PNG KUMULS & ORCHIDS WORLD CUP SQUAD YET TO BE ANNOUNCED

Photo Credit: PNGRLF

BY BENJAMIN KOITAKA

THE 2026 Rugby League World Cup squad for Papua New Guinea is yet to made known to the public, while rival countries in Fiji, Toa Samoa, Tonga, England, Australia, Lebanon and New Zealand already unveiled stacked line-up for their sides.

PNG Kumuls head coach Jason Demetriou including Kumuls prospects in Alex Max, Morea Morea, Gairo Voro, Epel Kapinias, Roberth Mathias and Finley Glare are all set to return to the country after a successful hit-out in the Betfred Championship challenge Cup this season.

Guiding the London Broncos to win the 2026 Betfred Championship title, mentor Demetriou including PNG talents in Max, Morea, Voro, Kapinias, Mathias and Glare are in top-frame and contention to make the Kumuls World Cup squad.

Despite other participating nations already named their squad, PNG is still behind with only 11-days remaining before the first clash against Lebanon Cedars in Port Moresby.

Meanwhile, the women side in PNG Orchids also keeping their eyes out for who makes the squad.
PNG will play Lebanon on the 17th of October at the National Football Stadium, before hosting a star-studded To’a Samoa on the 24th of October 2026, again in Port Moresby.

PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) is expected to announce the squad soon, while coach Demetriou also confirmed that the extended 40-member squad will assemble in Port Moresby before it is further trimmed to final 23-man squad for the upcoming fixtures.

Meanwhile, the women side in PNG Orchids also keeping their eyes out for who makes the squad.
Head coach Craig Sandercock who is also the coach of the Wests Tigers NRLW team will reveal once the final squad is finalized and approve by PNGRFL.

Orchids will host France and followed by Fiji in Port Moresby in the opening two rounds.