Kiwis v Tonga: Kalyn Ponga named in New Zealand squad for Rugby League World Cup semi-final
Kalyn Ponga has been named in the Kiwis’ extended squad for their Rugby League World Cup semi-final against Tonga on Saturday (10.05pm NZT).
Ponga has been selected in jersey No 21 as he bids to return to the side after breaking his left arm in his test debut against the Kangaroos in Sydney on October 15.
Hooker Phoenix Crossland is also back and listed in jersey No 22 after being called into the squad on Monday night as a replacement for injured second rower Jacob Laban, who has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament.
In a forced change to the starting line-up, Kiwi head coach Stacey Jones has selected utility Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad on the left wing to replace the suspended Ronaldo Mulitalo.
The rest of the side is unchanged from the one used in last Saturday’s 78-0 victory over the Fiji Bati in Robina, a record winning margin for the Kiwis as it topped the 74-0 win over Tonga at Carlaw Park in 1999 and the 84-10 trouncing of the Cook Islands in Reading at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.
The Kiwis face a Tongan side coming into the match with three straight wins over England 30-12, Lebanon 36-0 and Toa Samoa 20-18. After losing 24-22 to the Kangaroos in the tournament opener, the Kiwis have scored at a point a minute after racking up 160 points against the Cook Islands (82-16) and Fiji (78-0).
Leading the way in the points-scoring have been centre Casey McLean and winger Jamayne Isaako. McLean has seven tries in three games, including four against Fiji. After scoring in every test he has played since his 2024 debut, the 20-year-old has 15 tries in seven internationals, seven short of Manu Vatuvei’s New Zealand record of 22.
High-scoring Issako is closing in on Shaun Johnson’s all-time points-scoring mark of 225 in tests. He claimed the Kiwis’ record for most goals in a test with 13 against the Cook Islands and then repeated it against Fiji to take his career tally for New Zealand to 215 points. In this World Cup alone, he has 74 points from three games, including 31 goals from 32 attempts.
2026 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL
NEW ZEALAND KIWIS v TONGA
1 Keano Kini
2 Jamayne Isaako
3 Dane Gagai
4 Casey McLean
5 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
6 Kodi Nikorima
7 Jahrome Hughes
8 James Fisher-Harris (c)
9 Jeremy Marshall-King
10 Moses Leota
11 Isaiah Papali’i
12 Briton Nikora
13 Joseph Tapine (v/c)
14 Te Maire Martin
15 Naufahu Whyte
16 Erin Clark
17 Xavier Willison
18 Scott Sorensen
19 Leo Thompson
20 Tanner Stowers-Smith
21 Kalyn Ponga
22 Phoenix Crossland