Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga has won the coveted No.1 jersey in the inaugural RLWC2026 Team of the Week - one of three Kiwis in the team after being given the green light to play for New Zealand in the World Cup.
Ponga secured the fullback spot with 42 per cent of votes ahead of Penrith and Australian custodian Dylan Edwards, Storm and Samoa sensation Sua Faalogo and Warrington whiz Cai Taylor-Wray, who is eligible for England, after his Round 1 performance for Newcastle in Vegas.
Each week players will be nominated after their performances in the NRL and Super League for fans to vote on their RLWC2026 Team of the Week, drawn from players in contention for Rugby League World Cup 2026.
The RLWC2026 Team of the Week will be announced each Wednesday.
More than 38,000 votes were received for players nominated for the inaugural Team of the Week, which comprised of four players in each position across the 10 nations.
The RLWC2026 Team of the Week includes representatives of Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga.
Australia has the highest representation with Rabbitohs centre Latrell Mitchell, prop Keaon Koloamatagi and lock Cameron Murray, Sharks playmaker Braydon Trindall, Bulldogs secondrower Jacob Preston and Storm hooker Harry Grant selected.
Grant - the 2025 IRL Golden Boot winner - polled by far the greatest share of votes, with a massive 72 per cent of those who took part in the poll choosing him as hooker after his starring role in Melbourne's 52-4 defeat of Parramatta.
Fijian fan favourite Maika Sivo, who scored a hat-trick of tries against Castleford in just his third appearance for Leeds since recovering from an ACL injury, was the only Super League player in the team.
Super Sivo gets 4 in Vegas
Warriors winger Roger Tuivasaa-Sheck and Bulldogs centre Stephen Crichton are the Samoan representatives, while Rabbitohs forward David Fifita has played for Tonga.
Warriors prop James Fisher-Harris and Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes were the New Zealand players chosen in the RLWC2026 Team of the Week but the Kiwis could have a third player in Ponga.
The Newcastle captain, who plays for Queensland in State of Origin, successfully applied to change his international eligibility from Australia to New Zealand ahead of the World Cup.
Ponga, who was born in Western Australia to Kiwi parents and was a former New Zealand junior golf champion before moving to Queensland, has not played for the Kangaroos but represented Australia at the World Cup 9s in 2019.
He made an application to International Rugby League and will be available for selection for the Kiwis at RLWC2026 in a massive boost to their hopes of toppling Australia in the opening match of the tournament at Allianz Stadium on October 15.
The Kiwis won the Pacific Cup final against Samoa, while the Kangaroos defeated England in the first Ashes Series since 2003.
The RLWC2026 Team of the Week is:
- Fullback: Kalyn Ponga (42%)
- Wingers: Maika Sivo (38%), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (24%)
- Centres: Latrell Mitchell (36%), Stephen Crichton (23%)
- Halves: Braydon Trindall (38%), Jahrome Hughes (26%)
- Props: James Fisher-Harris (28%), Keaon Koloamatagi (24%)
- Hooker: Harry Grant (72%)
- Secondrowers: David Fifita (22%), Jacob Preston (20%)
- Lock: Cameron Murray (44%)
Rugby League World Cup 2026 returns to Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Where nations clash, heroes rise, and legends are forged. 3 World Cups. 26 Teams. The World’s Best. Tickets are now on sale from $19. Don’t miss the pinnacle of global Rugby League.
