Toa Samoa have named their squad for Sunday’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 semi-final against Australia, with a place in the tournament final on the line as the team prepares for another major test on the international stage.
The Samoan side will meet the defending champions at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on November 8, with kick-off scheduled for 8:05pm AEDT.
Following Sunday’s narrow 20–18 defeat to Pacific rivals Tonga at CommBank Stadium, Toa Samoa remain firmly in the hunt for the World Cup title and will now turn their attention to an Australian side seeking a fourth consecutive tournament championship.
The squad announcement includes a number of important selection changes ahead of the knockout fixture. Ronald Volkman has been named at five-eighth following a hamstring injury to Chanel Harris-Tavita, while Benaiah Ioelu is named to start at hooker, with Jazz Tevaga listed on the interchange bench.
Deine Mariner also returns to the interchange after recovering from the hamstring injury he sustained in the opening match against France.
The semi-final presents another significant opportunity for Toa Samoa, who made history at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup by becoming the first Pacific nation to reach the men’s tournament final.
Now, four years later, Samoa have another opportunity to take a step towards the sport’s biggest international prize.
Australia enter the contest as the reigning champions, having secured their place in the semi-finals with a 66–6 victory over the Cook Islands. The Kangaroos have named a largely unchanged starting side for Sunday’s encounter, setting the stage for a highly anticipated meeting between the two nations.
For Toa Samoa, the focus now shifts to the challenge ahead, with the team looking to deliver a performance worthy of the occasion and continue its pursuit of the World Cup trophy.
With the support of Samoans around the world behind them, Toa Samoa will take the field knowing what another place in the final would mean for the nation and its people.
Match details
- Match: Toa Samoa v Australia
- Competition: Rugby League World Cup 2026 Semi-Final
- Date: Sunday, November 8, 2026
- Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
- Kick-off: 8:05pm AEDT (7:05pm AEST in Brisbane)
