Official squads, team lists and schedule for the 2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.
NOTE: The World Cup will be played under NRL rules with six players on the interchange bench. Only four of those players may be used as per NRL rules.
New Zealand: Two big names on the reserves list for the Kiwis with Knights stars Kalyn Ponga (arm) and Phoenix Crossland (suspension) in line to be called into the 19 later in the week. Ponga broke his arm in the opening game against Australia but is on track to make a miraculous return while Crossland has served a four-game suspension arising from the NRL preliminary final. Crossland came into the squad on Monday for the injured Jacob Laban. The one-game ban for winger Ronaldo Mulitalo sees Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad called up to start. Leo Thompson is the new face on the six-man bench.
Tonga: Coach Kristian Woolf has named the same 19-man squad that prevailed 20-18 over Samoa in an epic contest at CommBank Stadium on Sunday. Isaiya Katoa played the full 80 minutes in his return from an ankle injury and will again partner with Tui Lolohea in the halves. The last time Tonga met the Kiwis at a World Cup was in 2107 in Hamilton when a David Fusitu'a hat-trick helped them to a 28-22 win.
Australia: No changes to the starting side for Kevin Walters while on the six-man interchange the return of Cameron Murray (calf) sees Lindsay Smith make way. Latrell Mitchell has been added to the bench after missing the past two games. Reece Walsh is the No.1 gun for the world champions with James Tedesco again part of the six-man bench after being an unused reserve last week.
Samoa: The loss of Chanel Harris-Tavita to a hamstring injury brings Ronald Volkman in at five-eighth after doing a superb job when he came on against Tonga. Benaiah Ioelu is named to start at hooker with Jazz Tevaga on the bench but they may swap again on game day as they did last Sunday. Deine Mariner returns on the interchange after suffering a hamstring injury in Round 1 against France.