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Did somebody say roadkill? The Kangaroos have been warned about a Kiwi steamroller heading their way on Thursday night in Sydney.<\/p>\n
In props Naufahu Whyte, captain James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and Joseph Tapine, the Kiwis might have the best collection of props in the country\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
![\"Naufahu](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/41053a82855e8b5194a7fe8510c93d9c4f4ae8ec.jpeg\")
Naufahu Whyte and James Fisher-Harris are two members of New Zealand\u2019s big World Cup forward pack.George Chan<\/p>\n
That\u2019s certainly the belief of NRL premiership-winning coach Shane Flanagan<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no stronger forward pack,\u201d Flanagan said last week on The Bye Round podcast.<\/p>\n
Former England enforcer James Graham agreed: \u201cHave they got the best four props? Not just as a group, but if you\u2019re ranking the best props in the world \u2026 I think Naufahu Whyte has been the best prop this year, and you could make a strong case that positions two, three and four would be filled by Tapine, Leota and Fisher-Harris.\u201d<\/p>\n
And after Lindsay Collins was ruled out through injury, the Kangaroos pack looks a bit light on in the middle, despite still having Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui, Keaon Koloamatangi and Patrick Carrigan in their ranks.<\/p>\n
Fisher-Harris, however, does not want to get caught up in the off-field chat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t really care what everyone is saying,\u201d the humble Warriors captain said. \u201cI know what we\u2019ve got, but we need to get to work, bro.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf anything, we know everyone can play big minutes. We\u2019re chasing quality \u2013 quality and work ethic. This is not our first rodeo, so we\u2019re looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raiders hardman Tapine is another who doesn\u2019t want to get swept up in the headlines.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t just rely on a paper team,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to go out and deliver, so we\u2019ve been talking about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just don\u2019t ask Leota about Kayln Ponga\u2019s hit that floored the Panthers prop during the preliminary final.<\/p>\n
\u201cRonaldo\u2019s given me shit, but he\u2019s [Ponga] a humble dude, and I\u2019m excited to see him play for us,\u201d Leota said.<\/p>\n
It is difficult not to get excited about the collision coming on Thursday night in the World Cup opener.<\/p>\n
While State of Origin has long been seen as the pinnacle of rugby league, the relaxation of international eligibility laws<\/a> to equalise the talent across the game has been a boost for Test football in recent years.<\/p>\n The Kiwis\u2019 big four are sure to figure in Australia\u2019s planning for Thursday night, with the need to negate the strength in the middle of the field crucial to victory.<\/p>\n Whyte, who was named in the Dally M team of the year alongside Fisher-Harris, is even happy to come off the bench. It\u2019s a scary prospect given the destruction he caused this year, including in the Roosters\u2019 19-18 grand final win over the Knights<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly \u2026 we come in with no thought of being the big dog,\u201d Whyte said. \u201cWe may be that at our individual clubs, but once we put this black jersey on, there\u2019s no ego, there\u2019s no one who\u2019s meant to be the top dog in our forward pack. Everyone just goes out there doing their job.<\/p>\n \u201cIf that\u2019s starting or coming off the bench, I\u2019ll still put my best foot forward and do whatever it takes.\u201d<\/p>\n Whyte is already licking his lips at the chance to play against a couple of his Roosters teammates.<\/p>\n Fullback James Tedesco and halfback Sam Walker aren\u2019t yet assured of playing, but Whyte won\u2019t spare anyone punishment.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyone that\u2019s wearing green and gold, I\u2019m eyeing anyone now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Despite the Kiwis\u2019 big men wanting to let their actions do the talking, there\u2019s an inner confidence and excitement brewing.<\/p>\n Fisher-Harris presented Whyte with his debut jersey a few years ago, hoping that he would one day take over the mantle as the side\u2019s enforcer. Now, he\u2019s reached the summit.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 2023, he was our 18th man in all three games in the Pacific Championship,\u201d Fisher-Harris said. \u201cIt\u2019s just cool to see him get better and better each year at the Roosters and obviously in the international land.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now, he\u2019s probably the hardest to handle forward. It\u2019s pretty cool to have him on our team.\u201d<\/p>\n Tapine is another blown away by Whyte\u2019s rapid rise.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were in camp last year together, and I said, \u2018Man, he\u2019ll be the best front row in the next three to four years\u2019. He\u2019s done it this year; he\u2019s been the best in the comp,\u201d the Raiders forward said.<\/p>\n While the Kiwis\u2019 big four are looking forward to locking horns, they\u2019re not the only ones.<\/p>\n Fit-again halfback Jahrome Hughes is another rubbing his hands together.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been lucky enough to play with some pretty good forward packs, but I think the calibre of players that we have [in our] forward pack are right up there with the best,\u201d said the Kiwi halfback.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really excited. I\u2019m going to let them do their thing. I can just do mine by talking and helping the team around the park.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Naufahu](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/53bf810aa5084a8247712f424828c56fec3d5824.jpeg\")
Naufahu Whyte was outstanding for the Roosters as they claimed the 2026 NRL title.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/48eac106ea0478721306ee328d0f565002f93c12.jpeg\")
James Fisher-Harris will lead a powerful Kiwi side in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Jahrome](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/3f2d5e8b5d9d203fcfbf8ea2a98b13dd8be8b323.jpeg\")
Jahrome Hughes is set to play for the Kiwis for the first time since 2023.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Tino](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cb9ab5d29810812f4429a1c14bacfe113cde96a7.jpeg\")
Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui (centre) will likely have a big role to play against New Zealand.Getty Images<\/p>\n
![\"Jarome](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/5913b4bba139361626902e140d4e3a1ebdc9a0ad7965c902fb3ce0eeeb151aa4.gif\")
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