The Rugby League World Cup gets underway with a blockbuster on Thursday night as tournament favourites Australia and New Zealand face off.
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All eyes will be on the Kangaroos and whether Kevin Walters’ big selection calls pay off, while there is one X-factor player who could make a big impact for the Kiwis.
Elsewhere, Jarome Luai has a huge opportunity for Samoa and Tonga has an underrated advantage over their rivals.
Plus, what about the selection controversy at England and which PNG players could put themselves in the shopfront window for the Chiefs ahead of their inaugural NRL season?
Read on for the World Cup Round 1 Talking Points!
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WHY KEVVIE’S BIG SELECTION CALLS SHOULDN’T BE A SURPRISE
The easy way for Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters to escape the spotlight and any potential criticism would have been selecting Roosters premiership-winning duo James Tedesco and Sam Walker.
Instead, Walters has shown loyalty by backing Reece Walsh and Mitchell Moses after naming them to start the World Cup opener against New Zealand.
Realistically, there should not be that much on the line if he gets the decision wrong given the Kangaroos will be strong favourites to beat Fiji and the Cook Islands and move through to the semi-finals even if they lose against New Zealand.
But the decision to overlook Walker and, in particular, Tedesco was always bound to create headlines.
That is especially true given Tedesco had one of the best seasons of his storied career, capping it off with a Clive Churchill Medal.
Walsh, on the other hand, is coming off an up-and-down year with the Broncos that was cut short by injury.
But most rugby league experts seem to be siding with Walters, arguing that Walsh will thrive in the Kangaroos set-up and that it makes sense to start him over Tedesco on Thursday.
Three-time premiership winner Luke Keary said of Channel 7’s Rugby League: Agenda Setters program that while you can make an argument for either player there is logic behind playing Walsh in the first game.
“You can throw Tedesco in any game. He’ll be ready to go,” Keary said.
“Reece hasn’t played in six weeks. I think he has to play this New Zealand side. I think you have to give Reece first crack.
“It doesn’t really surprise me at all. I watched those three Ashes games last year. He was the best player on the field by an absolute mile. Now I know it was 12 months ago.
“But Kevvie is a Queenslander. They are loyal. He is loyal to this man who did a job for him 12 months ago and of course he’s giving the first crack to him.”
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Walsh was a standout in Australia’s Ashes tour last year, opening the three-game series with a two-try performance in the 26-6 win over England while adding 196 run metres, seven tackle busts and two linebreak assists.
The hope is that as inconsistent as Walsh was in clubland, he will only benefit from playing in a stacked Kangaroos line-up.
“This kid is a freak. He does things that other players just cannot do,” added Aaron Woods on Rugby League: Agenda Setters.
“We know Tedesco’s workrate is very, very high. But what Reece Walsh can do on the field is scary.”
Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo, meanwhile, suggested earlier in the week that both injuries and the general wear and tear of a long NRL season may play into the decision to leave Tedesco and Walsh out of the opener.
“I remember in ‘22, no grand final players played in the first game of the World Cup,” Yeo said.
“As much as everyone’s going to talk about that, and that’s fair, I remember back to then. ‘22 was Penrith and Parra. No Penrith players played in that first game. It’s a long tournament, they’ve had a really busy end of the year.
“You’ve obviously got Sam with his ankle and then Teddy with his performance at the back end over that series. They didn’t have a week off either; they played all through the finals.”
Of course, the other big call was selecting Moses over Walker after the latter also helped guide the Roosters to a premiership.
But Woods argued it may simply be a case of Walters looking for more balance and control in his spine.
“They also need someone to simplify the game plan,” he said.
“You look at Reece Walsh. You look at Munster. They are guys who like to play a bit erratic. You don’t know what you’re going to get from them.
“You chuck in Sam Walker. He doesn’t know what he’s doing as well.”
As is the case with Tedesco, just because Walker isn’t playing against New Zealand doesn’t mean he won’t feature at some point in the tournament either.
Keary said he believes it is a “wide-open” race for the halfback jumper, with Walters’ first-up decision made easier by the fact Walker is coming off a syndesmosis injury and entered camp late.
But he could also see the logic in opting for Moses given his superior long-range kicking game, which will prove particularly crucial against a monster New Zealand forward pack.
“I think his kicking game is absolutely vital with Munster and Dearden who aren’t noted kickers, to have Mitchell Moses there against packs that are going to dominate… they need someone like in Origin who can kick them out of trouble,” Keary said.
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WHY LUAI HAS A GLARING OPPORTUNITY
Jarome Luai is ready to make a statement.
That is according to English legend James Graham, who believes the Samoan superstar will have a point to prove heading into the 2026 tournament.
Luai endured a troublesome season in Tiger town, signing with the PNG Chiefs for their 2028 NRL entry, before club officials made a huge call.
The Tigers informed the former Panthers gun he was free to negotiate with rivals for 2027 and rumblings of a rift between he and head coach Benji Marshall emerged.
The club insisted his departure was being facilitated to simply free up cap space to re-sign a host of off-contract stars and look towards the future, but the decision rippled throughout the squad.
Throw in Adam Doueihi’s decision to stand himself down — and the Tigers’ 2026 campaign was once again thrown into turmoil by off-season issues.
Regardless, Luai ended his 2026 club campaign as an unwanted commodity, signing with the Eels for a single season before he links up with the Chiefs.
The 29-year-old has been the focal point of this Samoan line-up for several years, masterminding their surge to the 2021 World Cup final to become the first Pacific nation to ever feature in the spectacle.
For Samoa to once again find success, Graham believed Luai needed to lead the way.
“He’s had a tough year… this is a huge opportunity for him to send a message and remind everybody just how good he can be,” Graham said on his Bye Round Podcast.
“I feel as though this will have a bit of his team about it. It’ll look like it’s his team. I think for Samoa to progress, Luai is going to be the man that pulls all the strings.”
One of Luai’s biggest strengths in his ability to connect a team.
His leadership was one of the reasons behind the Tigers’ big play to recruit him in the first place — and to start out their 2026 campaign, he led from the front.
“We know he’s great at connecting people. He’s fantastic at doing that, uniting everybody for a common cause,” Graham explained.
“Let’s get behind Jarome and show the world what we’re made of.
“But then when it comes to the football, the creativity, the try assists, the set-up plays and all the nuance that happens in the spine, it’s going to be down to him to be the main man.”
Interestingly, Samoa teammate Junior Paulo, who is also set to welcome Luai to the Eels next season, backed the five-eighth to have a big impact.
“As someone who knows him … he’s someone that is misunderstood. He’s a competitor, and I think it’s probably been a bit unfair, the treatment that he’s copped over recent weeks,” he said to the SMH.
“He hasn’t done any wrong. It’s just one of those things where there’s always going to be someone who’s opinionated. Luckily for ‘Rome’, nothing fazes him.
“There’s a reason why he’s won four comps, so that’s the experience we want to bring at Parramatta. We’re looking forward to it.”
HOW KIWIS CAN UNLEASH THEIR UNLIKELY X-FACTOR
All the talk regarding New Zealand has been about Kalyn Ponga.
The superstar fullback’s shock allegiance switch shapes as a huge boost for the Kiwis, adding an elite No.1 to their side with proven representative experience.
But where to for Keano Kini?
The Titans gun is New Zealand’s incumbent fullback and did a fine job during their Pacific Championships victory.
However, he has now been displaced — and it remains to be seen if he will have a role to play after being named on the bench.
League legend James Graham has floated an interesting role for Kini, who possesses speed and a innate ability to beat defenders, especially in space.
Carrying an outside back on the bench has become incredibly common this season after the game shifted to a six-man bench.
That player often misses out on taking the field, but Graham urged Stacey Jones to unleash the Titans flyer as his side’s X-factor.
“That speed around the ruck. Let those lads do the damage and if the game is in the balance at 60 minutes, throw in Keano Kini with that speed,” he explained.
But that begs another question — what about Ponga?
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Ponga has previously featured outside of the fullback position during his Origin appearances, having been deployed as a roving lock, shifting into the middle of the park.
Graham believed Jones should adopt that formula, allowing both Ponga and Kini to wreak havoc.
“Put them (Kini and Ponga) both on together. Move Ponga to that lock forward position,” he said.
“It’s a frightening prospect. I think if this camp can be happy, the can go all the way and repeat the 2008 win.”
Meanwhile, the Kiwis also boast arguably the most stacked forward pack the World Cup has ever seen.
Highliting their depth in the middle is the fact that two of Erin Clark, Joseph Tapine, James Fisher-Harris, Naufahu Whyte and Moses Leota will come off the bench.
And again, that group boasts multiple premierships, with Whyte ticking off the most recent one in 2026, as well as numerous Dally M Lock and Prop of the year awards.
“I can say with full confidence I think the Kiwis have the best forward pack at this year’s World Cup… whoever Stacey picks it’s going to be a stacked forward pack,” Graham said.
ENGLAND’S CONTROVERSIAL SELECTION CALL
All the selection talk in Australia has been about the Kangaroos fullback and halves battle.
But Kevin Walters’ decision to name Reece Walsh in the No.1 jersey could pale in comparison to England coach Brian McDermott’s shock decision.
English fans erupted when their squad was announced, with one glaring omission in their 23-man group — Jake Connor.
Following a 3-0 Ashes defeat at the hands of Australia, Shaun Wane stood down and McDermott took his place ahead of his first tournament in charge in the coming days.
In a bid to find success, McDermott has often mentioned he wants his side to have a “point of difference”.
He believed that X-factor could be found in playmaker Mikey Lewis, instead of Connor who was recently named the Super League’s Man of Steel.
To explain the omission in NRL terms, it’d be the equivalent of Walters leaving Nathan Cleary out to instead select Mitchell Moses.
Both great halfbacks who deserve a spot in the squad, but one undoubtedly enjoyed a better season and had the form that warrants earning the No.7 jersey.
In the end, while Lewis was named in England’s squad for the World Cup he ended up missing out on a place in the starting side with Harry Smith getting the nod.
McDermott has been vocal of his appreciation for Smith’s calming nature at halfback, with the Wigan Warriors star offering a dependable kicking game and clinical approach to the end of sets that can help England compete with the bigger and more powerful forward packs at the World Cup.
As for the decision to leave Connor out of the squad entirely?
“I believe Jake has had a really good year,” McDermott said when explaining his decision.
“He had an outstanding year last year, got the Man of Steel and again has played with a leading team this year.
“We can’t do the usual things. I’ve made this point from the day I took the job – we’ve got to play with a point of difference.
“So I’ve got a squad of players here that I believe are best suited to the attack plan and the game model that I think England need to play.
“Mikey Lewis won a World Cup Challenge at the start of this year and guided his team to a Challenge Cup final.
“I get that he wasn’t in the best of shape towards the back end of the year and incurred a couple of bans there, but again, I will just point everybody to the attack plan and the game model that I think that England needs to have to be able to compete with the nations.”
THE BIG ADVANTAGE TONGA HAS OVER RIVALS
Tonga co-captain and halfback Isaiya Katoa will be brimming with confidence heading into this year’s World Cup on the back of leading the Dolphins into their first ever finals series.
The Dolphins only fell one game short of the spot in the grand final and Katoa was a massive reason for the club’s improved campaign.
It’s hard to believe he’s only 22 years old but despite the tender age, Katoa is one of the best halfbacks in the world.
While that may be subjective, what is a fact is that Katoa is unquestionably the main man for Tonga in their bid for a maiden World Cup title.
Yes, the Tongan forward pack with names such as Taumalolo, Finefeuiaki, Utoikamanu and Olakau’atu is dominant and elite and their go-forward is crucial, but everything will go through the crafty halfback.
According to ex-England forward James Graham, it’s an advantage they hold over a much-more fancied side in Australia.
“When you’ve got that pack and you have that strike, you need someone pulling all the strings,” Graham said on his Bye Round podcast.
“Look at Australia. It’s hard to know sometimes who is in charge of that spine. Harry Grant will dominate to an extent but Walker, Walsh, Tedesco and Moses will want plenty of say as will Munster. But Katoa is the man for Tonga.
“There’s no question who is running that team which is an advantage. It’s his job to get this team over the line.”
Barring catastrophe, Katoa will don the No. 7 jersey against England in Perth on Saturday. Who will wear the six is shrouded in mystery at the moment, although Latu Fainu appears the favourite.
Fainu is a fine player but he has yet to reach his potential in the NRL.
Former Dragons coach Shane Flanagan believes Fainu – or whoever else partners Katoa – needs to keep their game plan simple.
“Whoever partners Katoa, (coach) Kristian Woolf will go to that player and tell him he needs to concentrate on just two or three things and let Izzy take control and do what he does.
“Just defend well and get the ball when we need you too but the first thing is to defend well.”
An interesting point Flanagan also noted was Woolf’s relationship with Katoa.
The two obviously have a close connection given Woolf is the Dolphins’ head coach and made Katoa captain of both the NRL side and Tonga.
Flanagan says it’s another advantage Tonga has on some of their other high-profile rivals.
“With Woolfy as the coach, they’ve got a bit of a step ahead as they’ve worked together for a few years now.”
THE KUMULS GUNS VYING FOR SPOTS ON CHIEFS ROSTER
The 2026 Rugby League World Cup will see a host of Papua New Guinea internationals put themselves in the frame for a place in the PNG Chiefs inaugural roster.
With the NRL’s newest franchise preparing to enter the competition in 2028, the tournament offers Kumuls players a major opportunity to showcase their talents on the international stage and strengthen their case for an NRL contract.
It comes as Chiefs GM of Football Michael Chammas confirmed the club will include several homegrown talents in its foundation roster.
Speaking to foxsports.com.au, NRL veteran Jack De Belin believes there is plenty of talent worth watching, with Super League dummy-half Edwin Ipape among the players he expects to garner a lot of attention
Although he is contracted with the Leigh Leopards until the end of 2031, he previously found himself linked to the Chiefs earlier this year.
“Edwin Ipape is a gun,” De Belin said.
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“Every time I played with him, some of the things he can do and even watching him play in the Super League, he’s a remarkable player.”
Two other players who have caught De Belin’s attention are playmaker Gairo Voro and fullback Morea Morea.
The duo are currently on development contracts with the Chiefs for 2028, but a standout World Cup campaign could see them promoted to the Top 30 roster.
Likened to Jarome Luai due to his looks, Voro can play five-eighth or halfback and is coming off a tremendous season with the London Broncos.
Meanwhile, Morea, who is also with the Broncos, is known for his glistening speed and ability to break through defensive lines with ease.
“Gairo Voro is a real talent. He’s an absolute weapon,” De Belin added.
“To be honest, I hadn’t really seen much of how he went with the London Broncos this year, but I’m sure he would have been putting on absolute clinics.
“Another one is Morea Morea. He’s small in stature, but he’s just lightning fast. He’s always amongst it.”
While the duo will be eager to make their mark, De Belin is also excited to see how Josh Feledy (Sea Eagles) and Luca Moretti (Eels) perform as their look to stake their own claims.
“I’m also excited to see how Luca Moretti and Josh Feledy go as well. It’s exciting for them,” he continued.
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