Welcome to our complete RLWC 2026 Australia v Fiji Match Hub. Here you’ll find all the pre-match information, including team lists, predictions and stats you need and want, key players to watch and why you should bother watching the game at all. Plus we ask AI to do better than us with a predictions and AI Greg Norman pays a visit for his thoughts on this and all RLWC 2026 games.
After the game stop by for just enough of the opinion and post match stats you could need to keep up with each match of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
RLWC 2026 Australia v Fiji Preview
Sunday, October 25, 8:05pm AEDT at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TEAMS
Australia:Â 1. James Tedesco (c), 2. Jack Bostock, 3. Kotoni Staggs, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Tom Trbojevic, 6. Tom Dearden, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Keaon Koloamatangi, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Lindsay Smith, 11. David Fifita, 12. Reuben Cotter, 13. Cameron Murray, 14. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 15. Jacob Preston, 16. Patrick Carrigan, 17. Cameron Munster, 18. Reece Walsh, 19. Latrell Mitchell, R. Liam Martin, R. Harry Grant, R. Isaah Yeo
Fiji:Â 1. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, 2. Sunia Turuva, 3. Waqa Blake, 4. Solomone Saukuru, 5. Semi Valemei, 6. Kurt Donoghoe, 7. Brandon Wakeham, 8. Jacob Saifiti, 9. Apisai Koroisau (c), 10. Mitchell Prest, 11. Taane Milne, 12. Kitione Kautoga, 13. Caleb Navale, 14. Josese Lanyon, 15. Emosi Ravosai, 16. Elijah Keung, 17. Ronald Philitoga, 18. Jordin Leiu, 19. Apenisa Driti, R. Joseph Litidamu, R. Zion Johnson, R. Kylan Mafoa
TEAMS TALKING POINT:
What hasn’t changed for Australia? The captain and fullback has, as both are James Tedesco this weekend as he takes over from Reece Walsh. Bradman Best gets to start in the centres instead of Latrell to secure his first Australian start. Debuts also for Sam Walker, Blayke Brailey and David Fifita. Tom Dearden joins Walker in an all-new halves pairing, one half of that caused by injury to Mitchell Moses. Keaon Koloamatangi and Lindsay Smith is the all-new front row, and Cameron Murray finally gets a starting spot that he deserves. No reason for changes for Fiji after their decent first up effort over Cook Islands last weekend.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
James Tedesco – Kind of obvious, but Reece Walsh also kind of justified Kevin Waler’s shock choice to select the Broncos fullback instead of the premiership winning Roosters number 1. So with the marker laid down by Reece Walsh, it’s over to James Tedesco to secure the fullback gig for the future games.
David Fifita – Another solid masterpiece of Wayne Bennett coaching has seen David Fifita rediscover his best form this season, so here’s hoping he’s at his destructive best on Sunday.
David Fifita – Given Sam Walker has stepped up to every new level so far in his career, he’ll no doubt do well for Australia this weekend, and if not, he’s not going to die wondering.
Kurt Donoghoe – Showing some Dolphins bias, but Kurt Donoghue has been one of the unsung heroes for the Dolphins this season, and at least for Fiji he gets to play in his previously natural position before he was turned into an effective forward in the NRL.
BATTLES TO WATCH:
Blayke Brailey v Apisai Koroisau – Debutant Australian hooker up against the ultra-experienced and wily Apisai Koroisau.
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THIS GAME
First of all, that opening hymn the Fiji team do before the game is one of the best things that happens in rugby league. So good, and avoids the dreary discussion of who sings the national anthem after Australian games. With so many changes, it keeps following the Australian game fresh, given it looks a little one-sided on paper.
PREDICTION
With so many changes, it may take Australia a while to get going, so not surprised if Fiji lead for a while early, before the sheer weight of NRL experience kicks in.
Australia 34 Fiji 22
STATS
- Australia have won all seven games v Fiji and have a combined for and against of 378-24. All seven games have been World Cup games and only two of those have been in Australia.
- Australia are W8 L4 at the new Suncorp Stadium v all teams, winning their last three games but prior to that run Australia had won only one of the previous five games. For the record Australia were W28 L4 at the old Lang Park.
- Fiji have played one game at both the new and old Lang Park / Suncorp Stadium, and lost both. Fiji have also played in Maryborough.
- Overall in Australia Fiji have won and lost 13 times and drawn twice.
AI GREG NORMAN’S PIC-REDICTION
AI Greg Norman is always on hand to give his opinion on anything sport related, and we harness the power of AI and his imagination to come up with a pictorial prediction.
Australia should speed past Fiji, showing a few tricks along the way.
AI PREDICTION
Since everyone else is using AI, why not us for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
We asked AI the following: “Predict the winner of this 2026 Rugby League World Cup based on historical H2H records, each team’s record at World Cup, each team’s International record from the last 10 years with a recency bias on the last three years, relative toughness of each team’s forward pack, and overall courage of the general population from each country.”
AI SAID:
Prediction: Australia vs Fiji (RLWC 2026)
Predicted Winner: Australia
Predicted Score: Australia 32 – 12 Fiji
Confidence
- Australia win: 84%
- Fiji win: 13%
- Draw (after 80 mins): 3%
Assessment Factors
1. Historical Head-to-Head
Australia have an overwhelming historical advantage against Fiji, winning all seven Rugby League World Cup meetings between the nations from 1995 to 2022. Their most recent World Cup meeting was a 42-8 Australian victory in 2022. [rugbyleagu…roject.org], [rugbyleagu…roject.org]
Just as importantly, many of those victories were extremely one-sided:
- 66-0 (1995)
- 52-0 (2008)
- 64-0 (2013)
- 54-6 (2017)
- 42-8 (2022) [rugbyleagu…roject.org], [rugbyleagu…roject.org]
Advantage: Australia (9/10)
2. Rugby League World Cup History
Australia are the most successful nation in Rugby League World Cup history, having won the tournament 12 times and possessing one of the greatest records in international sport. [en.wikipedia.org]
Fiji deserve enormous credit for reaching three consecutive semi-finals (2008, 2013, 2017), establishing themselves as a genuine second-tier powerhouse behind the traditional giants. [en.wikipedia.org], [grokipedia.com]
Advantage: Australia (10/10)
3. International Form (Last 10 Years with Recency Bias)
Over the past decade Fiji have become far more competitive thanks to the continued growth of Pacific rugby league talent. However, Australia’s player depth remains unmatched, and Australia’s elite-level victories over New Zealand, England, Tonga and Samoa in recent years give them the stronger long-term profile. [en.wikipedia.org]
With extra weighting on the last three years, Fiji have improved considerably, but Australia’s overall player pool and consistency still rate higher.
Advantage: Australia (8/10)
4. Forward Pack Comparison
The projected Australian pack contains players such as:
- Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
- Patrick Carrigan
- Cameron Murray
- Reuben Cotter
- David Fifita
- Lindsay Smith [rlwc2026.com], [nrl.com]
Fiji’s forwards are athletic, explosive and fearless, but Australia enjoy significant advantages in:
- NRL experience
- middle-third depth
- interchange quality
- ball-playing locks and hookers
Over 80 minutes that depth usually becomes decisive.
Advantage: Australia (9/10)
5. Round 1 Performance at RLWC 2026
Australia opened the tournament with a narrow but impressive 24-22 victory over New Zealand, showing the ability to win a high-pressure contest against one of the tournament favourites. [rlwcfans.com], [nrl.com]
Australia’s coaching staff have since rotated several players while still naming an exceptionally strong squad. [nrl.com]
Fiji reportedly produced a strong opening performance according to Australian coach Kevin Walters, suggesting they will enter the match with confidence. [nrl.com]
Advantage: Australia (7.5/10)
