Vote for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week

Kiwis fullback Keano Kini is among six Gold Coast Titans players nominated for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week after his sensational match winning performance against the Broncos.

The Panthers have 12 players in contention and the Dolphins have nine.

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 also scored two tries in a five-star performance, while England international AJ Brimson, Dragons-bound Samoa winger Phil Sami have also been nominated.

Inspirational co-captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who is yet to declare his World Cup allegiance between Australia and Samoa, and fellow prop Klese Haas, who matched it with his more illustrious brother Payne, are other candidates for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week.

Dolphins players also feature heavily after their 40-14 defeat of the Cowboys, with the entire backline of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Samoa), Isaiya Katoa (Tonga), Jamayne Isaako, Kodi Nikorima (both New Zealand) Herbie Farnworth (England) and Selwyn Cobbo and Jack Bostock (both Australia) nominated.

Fiji utility Kurt Donoghoe (Fiji), who played most of the game at lock, and Tonga strike secondrower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, who is set to make his Origin debut for Queensland in Game Two at the MCG, are other Dolphins players in contention.

Every member of Penrith’s starting side has also been nominated with the exception of Kiwis centre Casey McLean, who hobbled from the field just after halftime in the NRL ladder leader’s record 68-0 defeat of Wests Tigers.

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 12 players who are eligible for Tonga, 11 players for New Zealand, nine for Samoa, eight for England, three for Fiji, two for Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands, Lebanon hopeful Jason Saab and France secondrower Mathieu Jussaume.

Among the players in contention for this week's World Cup Team of the Week are:

• 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)

Vote now for your RLWC202 Team of the Week