Captain James Fisher-Harris leads a quartet of One New Zealand Warriors named for the Kiwis' crucial Rugby League World Cup encounter with the Fiji Bati at Cbus Super Stadium in Robina on Saturday (2.30pm kick-off local time, 5.30pm NZT).
Fisher-Harris will make his 24th international appearance in what will be his 18th straight Test since 2022 and his 12th on end as captain.
He’s reunited in the Kiwis’ front row with his long-time Penrith teammate Moses Leota, who missed Sunday’s 82-16 victory over the Cook Islands in Christchurch.
Fisher-Harris’ Warriors clubmates Te Maire Martin, Erin Clark and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad have all been included on the six-man bench.
All six Warriors in the New Zealand squad turned out in the clash against the Cooks but, after making their Test debuts, Tanner Stowers-Smith and Jacob Laban are among the reserves.
Head coach Stacey Jones has made key changes for a contest the Kiwis must win – or draw – to make the semi-finals with centre Dane Gagai, Isaiah Papali’i, Briton Nikora, Naufahu Whyte and Leota all recalled.
Gagai, who made his Kiwi debut against the Kangaroos on October 15, is back in the centres for Nicoll-Klokstad after missing the win over the Cooks.
There are four changes in the starting forward pack with Leota named at prop (Joseph Tapine returning to loose forward for Erin Clark) and fellow Test regulars Isaiah Papali and Briton Nikora teamed up again in the second row for Scott Sorensen and Xavier Willison, who move to the six-man bench.
Back on the bench is premiership-winning Roosters front rower Naufahu Whyte who joins Te Maire Martin, Willison, Nicoll-Klokstad and Sorensen.
Gagai, Leota, Papali’i, Nikora and Whyte missed the 14-try rout of the Kukis as head coach Stacey Jones recalled Nicoll-Klokstad, Sorensen and prop Leo Thompson while handing Test debuts to prop Stowers-Smith (Kiwi #846) and Laban (Kiwi #847).
Apart from Keano Kini starting at fullback for the injured Kalyn Ponga, Jones has named the same starting combination and interchange used in the tournament-opening 22-24 loss to the Kangaroos.
The Kiwis arrived on the Gold Coast on Monday night to prepare for a difficult mission against a Fiji side which led the Kangaroos 16-12 early in the second half before the home side rallied to win 36-22 in their round two clash at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
The Kiwis have battled against Fiji in the last two World Cups, suffering shock 2-4 loss in the quarter-finals in Wellington in 2017 and needing a late comeback to escape with a 24-18 quarter-final victory in Hull four years ago.
NEW ZEALAND KIWIS v FIJI BATI
Cbus Super Stadium, Robina
2.30pm, Saturday, October 31, 2026
1 Keano Kini
2 Jamayne Isaako
3 Dane Gagai
4 Casey McLean
5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
6 Kodi Nikorima
7 Jahrome Hughes
8 James Fisher-Harris (C)
9 Jeremy Marshall-King
10 Moses Leota
11 Isaiah Papali’i
12 Briton Nikora
13 Joseph Tapine (v/c)
14 Te Maire Martin
15 Naufahu Whyte
16 Erin Clark
17 Xavier Willison
18 Charnze Nicoll-Klostad
19 Scott Sorensen
20 Leo Thompson
21 Jacob Laban
22 Tanner Stowers-Smith
