Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad has underlined his value as a fix-it man yet again by being named on the wing for the New Zealand Kiwis’ Rugby League World Cup semifinal against Tonga at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Saturday (8.05pm kick-off local time; 10.05pm NZT).
With Ronaldo Mulitalo suspended, head coach Stacey Jones has turned to the versatile Nicoll-Klokstad to fill the role.
Two weeks ago Nicoll-Klokstad was used in the centres against the Cook Islands while in previous appearance in his 17-Test Kiwi career he has also played at standoff as well as his preferred spot at fullback.
He joins clubmates James Fisher-Harris, Te Maire Martin and Erin Clark in the squad for what promises to be a volatile contest in Newcastle.
Prop Tanner Stowers-Smith is listed as 20th man.
Named on the six-man bench for Tonga are Warriors forwards Demitric Vaimauga and Leka Halasima.
Newcastle heroes Kalyn Ponga and Phoenix Crossland have been named in the Kiwis’ extended squad.
Fullback Ponga has been selected in jersey #21 as he bids to make his return to the side after breaking his left arm in his Test debut against the Kangaroos in Sydney on October 15.
Hooker Crossland is listed in jersey #22 after being called into the squad last night as a replacement for injured second rower Jacob Laban, who has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament.
In a forced change to the starting lineup, Kiwi head coach Stacey Jones has selected utility Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad on the left wing to replace the suspended Ronaldo Mulitalo.
The rest of the side named is unchanged from the one used in last Saturday’s 78-0 victory over the Fiji Bati in Robina, a record winning margin for the Kiwis topping the 74-0 win over Tonga at Carlaw Park in 1999 and the 84-10 trouncing of the Cook Islands in Reading at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.
The Kiwis face a Tonga side which comes into the match with three straight wins over England 30-12, Lebanon 36-0 and Toa Samoa 20-18.
After being edged out 24-22 by the Kangaroos at Allianz Stadium in opening match of the tournament, the Kiwis have scored at a point a minute in racking up 160 points against the Cook Islands (82-16) and Fiji (78-0).
Leading the way in the points-scoring stakes have been centre Casey McLean and winger Jamayne Isaako.
McLean has seven tries in the three games played including four against Fiji. Scoring in every Test he has played since his debut in 2024, the 20-year-old already has a total of 15 tries in just seven internationals, only seven short of Manu Vatuvei’s New Zealand record of 22.
High-scoring Issako is closing in on Shaun Johnson’s all-time points-scoring mark of 225 in Tests.
He claimed the record for most goals in a Test for the Kiwis with 13 against the Cook Islands and then repeated it against Fiji to take his career tally for New Zealand to 215. In this World Cup alone he has 74 points in three games including 31 goals from 32 attempts.
2026 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP SEMIFINAL
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
8.05pm, Saturday, November 7, 2026
1 Keano Kini
2 Jamayne Isaako
3 Dane Gagai
4 Casey McLean
5 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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 Scott Sorensen
19 Leo Thompson
20 Tanner Stowers-Smith
21 Kalyn Ponga
22 Phoenix Crossland
