Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids Rugby League World Cup 2026
Can the PNG Orchids stop the Kiwi Ferns, who have scored 110 points in two games at the Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026?
New Zealand top Group B after beating Fiji and France, while PNG need a big upset to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids is on Saturday 31 October 2026 at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast, kicking off at 4:45pm local time (5:45pm Sydney, 7:45pm NZ, 6:45am UK).
It’s the last game of a big day on the Gold Coast, after Fiji vs France and the men’s clash between New Zealand and Fiji.
A win would seal top spot in Group B for the Kiwi Ferns and a semi-final in Newcastle on 7 November.
Below, you’ll find the kick-off time in every country, both team lists, the head to head, our prediction and how to watch.
Quick Answer: Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids Rugby League World Cup 2026
- Date: Saturday 31 October 2026
- Kick-off: 4:45pm Gold Coast and PNG, 5:45pm Sydney, 7:45pm NZ, 6:45am UK
- Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
- Head to head: New Zealand have won both meetings, 38-0 (2017) and 36-0 (2024)
- Stakes: A New Zealand win seals top spot in Group B
- Watch: Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK)
What Time Is Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids?
Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids kicks off at 4:45pm Gold Coast time on Saturday 31 October, which is 5:45pm in Sydney.
| Where you are | Kick-off time |
|---|---|
| Gold Coast, Brisbane | 4:45pm Saturday |
| Port Moresby | 4:45pm Saturday |
| Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra | 5:45pm Saturday |
| New Zealand | 7:45pm Saturday |
| UK | 6:45am Saturday |
Queensland doesn’t use daylight saving, so the Gold Coast is an hour behind Sydney and on the same time as Port Moresby.
Kiwi fans get a Saturday evening kick-off, right after the men’s game between New Zealand and Fiji.
Women’s World Cup games last 70 minutes, so full-time should come at around 6:05pm Gold Coast time.
Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids Team Lists
Both teams were named on Tuesday 27 October, as published in the official NRL.com team lists.
| No. | New Zealand | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apii Nicholls | Anika Butler |
| 2 | Leianne Tufuga | Jasmine Joe |
| 3 | Abigail Roache | Relna Wuruki-Hosea |
| 4 | Stacey Waaka | Tia Molo |
| 5 | Mackenzie Wiki | Naomi Kelly |
| 6 | Zahara Temara | Fleur Ginn |
| 7 | Raecene McGregor | Cynthiah Peters |
| 8 | Alexis Tauaneai | Elsie Albert |
| 9 | Georgia Hale | Ua Ravu |
| 10 | Shannon Mato | Jenny David |
| 11 | Shaniece Monschau | Emily Veivers |
| 12 | Kaiyah Atai | Shellie Long |
| 13 | Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa | India Seeto |
| 14 | Ashleigh Quinlan | Therese Aiton |
| 15 | Otesa Pule | Essay Banu |
| 16 | Brooke Anderson | Gemma Walker |
| 17 | Ivana Lauitiiti | Vanesa Nakas |
New Zealand are close to full strength. Raecene McGregor has shaken off an ankle injury to partner Zahara Temara in the halves, and Georgia Hale starts at hooker.
Leianne Tufuga returns on the wing, while Mele Hufanga sits this one out after her hat-trick against France.
PNG lose Belinda Gwasamun, so Emily Veivers moves into the back row and India Seeto starts at lock. See both squads on our Kiwi Ferns and PNG Orchids pages.
Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids Head to Head
New Zealand have won both Tests between the two teams, and they kept PNG scoreless each time.
| Year | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Pacific Championships, Port Moresby | New Zealand 36-0 PNG |
| 2017 | Women’s World Cup, Sydney | New Zealand 38-0 PNG |
In 2024, Mackenzie Wiki scored a hat-trick on debut as the Kiwi Ferns won 36-0 in Port Moresby, as reported by NRL.com.
At the 2017 World Cup in Sydney, New Zealand won 38-0, with Raecene McGregor among the try scorers. Both are in New Zealand’s team again.
A PNG win on Saturday would be the biggest result in the Orchids’ history.
What Does Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Mean for the Semi-Finals?
New Zealand lead Group B on 4 points. Fiji and PNG have 2 each, and France have none.
A Kiwi Ferns win seals first place. The Group B winner plays the Group A runner-up in Newcastle on Saturday 7 November.
If PNG win and Fiji beat France earlier that day, three teams finish on 4 points, and points difference decides who goes through.
New Zealand start that race on +98, Fiji on +30 and PNG on +18. Follow it live on our Rugby League World Cup results page.
Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids Form Guide
New Zealand opened with a tight 18-12 win over Fiji in Newcastle, then thrashed France 92-0 in Christchurch.
Against France, Apii Nicholls scored four tries, while Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga both scored hat-tricks.
PNG beat France 58-4 in front of a home crowd in Port Moresby, but then lost 40-4 to Fiji at the same ground.
That loss left the Orchids needing a shock against the Kiwi Ferns to stay in the semi-final race.
Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids Prediction
New Zealand start as big favourites. They have NRLW stars across the park and a near full-strength team.
PNG play with real pace and pride, but they were well beaten by Fiji, who New Zealand only edged by six points.
Our pick is the Kiwi Ferns by 30 points or more.
Watch for Apii Nicholls and Stacey Waaka, who have been New Zealand’s most dangerous attackers so far.
Where Is Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids Being Played?
The match is at Cbus Super Stadium in Robina, the home of the Gold Coast Titans.
The stadium holds around 27,000 fans and is one of the most modern grounds in the NRL.
Robina train station is next to the ground, with trains from Brisbane taking about 75 minutes.
It’s a big day at the venue, with Fiji vs France and the men’s New Zealand vs Fiji game earlier in the afternoon.
What Channel Is Kiwi Ferns vs PNG On?
In Australia, the match is free on the Seven Network and the 7plus app.
In New Zealand, it’s on Sky Sport and Sky Sport Now. In the UK and Ireland, it’s live on Premier Sports and Premier Player.
Following the Orchids from overseas? A VPN like NordVPN keeps your home streaming account working and protects you on public Wi-Fi. (We may earn a commission.)
PNG’s local broadcaster hasn’t been confirmed. Skip “free stream” links on social media, as many are scams.
Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids Tickets
Tickets start from $19 AUD on Ticketmaster, the official seller.
One ticket covers all three games at the stadium that day, including the men’s New Zealand vs Fiji clash.
Family tickets start from $49 AUD. Buy only from Ticketmaster, as resale tickets from other sites may not be valid.
Flying in from New Zealand or PNG? An Australia eSIM from Airalo keeps your phone working from the moment you land.
Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids Score and Result
The match hasn’t been played yet. It kicks off at 4:45pm Gold Coast time on Saturday 31 October.
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| New Zealand v PNG, 31 October 2026 | To be played |
We’ll add the score and a short match report straight after full-time.
We’ll also update what the result means for the Group B table and the semi-final line-up.
The women’s semi-finals are on 7 and 8 November, and the Final is at Suncorp Stadium on 15 November.
Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids Latest Match Updates
29 October 2026: Page published with kick-off times, both team lists, the head to head, the semi-final stakes and our prediction.
Next update: any late changes on match day, then the full-time score and a short match report.
Check back an hour before kick-off for the final 17s.
Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about this match.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For full details, see the sections above.
What time is Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids?
4:45pm Gold Coast time on Saturday 31 October 2026.
That’s 5:45pm in Sydney and 7:45pm in New Zealand.
In the UK, it kicks off at 6:45am.
Have PNG ever beaten the Kiwi Ferns?
No. New Zealand have won both Tests between the two teams.
They won 38-0 at the 2017 World Cup.
They won 36-0 in Port Moresby in 2024.
Are the Kiwi Ferns through to the semi-finals?
Not mathematically yet, but they’re very close.
A win over PNG seals first place in Group B.
Even a loss would likely leave them through on points difference.
What channel is Kiwi Ferns vs PNG on?
Sky Sport shows it in New Zealand.
Seven and 7plus have it free in Australia.
Premier Sports shows it in the UK and Ireland.
Conclusion
Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids on the Gold Coast on Saturday 31 October could seal top spot in Group B for New Zealand.
Kick-off is 4:45pm local time (5:45pm Sydney, 7:45pm NZ), live on Seven, Sky Sport and Premier Sports.
New Zealand have never lost to PNG, but the Orchids will bring pace and plenty of heart.
Bookmark this page for late changes and the score, and see every game in our Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide.
