Samoa halves stocks soar: Vote for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week

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 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 and 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.

However, they are so well stocked in other positions that Gardiner can consider Crichton for a playmaking role.

Among the centres at his disposal are Dolphins superstar Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Canberra's Simi Sasagi, Brisbane's Deine Mariner, Canterbury's Enari Tuala and Ali Leiataua of the Warriors. 

Tabuai-Fidow is also vying with Melbourne's Sua Fa'alogo for the Samoa No.1 jersey, with Manly's Clayton Faulalo likely to be next in line.

Sasagi is equally at home in the secondrow but Gardiner already has Cowboys pair Jeremiah Nanai and Heilum Luki, the Dolphins' Connelly Lemuelu, Gold Coast's Arama Ha, Newcastle's Francis Manuleleua, Parramatta's Kelma Tuilagi and Dragons veterans Jaydn Su'A and Luciano Leilua to choose from.

Crichton, Sasagi, Fa'alogo, Tuala, Nanai, Luki and Manuleleua are among 11 Samoan players nominated for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week, along with star winger Brian To'o and prop Payne Haas.

The Bulldogs have the greatest representation of NRL clubs, with Crichton and Tuala joined by Lebanon's Jacob Kiraz, Kangaroos utility Matt Burton, Kiwis prop Leo Thompson and secondrowers Viliame Kikau and Jacob Preston. 

With season ending injuries to Canberra's Hudson Young (Achilles) and Newcastle's Dylan Lucas (ACL), Preston is in contention to partner Penrith's Liam Martin in the secondrow for Australia.

Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes is also pushing for a place in the Kangaroos squad for the World Cup after another five-star performance in Sunday's demolition of Manly. 

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.

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

• 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.

Vote for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week