Two of the biggest winners from the opening week of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup meet in what could prove a pivotal clash in the race for the semi-finals. Papua New Guinea and Samoa both opened their campaigns with convincing victories, but while Samoa boasts a squad stacked with NRL talent and international experience, the Kumuls will have the backing of one of the most passionate home crowds in world rugby league.
Port Moresby has long been a fortress for Papua New Guinea, and the Kumuls’ impressive home record gives them genuine hope of causing an upset. However, Samoa’s powerful roster and dominant Round 1 performance make them favourites in a match that could go a long way towards determining who progresses to the knockout stages.
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Men’s Rugby League World Cup
- Tonga vs Lebanon → tonga-vs-lebanon-rlwc-preview-2026
- Papua New Guinea vs Samoa → papua-new-guinea-vs-samoa-rlwc-preview-2026
- England vs France → england-vs-france-rlwc-preview-2026
- New Zealand vs Cook Islands → new-zealand-vs-cook-islands-rlwc-preview-2026
- Australia vs Fiji → australia-vs-fiji-rlwc-preview-2026
Women’s Rugby League World Cup
- Australia vs England → australia-vs-england-womens-rlwc-preview-2026
Matchday Details
Saturday, October 24, 3:25pm AEDT at Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Referee: Chris Kendall | Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy
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, 14. Finley Glare, 15. Liam Horne, 16. Valentine Richard, 17. Khaiya Waiembi, 18. Rodrick Tai, 19. Josh Feledy, R. Sylvester Namo, R. Sanny Wabo, R. Zev John
Samoa: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Brian To’o, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Sualauvi Fa’alogo, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 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. Ronald Volkman, R. Pasami Saulo, R. Enari Tuala, R. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Match Preview
A big crowd awaits in Port Moresby on Saturday, with the local fans hoping their Kumuls can build on a very good performance against Lebanon at the same ground, with an upset win over a very strong Samoan side. Papua New Guinea’s 42-18 win was a solid start to the campaign, but wasn’t as impressive as Samoa’s 78-4 win over France, where they scored 14 tries to one.
It will be a difficult task for the Kumuls to overcome Samoa, not only because Samoa looked impressive in last week’s win over France, but the Samoan side have such an advantage of NRL and big time rugby league experience.
Samoa’s back five alone features three State of Origin representatives and multiple NRL premiership winners, and the least experienced player Sualauvi Fa’alogo of that five scored four tries from the bench last weekend. The lopsided comparison continues through the halves, with Samoa led by no less than multiple premiership winner Jarome Luai and the Warriors’ Chanel Harris-Tavita. Coincidentally the Kumuls’ five-eighth Gairo Voro has some resemblance to Luai, and he was very good last weekend in the win over Lebanon. Bailey Biondi-Odo is named at halfback again, as he was last weekend, but he started from the bench in game one.
The forwards are more evenly matched, particularly in the back row where the Kumuls boast the experience of Rhyse Martin and Jack de Belin. Although not an NRL player, Nixon Putt was one of the Kumuls’ best performers last weekend and deserves an NRL chance. That’s not to say the Samoans back row doesn’t offer plenty of firepower, in the form of Newcastle’s grand final duo Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua, with the dynamic Dolphins second rower Connelly Lemuelu completing the trio.
One position where the Kumuls have the advantage over Samoa is hooker, where Edwin Ipape was in the World Cup 2022 Team of the tournament, and the Leigh Leopard player looked as sharp as ever against Lebanon. Another advantage for the Kumuls is captain Rhyse Martin, who is as deadly a goal-kicker as anyone in the game, and if the score remains close, he could well prove the difference. Especially with local knowledge of the often windy conditions.
The H2H record isn’t good for Papua New Guinea, with three games against Samoa since 2009 for three losses. They have met in a World Cup before in 2013, where Samoa won 38-4 at Hull KR’s home ground in a game that featured Anthony Milford, three tries to Antonio Winterstein, and also featured Nene Macdonald – who is in the Kumuls side 13 years later.
PNG’s home record in Port Moresby is another matter though, where they have won 15 of their last 16 home internationals since 2009 and have won their last four World Cup games at home by a combined 170-30. While most of those wins came against Tier 2 nations or lower-ranked opposition, the Kumuls did beat the British Lions on home soil in 2019. Given the PNG side gives up a lot of NRL experience, the home ground advantage will be huge for them if they can get a full house.
These teams – you could argue – have bigger games to come, with PNG facing England in Week 3 and the same round featuring the huge Tonga vs Samoa clash. One does wonder if that could be a distraction for the Samoan team, that a roaring Port Moresby might not help with. Probably not with all their big game experience.
On paper Samoa should win, and win by plenty, but the PNG Kumuls’ recent home record is impressive, and they are building with each international match. Maybe not in time for this weekend though.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Samoa by 14.
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