Front and centre: Vote for the RLWC26 Team of the Week

Warriors wrecking ball Leka Halasima has emerged as a genuine option in the centres for Tonga after another devastating performance in the New Zealand team’s statement win against the Panthers.

Halasima, who usually plays in the secondrow, was switched to centre against the Titans and coach Andrew Webster again chose him in the outside backs for last Friday night’s 28-12 defeat of the NRL ladder leaders.

The 20-year-old is one of 10 Warriors players nominated for the RLWC26 Team of the Week after a stunning performance against Penrith in which he ran 239m with the ball, including 73 post-contact metres, and produced a try assist while making 11 tackle breaks, a line break and an offload.

With Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu, Dolphins star Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, South Sydney’s David Fifita, Roosters pair Siua Wong and Salesi Foketi and Knights 300-game veteran Tyson Frizell also vying for secondrow berths in the Tonga squad, coach Kristian Woolf could play Halasima in the centres.

Roosters and Maroons star Robert Toia appears certain to be one of centre and Manly and Blues back Tolu Koula is among a host of contenders for the other spot.

However, Koula or Sea Eagles team-mate Lehi Hopoate are likely to play fullback, with Parramatta’s Isaiah Iongi partnering Isaiya Katoa in the halves.

Other outside backs who are eligible for Tonga include Titans and Maroons star Jojo Fifita, Penrith’s Paul Alamoti, Cronulla’s Sione Katoa, Roosters stalwart Daniel Tupou, Warriors winger Dallin Watene Zelezniak, Parramatta centre Will Penisini and St George Illawarra’s Moses Suli.

The Dragons 24-16 upset of the highflying Sharks earned them five nominations for RLWC26 Team of the Week - centre Val Holmes (Cook Islands), winger Setu Tu (Samoa), hooker Jacob Liddle, lock Ryan Couchman and secondrower Hamish Stewart.

Dragons coach Dean Young urged Kangaroos mentor Kevin Walters to consider Stewart for a place in his World Cup squad after the 21-year-old’s man-of-the-match performance, which included a spectacular try from a Kyle Flanagan kick and a try assist for Tu’s match-winner.

Despite being the destined for the wooden spoon, the Dragons have adopted the role of giant killers as they build towards 2027, with three of the club’s recruits – Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater, Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf and Rabbitohs prop Keaon Koloamatangi also nominated for the Team of the Week.

Cronulla’s loss puts them in danger of dropping out of the top four after halfback Isaiya Katoa and fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Samoa) combined to spearhead a remarkable comeback against the Broncos.

Down 24-0 midway through the first half, the Dolphins won Saturday night’s Battle of Brisbane 40-32, with Katoa laying on three tries and Tabuai-Fidow scoring two. 

Each week, fans vote for their RLWC26 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 RLWC2026 Team of the Week are:

• Kiwis fullback candidates Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), winger Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins) and Moses Leo (Storm), centre Peta Hiku (Hull KR), props James Fisher-Harris (Warriors) and Naufahu Whyte (Roosters) and lock Erin Clark (Warriors). Warriors secondrower Jacob Laban (Warriors) is also eligible for New Zealand, as well as Samoa.
• Toa Samoa fullback contenders Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins) and Sua Fa'alogo (Storm), winger Setu Tu (Dragons), centre Simi Sasagi (Raiders), playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors), prop Payne Haas (Broncos) and secondrowers Jacob Laban (Warriors), Heilum Luki (Cowboys), Francis Manulelua (Knights) and Isaiah Vagana (Wakefield). Titans props Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is yet to confirm if he will play for Samoa or Australia.
• England centre Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), wingers Billy Smith (Roosters), Dom Young (Knights) and Matty Ashton (Warrington), halfback Jake Connor (Leeds), hooker Jez Litten (Hull KR), prop Dean Hadley (Hull KR) and lock Cam Smith (Leeds). Roosters halfback Sam Walker and Wigan five-eighth Bevan French are also eligible for England.
• Tonga playmaker Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins), centres Rob Toia (Roosters) and Leka Halasima (Warriors), who played centre for the Warriors, prop Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) and secondrowers David Fifita (Rabbitohs) and Salesi Foketi (Roosters). Souths prop Keaon Koloamatangi played for Tonga at the last World Cup in 2022.
• Lebanon fullback Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs) and centre Jordan Samrani (Eels)
• Cook Islands centre Val Holmes (Dragons). Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is also eligible for Cook Islands, as is Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa.

Vote for the RLWC26 Team of the Week