PNG Rugby League Next Game: World Cup 2026 Fixtures
When do the PNG Kumuls play next at the Rugby League World Cup 2026, and what time is it on in Port Moresby?
The Kumuls play their first two matches at home in Port Moresby, in front of one of the loudest crowds in world rugby league.
PNG’s next game is against Lebanon on Saturday 17 October 2026 in Port Moresby, kicking off at 2:25pm local time (3:25pm Sydney, 5:25am UK).
After that, the Kumuls host Samoa on 24 October, then face England at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on 30 October.
Below, you’ll find every PNG fixture in PNG, Sydney and UK time, the TV channels, the team news and the Orchids’ fixtures.
We update this page after every match, so it always shows the Kumuls’ next game and latest result first.
Quick Answer: PNG Rugby League Next Game
- Next game: PNG v Lebanon, Saturday 17 October 2026
- Kick-off: 2:25pm Port Moresby (3:25pm Sydney, 5:25am UK)
- Venue: Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
- Watch: Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK)
- Opponents: Lebanon, Samoa and England
- Last updated: 13 October 2026
When Is PNG’s Next Game?
The Kumuls open their Rugby League World Cup 2026 against Lebanon on Saturday 17 October in Port Moresby.
It’s a double-header, with the PNG Orchids playing France in the women’s World Cup earlier the same day.
Home advantage is huge for PNG, and a win here would put them in a strong position.
See what Lebanon are planning on our Lebanon next game page.
PNG Rugby League World Cup 2026 Fixtures
Two of PNG’s three pool matches are at home, before a trip to Wollongong to face England.
| Date | Match | Venue | PNG | Sydney | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 17 Oct | PNG v Lebanon | Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby | 2:25pm | 3:25pm | 5:25am |
| Sat 24 Oct | PNG v Samoa | Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby | 2:25pm | 3:25pm | 5:25am |
| Fri 30 Oct | England v PNG | WIN Stadium, Wollongong | 7:05pm | 8:05pm | 9:05am |
PNG is one hour behind Sydney during the tournament, as Sydney is on daylight saving time.
For every other match in your time zone, see our Rugby League World Cup 2026 kick-off times guide.
What Time Is PNG vs Lebanon?
PNG vs Lebanon kicks off at 2:25pm Port Moresby time on Saturday 17 October.
That’s 3:25pm in Sydney, 7:25am in Lebanon and 5:25am in the UK.
Get to the ground early, as the women’s match between PNG and France kicks off at 12:15pm.
See the Cedars’ full squad on our Lebanon squad page.
What Channel Is PNG Rugby League On?
Every PNG match is shown 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)
PNG’s local TV broadcaster for 2026 hasn’t been confirmed yet. At the last World Cup, EMTV showed the matches free-to-air.
We’ll add the PNG broadcaster here as soon as it’s announced.
Travelling to Port Moresby or Wollongong? A VPN like NordVPN keeps your home streaming account working and protects you on public Wi-Fi. (We may earn a commission.)
For other countries, see our guide to watching the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
PNG Team List v Lebanon
Jason Demetriou named the Kumuls’ team for the opener on Tuesday 13 October, with Rhyse Martin as captain.
| No. | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morea Morea | Fullback |
| 2 | Robert Derby | Wing |
| 3 | Zac Laybutt | Centre |
| 4 | Nene Macdonald | Centre |
| 5 | Dudley Dotoi | Wing |
| 6 | Gairo Voro | Five-eighth |
| 7 | Bailey Biondi-Odo | Halfback |
| 8 | Valentine Richard | Prop |
| 9 | Edwin Ipape | Hooker |
| 10 | Luca Moretti | Prop |
| 11 | Rhyse Martin | Second row |
| 12 | Nixon Putt | Second row |
| 13 | Jack de Belin | Lock |
| 14 | Finley Glare | Bench |
| 15 | Liam Horne | Bench |
| 16 | Epel Kapinias | Bench |
| 17 | Sylvester Namo | Bench |
Coaches can still make late changes, so the final 17 is confirmed shortly before kick-off.
You can see Lebanon’s team, and every other Round 1 side, on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 team lists page.
PNG Kumuls Team 2026: The Big Selection Calls
Captain Rhyse Martin starts in the second row and will kick the goals.
Luca Moretti makes his Kumuls debut at prop, after playing for Italy at the last World Cup.
Edwin Ipape runs the attack from hooker, with Gairo Voro and Bailey Biondi-Odo in the halves.
Jack de Belin starts at lock, while Alex Johnston misses the tournament after knee and finger surgery.
PNG Rugby League World Cup 2026 Squad
Jason Demetriou named his 23-man squad on 6 October, plus three shadow players.
The squad mixes NRL and Super League players with talent from the PNG Hunters and Queensland Cup.
Former captain Kyle Laybutt is one of the shadow players, and Lachlan Lam misses out.
See every player and club on our PNG Kumuls squad page, and check the injury list.
England vs PNG: Can the Kumuls Get Revenge?
England knocked PNG out of the last two World Cups, both times in the quarter-finals.
The most recent was a 46-6 win for England in Wigan in 2022.
The two sides meet again at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on Friday 30 October, and it could decide a semi-final place.
Follow England’s side of it on our England next game page.
Can PNG Reach the Rugby League World Cup 2026 Semi-Finals?
PNG are in Pool C, but they play the three Pool B teams: Lebanon, Samoa and England.
The six teams in Pools B and C share one table, and only the top two reach the semi-finals.
Two home games give the Kumuls a real chance, and PNG’s best World Cup results so far are quarter-finals in 2017 and 2021.
Follow the table on our Rugby League World Cup results page, and see our Rugby League World Cup predictions.
PNG Rugby League World Cup 2026 Results
PNG haven’t played yet. Their first result comes on Saturday 17 October.
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| PNG v Lebanon | 17 October, to be played |
| PNG v Samoa | 24 October, to be played |
| England v PNG | 30 October, to be played |
We add each score here straight after the final whistle.
The next game at the top of this page also changes after every match.
PNG Orchids Rugby League World Cup Fixtures
PNG’s women, the Orchids, are also at the World Cup, in a group with France, Fiji and New Zealand.
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| Sat 17 Oct | PNG v France, Port Moresby, 12:15pm |
| Sat 24 Oct | Fiji v PNG, Port Moresby |
| Sat 31 Oct | New Zealand v PNG, Gold Coast |
Both of the Orchids’ home games are double-headers with the Kumuls.
The top two in each women’s group reach the semi-finals.
See every women’s match in our Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide.
PNG Rugby League World Cup Tickets
The two Port Moresby matches are sold by a local PNG ticket seller, not Ticketmaster.
Tickets for England vs PNG in Wollongong start from $19 AUD on Ticketmaster, the official seller.
See our tickets guide for how to buy safely.
Travelling to Port Moresby? Pack a PNG eSIM from Airalo, or an Australia eSIM for Wollongong.
PNG Schedule Updates
13 October 2026: Page published with the Kumuls’ three pool fixtures, kick-off times and team news.
PNG’s team for the Lebanon match was named on 13 October and is in the team list section above.
After full-time on 17 October, we’ll add the score and move the next game to PNG vs Samoa.
PNG Rugby League Next Game: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about the Kumuls’ World Cup.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For full details, see the fixture and team sections above.
When do PNG play next?
PNG play Lebanon on Saturday 17 October 2026 at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
Kick-off is 2:25pm local time, which is 3:25pm in Sydney.
It’s the Kumuls’ first match of the tournament.
Who do PNG play at the Rugby League World Cup 2026?
Lebanon on 17 October, Samoa on 24 October and England on 30 October.
The first two are at home in Port Moresby.
The England match is at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.
Where can I watch PNG at the World Cup?
On the Seven Network and 7plus in Australia, Sky Sport in New Zealand and Premier Sports in the UK.
PNG’s local broadcaster for 2026 hasn’t been confirmed yet.
We’ll add it to this page once it’s announced.
Who is the PNG Kumuls coach?
Jason Demetriou coaches the Kumuls at the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
He has been in charge since July 2024.
Rhyse Martin is the captain.
Conclusion
The Kumuls’ World Cup starts against Lebanon in Port Moresby on 17 October.
Samoa come to Port Moresby next, before a big night against England in Wollongong.
Bookmark this page, because we update the next game, team news and results after every match.
Following the opposition? See the Samoa next game page, and visit rlwc2026.com for official news.
