Six One New Zealand Warriors players including two newcomers have been named in the New Zealand Kiwis’ 23-man squad for the Rugby League World Cup starting next week.
The tournament opens with the New Zealanders facing the Kangaroos at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Thursday, October 15.
Once again James Fisher-Harris, just named as the Dally M captain and prop of the year, will lead the Kiwis as they strive for success in a competition they won for the first and only time in 2008.
Alongside him will be One New Zealand Warriors teammates Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Te Maire Martin and Erin Clark plus young guns Jacob Laban and Tanner Stowers-Smith.
Fisher-Harris, Nicoll-Klokstad, Martin and Clark were all in the New Zealand squad that won the Pacific Championships final against Toa Samoa last year.
Laban and Stowers-Smith, both 22, come into the Kiwis following outstanding NRL seasons with Laban feted as the club’s players’ player of the year. Both players were in the New Zealand A squad in 2023.
Stowers-Smith carries a proud family legacy as the great-grandson of former Kiwi captain, the legendary Pat Smith (Kiwi #301).
“We’re very excited for this World Cup campaign. We’ve been building towards this over the past few years, and winning the Pacific Championships last year was a big step in that journey,” said Kiwi head coach Stacey Jones.
“I’m confident in this squad. We’ve got a good mix of experienced players who have been part of the team for a long time, and some new blood who all bring great talent.”
While the Warriors boast six players, Penrith has four in prop Moses Leota, second rowers Isaiah Papali'i and Scott Sorensen and centre Casey McLean. The Dolphins count three with the NRL’s top points scorer this season Jamayne Isaako, hooker Jeremy Marshall-King and half Kodi Nikorima, who returns after last featuring for the Kiwis in 2024.
Melbourne Storm star Jahrome Hughes also makes his return to the Kiwis after an international hiatus due to injury. He last represented the Kiwis in their 30-0 2023 Pacific Championships grand final victory over Australia.
Headlining the four potential debutants is Kalyn Ponga, the 2023 Dally M Medallist and Queensland Maroons representative, who pledged his allegiance to New Zealand earlier this year following changes to State of Origin and international eligibility rules.
Ponga's Newcastle Knights and Māori All Stars teammate Dane Gagai also joins the squad for the first time, with the IRL Board recently approving his switch to New Zealand after he last represented Australia eight years ago.
After opening their campaign against Australia in Sydney in the RLWC competition’s opening match, the Kiwis return to home soil to face the Cook Islands at Ōtautahi Christchurch’s One New Zealand Stadium. They then travel to the Gold Coast for their final pool match against Fiji.
The Rugby League World Cup men’s and women’s grand finals will be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday, 15 November.
2026 Rugby League World Cup | NZ Kiwis
Erin Clark (One New Zealand Warriors) 842
James Fisher-Harris (One New Zealand Warriors) 801
Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights) debutant
Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne Storm) 819
Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins) 808
Keano Kini (Gold Coast Titans) 836
Jacob Laban (One New Zealand Warriors) debutant
Moses Leota (Penrith Panthers) 827
Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins) 830
Te Maire Martin (One New Zealand Warriors) 802
Casey McLean (Penrith Panthers) 841
Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks) 824
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (One New Zealand Warriors) 820
Briton Nikora (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks) 818
Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins) 793
Isaiah Papali'i (Penrith Panthers) 817
Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights) debutant
Scott Sorensen (Penrith Panthers) 831
Tanner Stowers-Smith (One New Zealand Warriors) debutant
Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders) 800
Leo Thompson (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs) 833
Naufahu Whyte (Sydney Roosters) 839
Xavier Willison (Brisbane Broncos) 843
