New Zealand vs Tonga Rugby League World Cup 2026 Semi-Final
Can Tonga beat the Kiwis for a place in the Rugby League World Cup 2026 Final? They’ve done it before, in a famous World Cup game in 2017.
Mate Ma’a Tonga are unbeaten after topping Pools B and C, while New Zealand scored 160 points in their last two games.
New Zealand vs Tonga is the first Rugby League World Cup 2026 semi-final, on Saturday 7 November at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, kicking off at 8:05pm Sydney time (10:05pm NZ and Tonga, 9:05am UK).
The winner plays Australia or Samoa in the Final at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday 15 November.
It follows the Kiwi Ferns vs Samoa women’s semi-final at the same ground earlier that evening.
Below, you’ll find kick-off times, team news, the head-to-head record, our prediction, TV channels and tickets.
Quick Answer: New Zealand vs Tonga Rugby League World Cup 2026 Semi-Final
- Date: Saturday 7 November 2026
- Kick-off: 8:05pm Sydney, 10:05pm NZ and Tonga, 9:05am UK
- Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
- Stage: Semi-final 1. The winner plays Australia or Samoa in the Final
- Form: New Zealand won 2, lost 1; Tonga won 3, lost 0
- Last meeting: New Zealand 40-14 Tonga, Pacific Championships, November 2025
- Watch: Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK)
What Time Is New Zealand vs Tonga?
New Zealand vs Tonga kicks off at 8:05pm AEDT on Saturday 7 November. Some fans search for it as Tonga vs New Zealand.
| Where you are | Kick-off time |
|---|---|
| Sydney and Newcastle | 8:05pm Saturday |
| Brisbane | 7:05pm Saturday |
| Perth | 5:05pm Saturday |
| New Zealand | 10:05pm Saturday |
| Tonga | 10:05pm Saturday |
| UK | 9:05am Saturday |
It’s a late-night kick-off in Auckland and Nuku’alofa, and a Saturday morning start in the UK.
The Kiwi Ferns vs Samoa women’s semi-final kicks off at 5:45pm at the same ground, so you can watch both games with one ticket.
Both semi-finals are on our Rugby League World Cup semi-finals page.
New Zealand vs Tonga Team Lists
Team lists for the semi-finals are due early in match week. We’ll add both 17s here as soon as they’re named.
New Zealand expect Kalyn Ponga back at fullback, after he broke his arm in the opening game against Australia, Fox Sports reported.
Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has been ruled out after his send-off in the 78-0 win over Fiji, according to reports.
Tonga are expected to stick close to the side that beat Samoa, with Isaiya Katoa at halfback and Jason Taumalolo leading the pack.
New Zealand Players to Watch
Casey McLean is the joint top try scorer at the World Cup, with seven tries, including four against Fiji.
Jamayne Isaako leads the points table with 64, after kicking 13 goals from 13 against Fiji.
Captain James Fisher-Harris leads a strong pack. See every try scorer on our Rugby League World Cup top try scorers page.
Tonga Players to Watch
Addin Fonua-Blake scored the winning try against Samoa, and he forms a huge front row with Jason Taumalolo.
Halfback Isaiya Katoa runs the attack, and he was Player of the Match in Tonga’s 30-12 win over England.
Jojo Fifita has three tries, and Tolutau Koula was Player of the Match against Lebanon.
New Zealand vs Tonga Head to Head
New Zealand have won three of the last five Tests against Tonga, but Tonga won their only World Cup meeting in that run.
| Year | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Pacific Championships | New Zealand 40-14 Tonga |
| 2024 | Pacific Championships | Tonga 25-24 New Zealand |
| 2022 | Test match | New Zealand 26-6 Tonga |
| 2019 | Test match | New Zealand 34-14 Tonga |
| 2017 | World Cup, pool stage | Tonga 28-22 New Zealand |
Tonga’s 2017 World Cup win over the Kiwis is one of the biggest results in their history.
They also edged New Zealand 25-24 in 2024, before the Kiwis hit back with a 40-14 win last year.
How Did New Zealand and Tonga Reach the Semi-Finals?
New Zealand lost 24-22 to Australia in the opener, then beat the Cook Islands 82-16 and Fiji 78-0 to finish second in Pool A.
Tonga topped Pools B and C unbeaten, beating England 30-12, Lebanon 36-0 and Samoa 20-18.
That win over Samoa came in front of a record CommBank Stadium crowd of 29,411, and it knocked England out.
Under the draw, the Pools B and C winner plays the Pool A runner-up. See the final tables on our Rugby League World Cup results page.
New Zealand vs Tonga Prediction
New Zealand’s attack has been the best at the tournament, with 160 points in their last two games.
But Tonga have beaten the Kiwis twice in their last five meetings, and their forwards can match anyone.
Losing Mulitalo hurts New Zealand, while Ponga’s return would give them a big lift at the back.
Our pick is New Zealand by six to 12 points, in a game that could go down to the final minutes.
Where Is New Zealand vs Tonga Being Played?
The match is at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, home of the Newcastle Knights. It holds about 30,000 fans.
The ground hosted Fiji vs Cook Islands in the opening round of this World Cup.
Newcastle is about two hours north of Sydney by car or train, so plan your trip home after the late finish.
It’s a double-header, with Kiwi Ferns vs Samoa at 5:45pm before the men’s semi-final.
What Channel Is New Zealand vs Tonga On?
The semi-final is live in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
- Australia: Free on the Seven Network and 7plus
- New Zealand: Sky Sport
- UK and Ireland: Premier Sports (subscription)
In Australia, you can stream it free on 7plus with a free account.
Watching from abroad? A VPN like NordVPN keeps your home streaming account working and protects you on public Wi-Fi. (We may earn a commission.)
Skip “free stream” links on social media, as many are scams built to steal your details.
New Zealand vs Tonga Tickets
Tickets start from $19 AUD for adults and $49 for families on Ticketmaster, the official seller.
One ticket covers both the women’s and men’s semi-finals at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Buy only from Ticketmaster, as resale tickets from other sites may not be valid.
Flying in for the game? An Australia eSIM from Airalo keeps your phone working from the moment you land.
New Zealand vs Tonga Result
The match hasn’t been played yet. It kicks off on Saturday 7 November.
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| New Zealand v Tonga, 7 November 2026 | To be played |
We’ll add the score and try scorers straight after full-time.
The winner goes to the Final at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday 15 November.
Match Updates
1 November 2026: Page published after Tonga’s win over Samoa confirmed the semi-final, with kick-off times, team news, head to head and our prediction.
Next update: both team lists, once they’re named in match week.
After full-time on 7 November, we’ll add the score and who goes through to the Final.
New Zealand vs Tonga: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about this semi-final.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For full details, see the sections above.
When is New Zealand vs Tonga?
Saturday 7 November 2026 at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
Kick-off is 8:05pm Sydney time.
It’s the first Rugby League World Cup 2026 semi-final.
What time is New Zealand vs Tonga in New Zealand and Tonga?
10:05pm on Saturday 7 November in both countries.
That’s 9:05am Saturday in the UK.
In Brisbane, it’s 7:05pm.
Have Tonga ever beaten New Zealand?
Yes. Tonga beat New Zealand 28-22 at the 2017 World Cup.
They also won 25-24 in the 2024 Pacific Championships.
New Zealand won the last meeting 40-14 in 2025.
Who plays the winner of New Zealand vs Tonga?
The winner plays Australia or Samoa in the Final.
Australia and Samoa meet in Sydney on Sunday 8 November.
The Final is at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on 15 November.
Conclusion
New Zealand vs Tonga on Saturday 7 November in Newcastle is the first Rugby League World Cup 2026 semi-final.
The Kiwis have the tournament’s top try scorer in Casey McLean, but unbeaten Tonga have beaten them twice in recent years.
The winner goes to the Final in Brisbane on 15 November, against Australia or Samoa.
Bookmark this page for the team lists and the result.
Want our World Cup updates first? Add RLWC 2026 Guide as a preferred source on Google.
