RLWC 2026, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Kiwis, World Cup, Christchurch, homecoming, fairytale rise

Author: Cameron Mee NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Thu 22 Oct 2026, 12:01 PM

Kiwis forward Tanner Stowers-Smith is ready to cap a fairytale rise from fan in the stands to international debut in his hometown of Christchurch.

The forward was a spectator at Apollo Projects Stadium on October 27, 2024 when New Zealand last played in the city.

Kiwis v Kangaroos – Week 2, 2024

In that moment, he was a promising 20-year-old progressing through the Warriors junior pathway yet to make his first-grade debut.

The experience lit a fire in the Christchurch product's belly and he returned to Auckland the following day determined to achieve his dream of both playing in the NRL and representing his country.

Fast forward two years and Stowers-Smith is back in his hometown, only this time he's not an eager spectator.

Having become a key figure in the Warriors pack since making his NRL debut last season, the 22-year-old is set to earn his first international cap in Sunday's clash with Cook Islands at the new One NZ Stadium.

"I was in the crowd that day watching with my family," Stowers-Smith told NRL.com. "It was a very special night.

"I remember going back to Auckland the next day and just thinking how cool it would be as a Christchurch boy to play for New Zealand in my hometown.

"It will be awesome to run out this weekend knowing how crazy this stadium is. We played against the Cowboys earlier this year and the atmosphere was unreal. This new stadium is such a big thing for the city, it's brought the community together and is bringing people into the city for big events."

Round 2 - Round 2 - Sunday 25 Oct

5:05 am

New Zealand

Cook Islands

Venue: One NZ Stadium, Christchurch

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With the motivation of watching the Kiwis fresh in his mind, Stowers-Smith impressed throughout the 2025 pre-season and eventually earned his NRL debut in Round 11.

Since then, he has gone on to play in 34 games and was a key figure in the Warriors charge to a top-two finish this year.

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The performances earned Stowers-Smith a place in Stacey Jones' squad for the World Cup, providing him a chance to rub shoulders with some of the best forwards in the game.

The prop will line up in jumper No.16 and will continue a long family history of representing the Kiwis when injected off the bench on Sunday afternoon, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather Pat Smith.

Smith was a tough-as-nails hooker who captained the nation in 10 Tests matches from 1947-1949.

While he died before Stowers-Smith was born, the prop grew up with a picture of his great-grandfather hanging on his bedroom wall and spent his childhood dreaming of honouring his legacy in the black jersey.

"He passed away before I was born but I have learned a lot about him through my father and grandfather," Stowers-Smith said. "They taught me a lot about who he was as a person and a player, and the lengths he went to for the Kiwis jumper.

"He was a very tough player, I've got photos up on my wall in my family's house of him in his jerseys. He was always wearing a face brace because he played hooker and in the scrums they used to beat him up.

"He didn't let that faze him, it's just the player he was. He used to just get on with it, cop those beatings and keep playing. It's going to be pretty cool to continue his legacy."

Plenty has changed in Christchurch since Stowers-Smith started his rugby league journey more than a decade ago.

The region has traditionally been viewed as rugby union heartland but the 13-man game has surged in popularity over the past few years.

Warriors v Cowboys – Round 16, 2026

As Wahs Fever sweeps across New Zealand there is talk of adding a second team from the nation to the NRL, with Christchurch considered a leading contender.

Sunday's double-header has already been declared a sell out, with a record crowd expected to pack into the city's new state-of-the-art, fully enclosed stadium.

Stowers-Smith has experienced the change firsthand and is confident the World Cup match will help fuel rugby league's growth in Christchurch and across the country.

"Us league boys would play rugby for school on a Saturday and then we'd shoot off on a Monday night to play league," Stowers-Smith said.

"There were only three teams in the competitions I was playing through 16s and 18s but it's building a lot bigger now and I'm really happy to see that development.

"There are pathways now and the Warriors are starting to invest in the Christchurch competition. That's a big up for the city to have that investment and it's definitely going to help our sport grow."