Big O backed in RLWC2026 Team of the Week

Axed Blues secondrower Haumole Olakau'atu has received the support of fans after being voted in the RLWC2026 Team of the Week.

Olakau'atu was sensationally dropped from the NSW team for Origin II at the MCG but fans backed the Tonga powerhouse after his starring performance in Manly's 28-14 defeat of South Sydney.

The Sea Eagles forward polled 27 per cent of votes for secondrowers in the World Cup Team of the Week, ahead of Tongan team-mate Sitili Toupeniua (Bulldogs), who edged Penrith and Kangaroos star Liam Martin.

Dolphins and Maroons winger Selwyn Cobbo also won out over Panthers and Blues rival Brian To'o, who plays for Samoa, by the narrowest of margins.

However, Penrith still had the highest representation in the RLWC2026 Team of the Week, with centre Paul Alamoti (Tonga), halfback Nathan Cleary and lock Isaah Yeo (both Australia) being the best backed in their positions.

The Dolphins, Roosters and Titans each had two representatives, while the Bulldogs, Broncos, Sea Eagles and Storm all had one. 

Kiwis fullback Keano Kini was among two Gold Coast Titans in the RLWC2026 Team of the Week after his sensational match winning performance against the Broncos.

Kini, who is vying with Kalyn Ponga for the New Zealand No.1 jersey, scored arguably the try of the year so far when he chipped over the Broncos defensive line and snatched the ball from Broncos and Kangaroos fullback Reece Walsh to race away and score.

Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds had kicked a field goal just minutes earlier to put the premiers ahead 23-22 but Kini’s try regained the lead for the Titans and they hung on to win 28-23.

Titans playmaker Jayden Campbell was also selected after scoring two tries in a five-star performance, while Broncos, NSW and Samoa frontrower Payne Haas topped polling for props

Roosters prop Naufahu Whyte edged fellow Kiwis frontrower Moses Leota (Panthers), while clubmate Mark Nawaqanitawase, who is eligible for Fiji, headed the votes for wingers.

Cobbo was joined by England centre Herbie Farnworth as the other Dolphins player, while Storm hooker Harry Grant rounds out the squad.

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 includes three Tonga internationals, two Kiwis and one each from England and Samoa, as well as four members of the Kangaroos team that won last year's Ashes series 3-0 in Cleary, Grant, Nawaqanitawase and Yeo.

Among the players nominated for the World Cup Team of the Week were:

• Tonga centres Rob Toia (Roosters) and Tolu Koula (Sea Eagles), winger Paul Alamoti (Panthers), props Stefano Utoikamanu (Storm) and Taniela Paseka, secondrowers Haumole Olakau’atu (both Sea Eagles), Sitili Tupouniua (Bulldogs), Siua Wong (Roosters) and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, halfback Isaiya Katoa (both Dolphins) and fullback Isaiah Iongi (Eels).
• Kiwis fullback contenders Keano Kini (Titans) and Kalyn Ponga, playmakers Dylan Brown (both Knights), Jahrome Hughes (Storm) and Kodi Nikorima, wingers Jamayne Isaako (both Dolphins) and Ronaldo Mulitalo, secondrowers Briton Nikora (both Sharks), Isaiah Papali’i, props Moses Leota (both Panthers) and Naufuha Whyte (Roosters).
• Toa Samoa fullbacks Sua Fa’alogo (Storm) and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), centre Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), five-eighth Blaize Talagi, wingers Brian To’o (both Panthers) and Phil Sami, props Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Klese Haas (all Titans) and Payne Haas (Broncos).
• England centres Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins) and AJ Brimson (Titans), secondrower Junior Nsemba, playmaker Jack Farrimond (both Wigan) and Perth Bears-bound prop Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds). Panthers hooker Freddy Lussick, Roosters winger Billy Smith and halfback Sam Walker are also eligible for England.
• Fiji utility Kurt Donoghoe (Dolphins) and hooker Brandon Wakeham (Sea Eagles). Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase is also eligible for Fiji.
• Papua New Guinea winger Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs) and hooker Edwin Ipape (Leigh).
• Cook Island centre KL Iro (Sharks) and secondrower Brendan Piakura (Broncos)
• Lebanon winger Jason Saab (Sea Eagles)
• France secondrower Mathieu Jussaume (Toulouse)

View voting for the RLWC202 Team of the Week