{"id":626507,"date":"2026-10-10T15:58:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T15:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/626507\/"},"modified":"2026-10-10T15:58:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T15:58:12","slug":"from-cleaning-a-home-to-the-kiwis-labans-world-cup-call-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/626507\/","title":{"rendered":"From cleaning a home to the Kiwis: Laban\u2019s World Cup call-up"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jacob Laban<\/a> was cleaning a home when New Zealand Kiwis <\/a>coach Stacey Jones rang to tell him he had made the Rugby League World Cup squad.<\/p>\n

The Warriors<\/a> forward showed his wife the caller\u2019s name, answered the phone and heard the news. Then the pair jumped up and down.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was pretty crazy,\u201d Laban told PMN News.<\/p>\n

Now the 2026 World Cup debutant is preparing to face Australia<\/a> in the tournament opener, carrying the hopes of his family and a season that saw him named the Warriors\u2019 Players\u2019 Player of the Year.<\/p>\n

For Laban, the call also marked a personal milestone. Born in S\u0101moa and raised in New Zealand, he had considered representing Toa S\u0101moa<\/a> but says he had always leaned towards the Kiwis after coming through New Zealand\u2019s representative system.<\/p>\n

His father, who is S\u0101moan, backed his decision. \u201cHe just keeps it to himself or blocks it off,\u201d Laban joked when asked how his family in S\u0101moa had reacted to his selection.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The New Zealand Kiwis prepare for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, where they open their campaign against Australia before facing the Cook Islands and Fiji in Pool A. Photo\/AAP\/Photosport\/Robbie Stephenson<\/p>\n

But his father\u2019s advice was clear: \u201cKiwis gave me an opportunity, New Zealand gave me an opportunity, just pay it back and be loyal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laban says having coaches believe in him has also made a difference. \u201cI think if no one really backs you, then it’s sort of like you’re on your own, back against the wall.”<\/p>\n

The young forward will share the World Cup experience with his brother Tanner Stowers-Smith, who is also in line to make his Kiwis debut. Laban remembers when they were playing for the Kiwi A team two years ago.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Tanner Stowers-Smith and Jahrome Hughes have been named in the NZ Kiwis side for the RLWC which kicks off next week. Photo\/AAP\/Photosport\/Robbie Stephenson<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo years, we were in the Kiwis squad,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I’m happy that I can be in the Kiwis squad with them as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laban\u2019s story reflects the different journeys behind the black jersey as several players make deeply personal decisions about the country they represent.<\/p>\n

Newcastle Knights<\/a> star Kalyn Ponga, who grew up in New Zealand but has spent much of his career in Australia, says his connection to M\u0101ori culture and his family helped guide his decision to play for the Kiwis.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo go out there and represent where I’m from, my family, my culture and the country, it’s pretty special,\u201d Ponga told a media standup in Auckland.<\/p>\n

For Dane Gagai, the call-up also carries family meaning. The Newcastle outside back has previously represented Australia and won a World Cup with the Kangaroos but says his New Zealand family ties remain central to who he is.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing Kiwi for me isn’t just where you’re born and raised, it’s who you are and I was raised by my family,\u201d Gagai said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Newcastle Knights stars Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai say representing New Zealand means honouring their families, culture and where they come from. Photo\/AAP\/Photosport\/Robbie Stephenson<\/p>\n

Jahrome Hughes, returning to the Kiwis after missing recent campaigns through injury, said pulling on the jersey was something he had dreamed of since childhood.<\/p>\n

\u201cI dreamed putting these colours on since I was a young kid,\u201d the Melbourne Storm halfback said.<\/p>\n

The Kiwis are ranked second in the latest International Rugby League men\u2019s rankings and finished the 2022 World Cup with a narrow 16-14 semi-final loss to Australia. <\/p>\n

They won the Pacific Championships<\/a> in 2025 and now begin their World Cup campaign against the Kangaroos in Sydney on Thursday, 15 October.<\/p>\n

New Zealand, captained by Warriors co-leader James Fisher-Harris, are in Pool A with Australia, the Cook Islands<\/a> and Fiji<\/a>. After the opening match, the Kiwis face the Cook Islands in Christchurch on 25 October before meeting Fiji on the Gold Coast on 31 October.<\/p>\n

Jones said Laban and Stowers-Smith had earned their places after strong seasons with the Warriors.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Kiwis coach Stacey Jones, centre with white hat, says Warriors teammates Jacob Laban and Tanner Stowers-Smith have earned their places in the World Cup squad after strong seasons. Photo\/AAP\/Photosport\/Robbie Stephenson<\/p>\n

\u201cJakey was our Players’ Player of the Year this year,\u201d the coach said. \u201cThey’re going to add something to this group.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laban believes the next few weeks will be about learning from some of the game\u2019s biggest names, building combinations, and enjoying his first taste of a World Cup.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust probably all the banter around the boys, see what their banter’s like,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Kiwis\u2019 first test comes against the reigning champions, Australia, in the opening match of the tournament.<\/p>\n

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup<\/a> kicks off on 15 October and ends on 15 November. Games will be held across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jacob Laban was cleaning a home when New Zealand Kiwis coach Stacey Jones rang to tell him he…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":626508,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[111,43,139,69],"class_list":["post-626507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-zealand","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-newzealand","tag-nz"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/626507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=626507"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/626507\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/626508"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=626507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=626507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=626507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}