Official squads, team lists and schedule for all Round 2 matches of the 2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup.

NOTE: The World Cup will be played under NRL rules with six players on the interchange bench. Only four of those players may be used as per NRL rules.

World Cup Round 2 Team Lists

Tonga v Lebanon, Friday 8.05pm AEDT at CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Team Lists: Tonga vs Lebanon - 23-Oct-2026

Tonga: Tui Lolohea has been named to start at five-eighth with Latu Fainu listed on the interchange despite suffering a pec injury last week. Sione Katoa and Paul Alamoti join the backline in place of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (interchange) and Rob Toia (reserves). Storm star Stefano Utoikamanu starts at prop with Jason Taumalolo shifting to lock and Tyson Frizell being rested. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki starts in the back row with Siua Wong moving to the reserves. Taniela Paseka joins the bench for his first action of the tournament and his fourth Test match for Tonga.

Lebanon: Moustafa Dirani has been promoted to start at hooker with Yehya Ayache reverting to the bench in the only change for the Cedars.

PNG v Samoa, Saturday 3.25pm AEDT at Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby

Team Lists: PNG vs Samoa - 24-Oct-2026

PNG: Halfback Bailey Biondi-Odo, prop Epel Kapinias and lock Jack de Belin have all been named to start after coming off the bench against Lebanon. The new faces on the interchange bench are Manly outside back Josh Feledy and Central Qld Capras duo Rodrick Tai and Khaiya Waiembi. Moving down to the reserves list are Sylvester Namo and Sanny Wabo.

Samoa: One forced change for coach Ben Gardiner with Deine Mariner (hamstring) replaced on the wing by Sua Fa'alogo, who bagged four tries after coming on early to replace Mariner against France. The new man on the bench is Eels playmaker Ronald Volkman, who will play his second Test match for Samoa after debuting in 2023 against New Zealand. Pasami Saulo, Enari Tuala and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava are the reserves.

England v France, Saturday 5.35pm AEDT at HBF Park, Perth

Team Lists: England vs France - 24-Oct-2026

England: Coach Brian McDermott sticks with the same 19-man squad that performed admirably against Tonga in the tournament opener. AJ Brimson retains the job at fullback with Jack Welsby on the interchange. Luke Thompson will start at prop in the absence of Morgan Knowles, who suffered an injury in the lead-up to the opening game against Tonga. Veteran centre Kallum Watkins is listed among the reserves as he chases a cap at his fourth World Cup.

France: Toulouse playmaker Thomas Lacans has been promoted to start at five-eighth with Cesar Rouge moving to the bench. Romeo Tropis comes in at centre so Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet pushes out to the wing and Leo Darrelatour makes way. Skipper Ben Garcia moves from hooker to lock and Amir Bourouh joins the starting side in No.9. A change in the front row with Julian Bousquet coming in at prop for Lambert Belmas who goes to the bench.

New Zealand v Cook Islands, Sunday 4.05pm AEDT at One NZ Stadium, Christchurch

Team Lists: New Zealand vs Cook Islands - 25-Oct-2026

New Zealand: The loss of gun fullback Kalyn Ponga to a broken arm brings livewire Keano Kini onto the side while Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will start in the centres with Dane Gagai rested. With Moses Leota also listed among the reserves, Joseph Tapine moves from lock to prop and Erin Clark wears the No.13 jersey. Xavier Willison and Scott Sorensen are the new back-rowers with Briton Nikora and Isaiah Papali'i moving to the bench. Tanner Stowers-Smith and Jacob Laban make their Test debut off the bench. Premiership winning prop Naufahu Whyte also gets a break after a massive schedule.

Cook Islands: Val Holmes returns at fullback having overcome an ankle injury. Veteran Brad Takairangi comes into the starting side at halfback and Esan Marsters goes to the bench.

Australia v Fiji, Sunday, 8.05pm AEDT at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Team Lists: Australia vs Fiji - 25-Oct-2026

Australia: James Tedesco, Bradman Best, Sam Walker, Blayke Brailey and Lindsay Smith come into the Kangaroos side for their first appearance of the World Cup, with Best, Walker and Brailey on Test debut. Wingers Jack Bostock and Tom Trbojevic and centre Kotoni Staggs retain their spots in the backline while Tom Dearden starts the game at No.6 after coming on against New Zealand when Mitch Moses left the field injured. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Jacob Preston, Patrick Carrigan, Cameron Munster, Reece Walsh and Latrell Mitchell have all moved to the interchange after starting last week while Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and Harry Grant are set to be rested. David Fifita makes his Kangaroos debut after playing four Tests for Tonga at the 2022 World Cup.

Fiji: The Bati go with the same squad that ran up 40 points in an impressive first-up win over Cook Islands. Api Koroisau captains an experienced side that includes Wests Tigers flyer Sunia Turuva and veteran prop Jacob Saifiti, who returned from suspension in fine stye against the Aitu. Last week's man of the match Brandon Wakeham will again steer the ship from halfback.