England vs PNG Rugby League World Cup 2026
Can the Kumuls finally beat England at a World Cup, or will England make it five wins from five against PNG?
England have won all four meetings, including World Cup quarter-final wins in 2017 and 2022.
England have never lost to the Kumuls, but PNG play with flair and pride.
England vs PNG is on Friday 30 October 2026 at WIN Stadium in Wollongong, kicking off at 8:05pm Sydney time (7:05pm PNG, 10:05pm NZ, 9:05am UK).
Both teams are on 2 points, so it’s win or go home. The winner moves to 4 points and stays in the race for a semi-final place.
Below, you’ll find the kick-off time in every country, both teams, the head-to-head record, our prediction, the TV channels and tickets.
We’ll add both Round 3 team lists as soon as they’re named, any late changes on match day, and the result straight after full-time.
Quick Answer: England vs PNG Rugby League World Cup 2026
- Date: Friday 30 October 2026
- Kick-off: 8:05pm Sydney, 7:05pm PNG, 9:05am UK
- Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
- Head to head: England have won all four meetings
- Last meeting: England 46-6 PNG, 2022 World Cup quarter-final
- Watch: Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK)
What Time Is England vs PNG?
England vs PNG kicks off at 8:05pm Sydney time on Friday 30 October.
| Where you are | Kick-off time |
|---|---|
| Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra | 8:05pm Friday |
| Brisbane | 7:05pm Friday |
| Port Moresby | 7:05pm Friday |
| New Zealand | 10:05pm Friday |
| UK | 9:05am Friday |
UK clocks go back on 25 October, so the 9:05am UK kick-off is in GMT.
England’s women play Samoa at the same ground first, at 5:45pm, so it’s a double-header in Wollongong.
That makes it an early-evening start in Port Moresby, and a Friday morning kick-off for fans across England.
Kick-off times are as announced by the organisers and can change, so check again on match day.
England vs PNG Team Lists
Both teams were named on Tuesday 27 October. Jez Litten starts at hooker for England, and Morgan Knowles returns at lock.
| No. | England | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AJ Brimson | Zac Laybutt |
| 2 | Dominic Young | Robert Derby |
| 3 | Hugo Savala | Josh Feledy |
| 4 | Herbie Farnworth | Nene Macdonald |
| 5 | Matty Ashton | Dudley Dotoi |
| 6 | George Williams | Gairo Voro |
| 7 | Harry Smith | Bailey Biondi-Odo |
| 8 | Max King | Epel Kapinias |
| 9 | Jez Litten | Edwin Ipape |
| 10 | Luke Thompson | Luca Moretti |
| 11 | Junior Nsemba | Rhyse Martin |
| 12 | Kai Pearce-Paul | Nixon Putt |
| 13 | Morgan Knowles | Liam Horne |
| 14 | Mikey Lewis | Finley Glare |
| 15 | Sam Walters | Jacob Taulani |
| 16 | Ethan Havard | Robert Mathias |
| 17 | Victor Radley | Sanny Wabo |
For PNG, Zac Laybutt moves to fullback and Liam Horne replaces Jack de Belin (ribs) at lock, as published on NRL.com.
Luca Moretti returns at prop for the Kumuls. Late changes can still be made up to an hour before kick-off.
See every side as soon as it’s named on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 team lists page.
England Players to Watch
George Williams and Harry Smith run England’s attack from the halves.
AJ Brimson was Player of the Match in the 82-0 win over France, when Herbie Farnworth and Dom Young both scored hat-tricks.
Victor Radley, Morgan Knowles and Junior Nsemba lead a hard-working pack.
PNG Players to Watch
Rhyse Martin leads the Kumuls at his third World Cup and kicks the goals.
Edwin Ipape at hooker is the key to PNG’s attack around the ruck.
Nene Macdonald and Robert Derby are PNG’s biggest threats out wide.
England vs PNG Head to Head
England have won all four Tests against PNG, and three of them came at World Cups.
| Year | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | World Cup quarter-final, Wigan | England 46-6 PNG |
| 2017 | World Cup quarter-final, Melbourne | England 36-6 PNG |
| 2010 | Four Nations, Auckland | England 36-10 PNG |
| 2008 | World Cup pool match | England 32-22 PNG |
The most recent was the 2022 World Cup quarter-final in Wigan, where England won 46-6.
In 2017, England beat PNG 36-6 in a quarter-final in Melbourne, and they also won the earlier meetings in 2008 and 2010.
PNG have never beaten England, so a win in Wollongong would be the biggest result in Kumuls history.
England vs PNG Prediction
England start as favourites, with more NRL and Super League experience across the 17.
PNG are always dangerous when they play with speed and confidence, especially early in the game.
England bounced back from a 30-12 loss to Tonga by beating France 82-0, while PNG lost 64-6 to Samoa. Our pick is England by 20 or more.
With only two semi-final places from the combined table, points difference could matter as much as the result.
England will also want a strong win to keep momentum going into a possible semi-final in Newcastle or Sydney.
Where Is England vs PNG Being Played?
The match is at WIN Stadium in Wollongong, about 80 kilometres south of Sydney.
It’s the home ground of the St George Illawarra Dragons and sits right next to the beach.
Trains run from Sydney to Wollongong in around 90 minutes, and the stadium is a short walk from the city centre.
England vs Samoa in the women’s World Cup is played at the same ground earlier that evening.
Arrive early, as the beachfront roads around the ground get busy on match nights.
What Channel Is England vs PNG On?
England vs PNG 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)
PNG’s local broadcaster hasn’t been confirmed yet. We’ll add it here once it’s announced.
Travelling from the UK or PNG to watch? A VPN like NordVPN keeps your home streaming account working and protects you on public Wi-Fi. (We may earn a commission.)
For every other country, see our how to watch the Rugby League World Cup guide.
England vs PNG Tickets
Tickets for England vs PNG start from $19 AUD on Ticketmaster, the official seller.
England vs Samoa in the women’s World Cup is played first, at 5:45pm.
Buy only from Ticketmaster, as resale tickets from other sites may not be valid.
PNG fans in Sydney and Wollongong are expected to turn out in big numbers, so book early.
Flying in for the match? An Australia eSIM from Airalo keeps your phone working from the moment you land.
England vs PNG Result
The match hasn’t been played yet. It kicks off on Friday 30 October.
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| England v PNG, 30 October 2026 | To be played |
We’ll add the score and a short match report straight after full-time.
Every score from the tournament also goes on our results page, along with the latest table and the race for the semi-finals.
It’s the last round of the group stage, so this result could decide exactly which teams go through to the semi-finals in Newcastle and Sydney.
Match Updates
17 October 2026: Page published with kick-off times, Round 1 teams, the head-to-head record and our prediction.
29 October 2026: Added both Round 3 team lists, both teams’ Round 2 results and what’s at stake for the semi-finals.
After full-time on 30 October, we’ll add the score and a short match report.
We’ll also add any late changes to either team on match day, so check back here in the hour before kick-off for the final 17s.
England vs PNG: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about England vs PNG.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For full details, see the sections above.
What time is England vs PNG rugby league?
8:05pm Sydney time on Friday 30 October 2026.
That’s 7:05pm in PNG and 9:05am in the UK.
It’s Round 3, the last round of the group stage.
Where is England vs PNG being played?
At WIN Stadium in Wollongong, south of Sydney.
It’s a double-header with England vs Samoa women.
It’s the home of the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Have PNG ever beaten England in rugby league?
No. England have won all four Tests between the two nations.
The biggest was a 46-6 win in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final.
They also met in the 2017 quarter-finals, when England won 36-6.
What channel is England vs PNG on in the UK?
Premier Sports shows the match live in the UK and Ireland.
It’s a subscription channel.
Kick-off is 9:05am UK time on Friday 30 October.
Conclusion
England vs PNG in Wollongong on 30 October could decide a semi-final place.
England have won every meeting, but the Kumuls will bring speed, passion and nothing to lose.
Bookmark this page for the team lists and the result.
Whoever wins could be one step from the final in Brisbane on 15 November.
Follow both teams on our England next game and PNG next game pages, and visit rlwc2026.com for official news.
