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Yeo edges Kiwis in RLWC2026 Team of the Week

A late surge of votes has seen Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo edge out Kiwis forwards Erin Clark and Xavier Willison for a place in the Rugby League World Cup Team of the Week. 

Yeo, the 2024 IRL Golden Boot winner, polled 34% of votes, compared to 32% each for Clark and Willison, who has played for New Zealand but is also eligible for Cook Islands. The vote was too close to call until a late push for Yeo.

He is one of three Panthers players chosen by fans in the RLWC2026 Team of the Week, along with Kangaroos halfback Nathan Cleary and uncapped winger Tom Jenkins.

Each week, fans vote for their RLWC2026 Team of the Week from players nominated after the previous weekend's NRL and Super League matches, who are eligible for the 10 nations contesting Rugby League World Cup 2026. 

The RLWC2026 Team of the Week is announced each Wednesday.

Players from six nations are represented, with Wests Tigers co-captain Api Koroisau (Fiji) polling 71 per cent of votes for the hooker role.

Wests Tigers and the Warriors are the only other clubs with more than one than a single representative in the Team of the Week - Wests Tigers and Samoa prop Terrell May and the the uncapped Warriors pair of Jackson Ford and Alofiana Khan-Pereira.

Ford is leading Dally M voting after Round 7 of the NRL, while Khan-Pereira scored a brace of tries for the Warriors against his former club, Gold Coast Titans.

Former Kangaroos captain James Tedesco, who lists leading Australia to World Cup glory at Old Trafford in 2022 as a career highlight, is the fullback, with Jenkins - the first player in premiership history to score two tries in seven consecutive matches - and Khan-Pereira the wingers.

Seven up for Jenkins

Khan-Pereira, who is yet to play at international level, is eligible for Australia, New Zealand and Samoa. 

England's Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins) and Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), a member of Australia's 2022 World Cup winning team, are the centres, with Cleary and Mitchell Moses in the halves.

Moses, who played for Lebanon at the last World Cup, and Cleary are favoured to the be the NSW Blues halves pairing for State of Origin.

May and Ford are in the frontrow with Koroisau the hooker while Tonga strike secondrower Haumole Olekau'atu (Sea Eagles) and Hudson Young (Raiders), who played for the Kangaroos in last year's Ashes series, making up the backrow with Yeo.

Apisai Koroisau Try

The RLWC2026 Team of the Week is:

  • Fullback
    James Tedesco 38% - Australia (Sydney Roosters)
  • Wingers
    Tom Jenkins 34% - Australia (Panthers)
    Alofiana Khan-Pereira 22% - Australia/NZ/Samoa (Warriors)
  • Centres
    Latrell Mitchell 32% - Australia (Rabbitohs)
    Herbie Farnworth – 24% - England (Dolphins)
  • Halves
    Mitchell Moses 21% - Lebanon (Eels)
    Nathan Cleary 40% - Australia (Panthers)
  • Props
    Jackson Ford 34% - Australia (Warriors)
    Terrell May 25% - Samoa (Wests Tigers)
  • Hooker
    Api Koroisau 71% - Fiji (Wests Tigers)
  • Secondrowers
    Hudson Young 27% - Australia (Raiders)
    Haumole Olakau'atu 16% - Tonga (Sea Eagles)
  • Lock
    Isaah Yeo 34% - Australia (Panthers)

View voting for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week

Rugby League World Cup 2026 returns to Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Where nations clash, heroes rise, and legends are forged. 3 World Cups. 26 Teams. The World’s Best. Tickets are now on sale from $19. Don’t miss the pinnacle of global Rugby League.  

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