Stephen Crichton has emerged as a genuine World Cup halves contender as the form of the Bulldogs captain and other Samoa players gives coach Ben Gardiner some welcome selection headaches.
Crichton was voted in the RLWC2026 Team of the Week after winning a three-way tie-breaker with Panthers and Kangaroos halfback Nathan Cleary and Titans playmaker Jayden Campbell to partner Cronulla's Nicho Hynes in the halves.
In the closest polling since the World Cup Team of the Week concept was introduced after Round 1 of the NRL, tiebreakers were also needed to decide the second centre and secondrow spots.
Fiji strike forward Viliame Kikau edged Penrith and Australian secondrower Liam Martin, while his Canterbury team-mate Matt Burton pipped Cook Islands and Sharks centre KL Iro.
Kikau, Burton and Crichton are among five Bulldogs players in the RLWC2026 Team of the Week, along with Jacob Kiraz, who is set to play fullback for Lebanon, and secondrower Jacob Preston - a contender for Kangaroos selection following the loss of Hudson Young (Achilles).
Crichton, who earned Toa Samoa a place in history with an extra-time field goal against England in the semi-final of the last World Cup in 2022, is joined by Broncos prop Payne Haas and Raiders centre Simi Sasagi as Samoan representatives in the Team of the Week.
His switch from centre to five-eighth has coincided with the Bulldogs winning five of their last six matches.
With Jarome Luai, Blaize Talagi, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Tyrone May also in contention, Samoa has never had such depth in the halves.
Samoa-eligible players top tries of the week
Sasagi is equally at home in the secondrow and centre, while Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow can play anywhere in the outside backs - giving Samoa coach Ben Gardiner plenty of options when he picks his squad.
There were 11 Samoan players nominated for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week, including star winger Brian To'o and secondrower Jeremiah Nanai.
Jacob Preston Try
Inspirational Cowboys and Tonga forward Jason Taumalolo
Hynes is also pushing for a place in the Kangaroos squad for the World Cup after another five-star performance for Cronulla in Sunday's demolition of Manly.
Sharks and Kiwis star Ronaldo Mulitalo topped the polling for wingers, while inspirational Cowboys and Tonga veteran Jason Taumalolo was the No.1 choice prop ahead of Haas.
Another evergreen star, Roosters captain James Tedesco, who led Australia to World Cup victory over Samoa at the last World Cup in England, was voted as fullback ahead of Melbourne's Sua Fa'alogo.
Unheralded Titan Ollie Pascoe was voted as the hooker, while Raiders utility Daine Laurie edged St George Illawarra's Ryan Couchman for lock.
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.
Flying Mulitalo strikes twice
Among the players nominated for the World Cup Team of the Week were:
- Kiwis winger Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), centre Casey McLean, secondrower Isaiah Papali'i (both Panthers) and props Jack Williams (Eels) and Leo Thompson (Bulldogs).
- Toa Samoa fullback Sua Fa'alogo (Storm), wingers Brian To’o (Panthers) and Phillip Sami (Titans), centres Simi Sasagi (Raiders) and Enari Tuala, five-eighth Stephen Crichton (both Bulldogs), secondrowers Jeremiah Nanai, Heilum Luki (both Cowboys) and Francis Manuleleua (Knights) and prop Payne Haas (Broncos). Titans captain and prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is also eligible for Samoa.
- England locks Victor Radley (Roosters) and Elliott Minchella, hooker Jez Litten (both Hull KR), winger Tommy Makinson (Catalans), centre Umyla Hanley (Leigh), halfback Jake Connor (Leeds), Perth-bound secondrower James McDonnell (both Leeds) and prop Caleb Hamlin-Uele (Wakefield).
- Tonga centres Rob Toia (Roosters) and Paul Alamoti (Panthers), winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), hooker Soni Luke and props Jason Taumalolo (both Cowboys) and Stefano Utoikamanu (Storm). Rabbitohs prop Keaon Koloamatangi is also eligible for Tonga.
- PNG winger Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs), Fiji secondrower Viliame Kikau, Lebanon back Jacob Kiraz (both Bulldogs), Cook Islands centre KL Iro (Sharks) and rookie French fullback Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet (Catalans) have also been nominated.
View voting for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week
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