Making the most of his Charnze: Vote for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has shown that he won't give up his Kiwis jersey without a fight after a stunning four-try performance for the Warriors that earned him a nomination for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week.

Nicoll-Klokstad had been sidelined for two months with a neck injury and returned last week on the interchange before being chosen on the wing for Sunday's match against the Cowboys in Christchurch after an injury to Alofiana Khan-Pereira.

Usually a fullback, Nicoll-Klokstad faces stiff competition for the New Zealand No.1 jersey with Kalyn Ponga, Keano Kini and Taine Tuaupiki also vying for World Cup selection.

He is also eligible for Cook Islands and played the first three of his 19 Tests for the Aitu.

Kini and Tuaupiki have also been nominated for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week after starring at fullback for the Titans and Warriors, while Ponga was rested by the Knight after his role in Queensland's Origin win at the MCG.

With the emergence of Kini in recent seasons, Nicoll-Klokstad has played in the centres or at five-eighth, as well as fullback, for New Zealand in the recent seasons, and his versatility could ensure him a place in the Kiwis squad.

With so many players in form, Kiwis coach Stacey Jones faces a welcome headache if they remain fit as halves Jahrome Hughes, Dylan Brown, Te Maire Martin and Kodi Nikorima have also been nominated for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week.

Hooker Jeremy Marshall-King has also been nominated.

Other players in contention for the World Cup Team of the Week after positional switches last weekend include Samoa superstar Stephen Crichton, who starred at five-eighth for the Bulldogs against Manly and PNG Kumuls captain Rhyse Martin, who played in the centres for Hull KR against Leigh. 

Crichton, the Bulldogs captain, kicked the match winning field goal against Manly.

It was the third time he has decided the result of a game with a Golden Point field goal and the first time he has done so on Australian soil, with the other two being in England and the United States.

The 25 year-old first achieved the feat for Samoa in the semi-final of the World Cup at London's Emirates Stadium in 2022 to eliminate England and he kicked an extra-time field goal in Las Vegas against the Dragons in this season's opening game.

Another club captain, IRL Golden Boot winner Harry Grant, also had massive influence on the outcome of his side's match, with the Kangaroos hooker coming off the bench with the Storm trailing 16-0 against Canberra and leading them to a 42-20 win.

Rookie Titans halfback Zane Harrison has also been nominated for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week after potting the match winning field goal against the ladder leading Panthers.   

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 10 players who are eligible for England, nine for New Zealand and Tonga, eight for Samoa, two for Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands, Fiji cult hero Maika Sivo and France forward Julian Bousquest.

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

• Tonga outside backs Lehi Hopoate, Tolu Koula (both Sea Eagles), Paul Alamoti (Panthers), Robert Toia (Roosters) and Jo Jo Fifita, secondrowers Arama Hau (both Titans) and Haumole Olakau’atu (Sea Eagles), props Stefano Utoikamanu (Storm) and Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans).
• Kiwis fullbacks Keano Kini (Titans) and Taine Tuaupiki (Warriors), winger Will Warbrick, halves Jahrome Hughes (both Storm), Dylan Brown (Knights), Te Maire Martin (Warriors) and Kodi Nikorima, hooker Jeremy Marshall-King (both Dolphins) and prop Naufahu Whyte (Roosters).
• Toa Samoa fullbacks Sua Fa’alogo (Storm) and Charlie Staines (Catalans), halves Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers), Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs) and Tyrone May (Hull KR), prop Terrell May (Wests Tigers), and secondrowers Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys) and Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins).
• England centres Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins) and Harry Newman, playmaker Jake Connor, props Mikolaj Oledzki (all Leeds), Max King (Bulldogs) and Alex Walmsley (St Helens), winger Noah Hodkinson, secondrower Junior Nsemba and hooker Brad O’Neill (all Wigan). Roosters halfback Sam Walker is also eligible for England but wasn’t included in a 38-man squad named last week.
• Papua New Guinea winger Nene Macdonald (St Helens) and centre Rhyse Martin (Hull KR), the Kumuls captain who usually plays in the backrow.
  Cook Island centre KL Iro (Sharks). Warriors back Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is also eligible for the Aitu.
• Fiji winger Maika Sivo (Leeds). Mark Nawaqanitawase is also eligible for Fiji.
• France lock Julian Bousquet (Catalans).

Vote for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week