Kiwis coach Stacey Jones and his selectors have begun regular discussions about New Zealand’s World Cup squad as they prepare for the opening game of RLWC2026 in just six months against the Kangaroos at Allianz Stadium.

The 2025 Pacific Cup champions will meet the Ashes winners on October 15 in a mouthwatering clash to kick off the most competitive World Cup since the tournament was established in 1954 – the second oldest sporting World Cup after the soccer version.

“For New Zealand and Australia, with the rivalry we have had since the game started, it is going to be really exciting to play the opening game in such an iconic stadium and hopefully both teams can make a great start to the World Cup,” Jones said.

“It will be a great tournament, particularly with where the international game is at now. There are five or six teams that can really put their hand up and be competitive, if not win.”

New Zealand failed to reach the final of the past two World Cups in 2017 and 2022 in England.

However, the Kiwis have won two of the past three Pacific Cup finals, including a record 30-0 defeat of Australia in 2023 and last year's triumph against Toa Samoa.

The playing depth of the Kiwis has never been deeper and recent changes to State of Origin eligibility rules are set to strengthen their squad even further, with superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga having switched allegiances to New Zealand.

With the likes of Ponga, Dylan Brown, Jahrome Hughes, Casey McLean, Keano Kini and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in their backline and a forward pack led by James Fisher-Harris and Jospeh Tapine, New Zealand will have a formidable line-up at RLWC2026.

Jones won’t rule out renewed approaches to Raiders stars Ethan Strange and Kaeo Weekes, who are eligible for both Australia and New Zealand, but neither will he rush them for a decision.

“I feel that we have got a really strong core of players that we have had in the past three years, and you always pick up a few other players along the way, particularly with the new rules around Origin eligibility.

“It opens up that opportunity for players who have New Zealand heritage but have grown up in NSW or Queensland to be able to do that too.”

Ponga has since received a clearance from the International Rugby League Board to switch his allegiances to New Zealand after representing Australia at the 2019 World Cup 9s.

“The thing with Kalyn is he has always wanted to represent New Zealand, and Origin was the only things standing in his way. He is a player who grew up in Queensland but has strong roots in New Zealand,” Jones said.

“He is a world class player, probably one of the top five or six players in the game, but one thing I know about picking a representative team is that so many variables can happen so you won’t know until about a week out from the tournament.

“We will find out about the other guys, but there is no rush at this stage. The reason they didn’t want to play for New Zealand is because they wanted to go down the Origin path and Ethan Strange toured with the Kangaroos last year.”

Photo: Kiwis players celebrate their 2025 Pacific Cup win. @NRL Photos

After opening RLWC2026 against Australia on October 15, the Kiwis return home to meet Cook Islands at the new One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on October 25 before travelling to the Gold Coast to face Fiji on October 31 at Cbus Super Stadium.

The rivalry between the Kiwis and Bati is strong after Fiji, who qualified for the semi-finals of the 2008, 2013 and 2017 World Cups, eliminated New Zealand in a play-off match in 2017 and fell agonisingly short in 2022 after a late Joey Manu try.

“Fiji were dominating the game in Hull at the last World Cup and at the previous World Cup they beat New Zealand in a low scoring quarter-final in Wellington,” Jones said.

"They are real superstars of our game so it makes for another great contest for international rugby league.”

Rugby League World Cup 2026 returns to Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Where nations clash, heroes rise, and legends are forged. 3 World Cups. 26 Teams. The World’s Best. Tickets are now on sale from $19. Don’t miss the pinnacle of global Rugby League.