Tonga, New Zealand Meet in World Cup Semi
Four teams remain in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup semi-finals, with Tonga facing New Zealand in Newcastle.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Soccer
Tonga will face New Zealand in a 2026 Rugby League World Cup semi-final at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Saturday, November 7. Australia will meet Samoa a day later at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
Why it matters
The group stage is complete and the four remaining semi-finalists are now set, narrowing the tournament to its final stages. Player availability, including injuries and suspensions, is shaping team selections ahead of the matches.
Ronaldo Mulitalo has been handed a one-match suspension after a high shot on Ronald Philitoga, and Chanel Harris-Tevita's Week 3 left hamstring injury has kept him out of recent action. Team sheets for the semi-finals have not yet been finalized.
The players
Kristian Woolf
Kristian Woolf is the head coach of the New Zealand Kiwis rugby league team and is expected to make few changes for the semi-final.
Kalyn Ponga
Kalyn Ponga is a New Zealand rugby league player who is currently recovering from a broken arm and is likely to be named in the Kiwis squad.
Reece Walsh
Reece Walsh is a New Zealand fullback who took a knock to the leg late in the win over the Cook Islands and is expected to win the fullback battle against James Tedesco.
The details
Tonga's semi-final against New Zealand is scheduled for McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, while Australia's semi-final against Samoa takes place at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Kristian Woolf is expected to make few changes to the Kiwis side, and Kalyn Ponga, who has a broken arm, is likely to be named.
Timeline
Week 1: Deine Mariner injured his hamstring.
Week 3: Chanel Harris-Tevita injured his hamstring and Tonga beat Samoa.
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Tonga vs. New Zealand semi-final in Newcastle.
Sunday, November 8, 2026: Australia vs. Samoa semi-final in Sydney.
Season Trajectory
The semi-final pairings of Tonga versus New Zealand and Australia versus Samoa follow the knockout structure of the Rugby League World Cup, placing the tournament's most competitive nations in direct contention. Team strength and availability in these two matches will determine which nations advance to the final.
Fantasy managers should note that Ronaldo Mulitalo is unavailable for his team's next match due to suspension, and Chanel Harris-Tevita's hamstring injury may affect squad depth. Kickoff for both semi-finals is 8:05pm AEDT, so viewers should check local broadcast schedules.
The takeaway
Both semi-finals carry significant stakes, and late team selections will show which nations are fully healthy heading into the final four.
What happens next
The Tonga vs. New Zealand semi-final kicks off Saturday, November 7 in Newcastle, followed by Australia vs. Samoa on Sunday, November 8 in Sydney.
Further reading
For broader competition coverage, see the Soccer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sporting News.
