Cook Islands star Valentine Holmes is among six St George Illawarra players nominated for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week after their first win of the season against the Broncos.
Holmes, who has played 21 Tests for Australia, plans to honour his Cook Islands-born mother Lucy at Rugby League World Cup 2026 after pledging his allegiance to the Karmichael Hunt-coached Aitu.
After 22 State of Origin performances for Queensland, including 17 in a row since his return from an NFL stint with New York Jets, Holmes was dropped for last Wednesday night’s series opener.
He responded in the best possible manner, scoring two tries and kicking five goals to spearhead the Dragons to a 30-26 defeat of the Broncos.
Vintage Val
Until now, the only Dragons player nominated for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week was prop Toby Couchman, who made his 50th NRL appearance in Sunday’s upset win against the reigning premiers at Suncorp Stadium.
The 22-year-old has emerged as a potential bolter for Kangaroos selection after fans voted him into the RLWC2026 Team of the Week for his performance in the Round 11 loss to Penrith at Magic Round. He was also nominated after the Round 1 Golden Point loss to the Bulldogs in Vegas.
Couchman's twin, Ryan, has also been nominated alongside another two of St George Illawarra’s young home-grown forwards Dylan Egan and Hamish Stewart, and former Australian and NSW hooker Damien Cook.
NRL leaders Penrith (eight) have the most players nominated after their epic 22-20 defeat of the second-placed Warriors at CommBank Stadium on Sunday night, won 22-20 by Penrith despite the absence of Nathan Cleary, Brian To’o and Isaah Yeo.
Alamoti the acrobat
The Warriors, who also rested Origin forwards Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell, have seven players nominated, as do Wests Tigers after they held out the Bulldogs 22-16 on Saturday.
Challenge Cup winners Wigan received four nominations after their thumping of Super League premiers and world club champions Hull KR – England halfback Harry Smith, 20-year-old five-eighth sensation Jack Farrimond, who won the Lance Todd Trophy as player of the match, star secondrower Junior Nsemba and former Warriors and Roosters centre Adam Keighran.
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.
The latest World Cup Team of the Week nominations features 14 players who are eligible for New Zealand, nine for Samoa, seven for England, four for Tonga, three for Fiji, two for Lebanon and one for Cook Islands.
Among the players in contention for this week's World Cup Team of the Week are:
- Kiwis centres Casey McLean (Panthers), Seb Kris and Matt Timoko (Raiders), playmaker Dylan Brown (Knights), fullback Taine Tuaupiki, halfback Te Maire Martin, lock Erin Clark, props James Fisher-Harris (all Warriors), Joseph Tapine (Raiders) and Moses Leota, secondrower Isaiah Papali’i (both Panthers) and winger Moses Leo (Storm). Raiders fullback Keao Weekes and five-eighth Ethan Strange are also eligible for New Zealand
- Toa Samoa fullback Sua Fa’alogo (Storm), centres Enari Tuala (Bulldogs) and Izack Tago (Panthers), wingers Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Warriors), Greg Marzhew (Knights) and Jeral Skelton, playmaker Jarome Luai and props Terrel May (all Wests Tigers) and Payne Haas (Broncos)
- Tonga wingers Paul Alamotti (Panthers) and Savelio Tamale (Raiders), secondrower Sitili Tupouniua (Bulldogs) and prop Stefano Utoikamanu (Storm)
- England secondrowers Kai Pearce-Paul (Wests Tigers) and Junior Nsemba, halves Harry Smith and Jack Farrimond (all Wigan), and winger Dom Young (Knights). Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey and Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange are also eligible for England
- Fiji fullback Jahream Bula, centre Sunia Turuva (both Wests Tigers) and prop Jacob Saiftii (Knights), who was a member of the NSW Blues squad for Origin I
- Cook Island centre Val Holmes (Dragons)
- Lebanon fullback Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs) and lock Alex Twal (Wests Tigers)
A Sua special
Vote 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.
