Welcome to our complete RLWC 2026 New Zealand v Cook Islands 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 New Zealand v Cook Islands Preview
Sunday, October 25, 4:05pm AEDT at One NZ Stadium, Christchurch
TEAMS
New Zealand:Â 1. Keano Kini, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Joseph Tapine, 11. Xavier Willison, 12. Scott Sorensen, 13. Erin Clark, 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Leo Thompson, 16. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 17. Jacob Laban, 18. Isaiah Papali’i, 19. Briton Nikora, R. Dane Gagai, R. Naufahu Whyte, R. Moses Leota
Cook Islands:Â 1. Valentine Holmes, 2. Paul Ulberg, 3. KL Iro, 4. Reubenn Rennie, 5. Cameron Brown, 6. Maui Winitana-Patelesio, 7. Brad Takairangi, 8. Davvy Moale, 9. Rua Ngatikaura, 10. Rhys Dakin, 11. Amare Milford, 12. Delahia Wigmore, 13. Mason Teague, 14. Esan Marsters, 15. K-CI Newton-Whare, 16. David Tuariki, 17. Makahesi Makatoa, 18. Chaev Kolone, 19. Glassie Glassie, R. Brody Tamarua, R. Esom Ioka, R. Pride Petterson-Robati, R. Reuben Porter
TEAMS TALKING POINT:
Big Kiwi team news is who replaces the big boots of Kalyn Ponga, and the Titans’ Keano Kini is a logical choice. Another Knights change is Dane Gagai being rested and. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad takes his place. Other Kiwi players getting a week off is Naufahu Whyte and Moses Leota. Gurgler favourite Xavier Willison gets a starting berth in the second row. For Cook Islands team news is good news with Valentine Holmes making his tournament debut for fullback.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Keano Kini – Hard act to follow as he replaces Kalyn Ponga at the back and gets the nod over Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. Impresses for the Titans, which isn’t easy to do.
Ronaldo Mulitalo – Is always entertaining to follow, if not the most likeable rugby league player of all time.
Xavier Willison – Xavier is always a player to watch and is in career-best form.
Valentine Holmes – The former Qld and Australia player has been named at fullback and does give the Cook Islands a little more credibility. At his best he is very effective in big games, although has been hit and miss in the NRL this season.
BATTLES TO WATCH:
Centres – One of Cook Islands big NRL stars as main attacking weapons is KL Iro, who had an outstanding 2026 NRL season in between injuries. If he can match the Kiwis quality duo of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Casey McLean then the Cook Islands could remain competitive for a while. The Cook Islands other centre is the lesser known Reubenn Rennie who played 60 odd games for Toulouse Olympique between 2023 and 2026 scoring 32 tries, which isn’t a bad return.
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THIS GAME
The Kiwis were unlucky not to win last weekend and looked awesome, but was Kalyn Ponga the main driving force? Even without Ponga it could be a big score, which is entertaining enough if you are cheering for the Cook Islands.
PREDICTION
This looks pretty one sided.
New Zealand 64 Cook Islands 6
STATS
- Overall the H2H is 1 – 0 to NZ. The Kiwis played Cook Islands in the 2000 World Cup and won 84-10. The Kiwis scored 15 tries to 2 that day. Interestingly, one of the two Cook Islands tries was scored by Kevin Iro, the father of KL Iro.
- This is New Zealand’s first game at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch, but in that city the Kiwis have won 13 and lost 9 from 22 games.
- New Zealand have won 34 from 38 games against all Pacific Island nations.
- The Cook Islands have only played New Zealand once, and that was in England, but they have played in the country of New Zealand 19 times for 7 wins, 11 losses and a draw.
Most stats courtesy of Rugby League Project – the finest Rugby League Stats Website in the world.
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.
Early battles will keep it tight to begin, but the Kiwis class should see a comfortable win.
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:
Most Likely Match Scenario
The Cook Islands should compete bravely early and will likely defend with plenty of spirit. However, New Zealand’s superior forward pack, greater possession, stronger kicking game and deeper bench should create scoreboard separation during the middle stages.
Expected pattern:
- Cook Islands remain competitive for 15-20 minutes.
- New Zealand’s middle forwards begin winning the ruck.
- Fatigue creates opportunities out wide.
- New Zealand pull away in the second half.
Predicted Result
New Zealand 42 – 10 Cook Islands
Player of the Match Candidate
James Fisher-Harris or Isaah Yeo through dominant middle-third control.
Upset Chance
For the Cook Islands to win, they would likely need:
- New Zealand to commit significant errors,
- A highly efficient kicking game,
- Multiple possession swings,
- An outstanding performance from their forwards.
That combination is possible, but based on all available evidence it remains unlikely.
