New Zealand face Cook Islands in Rugby League World Cup match
New Zealand needs a win against the Cook Islands on Sunday, October 25, 2026, to keep its Rugby League World Cup knockout stage hopes alive after opening the tournament with a narrow loss to Australia, rugbyworld.com reported. The Pool A match kicks off at 6:05 PM local time in Christchurch, corresponding to 5:05 AM GMT, 4:05 PM AEDT, 1:05 AM EDT, and 10:05 PM PDT on Saturday, October 24.
Kiwis Reshape Squad After Kalyn Ponga Injury
The Kiwis enter the fixture as the second-ranked team in the world, having pushed Australia close in a 24-22 defeat where they led late into the second half, according to rugbyworld.com. However, coach Stacey Jones must reshape the side after fullback Kalyn Ponga broke his arm during the opener. Keano Kini steps into the fullback role, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad shifts to centre, and Xavier Willison and Scott Sorensen join the starting second row.
The Cook Islands face an uphill battle to reach the knockouts following an opening-round loss to Fiji, sports.yahoo.com reported. Team boss Karmichael Hunt shuffled his lineup for the Christchurch fixture, handing Valentine Holmes a debut at fullback and naming Brad Takairangi at halfback.
TALE OF THE TAPE🔥 All-Star centre face off in the New Zealand v Cook Islands match-up 😤 Watch live on 7, 7Plus or Sky Sports 📺 #IHGhotels pic.twitter.com/TZD84T0XDr
Free Streaming Options Available in New Zealand and Australia
Viewers in New Zealand can watch every Kiwis match for free on ThreeNow, while subscription service Sky Sport NZ also carries the tournament, rugbyworld.com stated. In Australia, Channel 7 and its 7plus streaming service provide free coverage of every match. Fans outside those regions can access free domestic streams while traveling abroad by using a virtual private network service like NordVPN or Norton VPN to bypass geo-blocking restrictions.
International viewers outside of Australia and New Zealand rely on Premier Sports, which holds tournament broadcast rights in more than 120 countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States. A UK subscription costs £18.99 monthly on a rolling basis, while US fans can purchase a tournament pass for $25 covering all 53 games across the men’s, women’s, and wheelchair competitions.
Team Line-ups
New Zealand: 1. Keano Kini, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (captain), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Joseph Tapine, 11. Xavier Willison, 12. Scott Sorensen, 13. Erin Clark. Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Leo Thompson, 16. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 17. Jacob Laban, 18. Isaiah Papali’i, 19. Briton Nikora.
Cook Islands: 1. Valentine Holmes, 2. Paul Ulberg, 3. KL Iro (captain), 4. Reubenn Rennie, 5. Cameron Brown, 6. Maui Winitana-Patelesio, 17. Brad Takairangi, 8. Davvy Moale, 9. Rua Ngatikaura, 10. Rhys Dakin, 11. Amare Milford, 12. Delahia Wigmore, 13. Mason Teague. Interchange: 7. Esan Marsters, 14. K-Cl Newton-Whare, 15. David Tuariki, 16. Makahesi Makatoa, 17. Chaev Kolone, 18. Glassie Glassie.
Match officials include referee Ashley Klein, touch judges Drew Oultram and Dave Munro, and senior review official Wyatt Raymond.
Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.
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✌️ DREAM TEST DEBUT! 🔥 Tanner Stowers-Smith scores TWO tries as New Zealand cruised to an 82–16 victory over the Cook Islands earlier today in the 2026 IRL Men’s Rugby League World Cup group stages! 🇳🇿💪 pic.twitter.com/MREwn7o608