The Kiwis face a Tongan side coming into the match with three straight wins over England 30-12, Lebanon 36-0 and Toa Samoa 20-18. After losing 24-22 to the Kangaroos in the tournament opener, the Kiwis have scored at a point a minute after racking up 160 points against the Cook Islands (82-16) and Fiji (78-0).
Leading the way in the points-scoring have been centre Casey McLean and winger Jamayne Isaako. McLean has seven tries in three games, including four against Fiji. After scoring in every test he has played since his 2024 debut, the 20-year-old has 15 tries in seven internationals, seven short of Manu Vatuvei’s New Zealand record of 22.
High-scoring Issako is closing in on Shaun Johnson’s all-time points-scoring mark of 225 in tests. He claimed the Kiwis’ record for most goals in a test with 13 against the Cook Islands and then repeated it against Fiji to take his career tally for New Zealand to 215 points. In this World Cup alone, he has 74 points from three games, including 31 goals from 32 attempts.
2026 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL
NEW ZEALAND KIWIS v TONGA
1 Keano Kini
2 Jamayne Isaako
3 Dane Gagai
4 Casey McLean
5 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
6 Kodi Nikorima
7 Jahrome Hughes
8 James Fisher-Harris (c)
9 Jeremy Marshall-King
10 Moses Leota
11 Isaiah Papali’i
12 Briton Nikora
13 Joseph Tapine (v/c)
14 Te Maire Martin
15 Naufahu Whyte
16 Erin Clark
17 Xavier Willison
18 Scott Sorensen
19 Leo Thompson
20 Tanner Stowers-Smith
21 Kalyn Ponga
22 Phoenix Crossland