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Find your frequency'So many teams can win': closest league World Cup yet
Darren Walton & George Clarke, AAP • October 14th, 2026 5:56 pm
Mitch Moses and the Kangaroos will be looking over their shoulders at this year's World Cup | Photo: Robbie Stephenson/AAP
Kangaroos playmaker Mitch Moses is predicting the 17th Rugby League World Cup will be the most competitive yet as the growing Pasifika threat levels the playing field like never before.
The 10-team, five-week extravaganza kicks off on Thursday night with the Australians opening their title defence - and quest for a fourth straight crown - against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium.
Winners of 11 of the past 12 editions stretching back to 1975, and 12-times champions overall, the Kangaroos no longer hold a mortgage on the trophy, as Moses and coach Kevin Walters are acutely aware.
Coach Kevin Walters is keeping a close eye on rivals as Australia chase another World Cup | Photo: Robbie Stephenson/AAP
"It's really good to see. Obviously all these other countries are really strengthening their squads and it makes it a good World Cup," said Moses, who guided Lebanon to the 2022 quarter-finals before switching his allegiance back to Australia.
"It's probably one of the hardest World Cups to win, with the amount of quality players in all the different countries, so it's a good test."
New Zealand coach Stacey Jones believes up to five nations can lift the trophy at Suncorp Stadium on November 26, including the Kiwis, England, Samoa and Tonga.
"There's so many teams that can win it. It's brilliant for the international game," Jones said after his side's captain's run in Sydney on Wednesday.
Coach Stacey Jones chats with James Fisher-Harris as the Kiwis fine-tune their preparations | Photo: Robbie Stephenson/AAP
Samoa lost the final four years ago 30-10 to Australia, but superstar Stephen Crichton reckons the 2026 squad - co-captained by Jarome Luai and Junior Paulo, and also featuring the likes of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Brian To'o, Izack Tago and Spencer Leniu - is even more formidable.
"It's probably the best one I've been a part of and it's very exciting as well," the triple Penrith premiership winner said.
"We've had four or five of the boys in the grand final teams, and a lot of boys played finals as well.
"They've got that experience and that drive to get better and to win as well, so I'm keen to see how they go."
Stephen Crichton scored for Samoa in their 2022 World Cup final loss to Australia in London | Photo: David Davies/AAP
Crichton, whose golden-point field goal earned Samoa a memorable 27-26 semi-final win over tournament hosts England in 2022, also suspects Samoa will benefit from being one of the most popular sides in the global showpiece.
"In that 2022 World Cup, we didn't know how much support we had behind us until we started winning," he said.
"I feel like that's where the expectation comes from now and people can come and actually watch us live. Everyone's got that expectation that we have to make it again.
"It was very cool seeing all the videos, seeing all the parades and things like that. But the best way to celebrate is to win, and that's what we've all got in mind."
Coach Kevin Walters says the Kangaroos aren't feeling the pressure of being title favourites | Photo: Robbie Stephenson/AAP
Walters insists the pressure of title favouritism isn't a factor for his Kangaroos, who also have the KL Iro-led Cook Islands and Fiji, skippered by Api Koroisau, in their pool.
"To be honest, we haven't even spoken about that," Walters said.
"We just want to go out and play - we're the Kangaroos. It's a rich history with the Kangaroos and the jumper, and the success of the jumper.
"And now this group of men need to take that jumper forward, and I've got great respect for them and I believe that's what we can do."
New Zealand coach Stacey Jones is expecting big things from England in the World Cup | Photo: Robbie Stephenson/AAP
Jones nominated England, with NRL grand finalists Victor Radley, Hugo Savala and Dominic Young, plus Herbie Farnworth, AJ Brimson and Max King, as the tournament's sleeping giants.
"Not many people are talking about England. They've got a very strong team," he said.
"So everyone's just excited to probably get their first game under way and then go from there."
Tune into Sport Nation for live commentary of Rugby League World Cup 2026 this October and November - download the app today on Google Play and the App Store.
