Ivana Lauitiiti (New Zealand Warriors), Shannon Mato (Brisbane Broncos), Raecene McGregor (Wests Tigers), Shaniece Monschau (Wests Tigers), Apii Nicholls (New Zealand Warriors), Shanice Parker (Newcastle Knights), Otesa Pule (Sydney Roosters), Ashleigh Quinlan (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Abigail Roache (North Queensland Cowboys), Alexis Tauaneai (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Trinity Tauaneai (St George Illawarra Dragons), Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Zahara Temara (Canberra Raiders), Leianne Tufuga (Canberra Raiders), Stacey Waaka (New Zealand Warriors), Tenika Willison (Newcastle Knights).
Coach: Ricky Henry
Kiwi Ferns pool fixtures
| Round | Date | Kick-off | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunday 18 October | 1:50pm | Fiji | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle |
| 2 | Sunday 25 October | 4:00pm local (2:00pm AEDT) | France | One NZ Stadium, Christchurch |
| 3 | Saturday 31 October | 5:45pm AEDT | Papua New Guinea | Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast |
Full draw, pools and match links are on the 2026 Rugby League World Cup hub.
