England meet Papua New Guinea in a crucial 2026 Rugby League World Cup encounter at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on Friday, October 30. With their semi-final hopes depending on both this result and events elsewhere, England have little room for error.
Brian McDermott’s side enter the final round of pool matches needing a convincing performance. For Jason Demetriou’s Kumuls, the match offers an opportunity to respond to their defeat against Samoa and keep their own qualification chances alive.
England vs Papua New Guinea Date, Time and Venue
The match kicks off at 8:05 PM AEDT, correcting the supplied time of 2:05 AM AET. Supporters in the United Kingdom can follow the action from 9:05 AM GMT, while the corresponding time in India is 2:35 PM IST.
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | Men’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 |
| Stage | Round 3 |
| Date | Friday, October 30, 2026 |
| Venue | WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Australia |
| Australian kick-off | 8:05 PM AEDT |
| United Kingdom | 9:05 AM GMT |
| India | 2:35 PM IST |
| Papua New Guinea | 7:05 PM PGT |
| Coaches | Brian McDermott and Jason Demetriou |
All listed times fall on October 30. The official World Cup team news confirms the evening start in Wollongong.
England and Papua New Guinea Team Lineups
The published starting teams are listed below. These remain subject to subsequent team updates.
| Position | England | Papua New Guinea |
|---|---|---|
| Fullback | AJ Brimson | Zac Laybutt |
| Wing | Dominic Young | Robert Derby |
| Centre | Hugo Savala | Josh Feledy |
| Centre | Herbie Farnworth | Nene Macdonald |
| Wing | Matty Ashton | Dudley Dotoi |
| Five-eighth | George Williams | Gairo Voro |
| Halfback | Harry Smith | Bailey Biondi-Odo |
| Prop | Max King | Epel Kapinias |
| Hooker | Jez Litten | Edwin Ipape |
| Prop | Luke Thompson | Luca Moretti |
| Second row | Junior Nsemba | Rhyse Martin |
| Second row | Kai Pearce-Paul | Nixon Putt |
| Lock | Morgan Knowles | Liam Horne |
England’s extended interchange: Mikey Lewis, Sam Walters, Ethan Havard, Victor Radley, Ben Currie and Jack Welsby. Reserves: Brad O’Neill, Zach Eckersley and Kallum Watkins.
Papua New Guinea’s extended interchange: Finley Glare, Jacob Taulani, Robert Mathias, Sanny Wabo, Valentine Richard and Zev John. Reserves: Morea Morea, Rodrick Tai and Alex Max.
Latest Team News
England bring Jez Litten into the starting hooker role, while Morgan Knowles returns at lock after a calf injury kept him out of the opening two matches.
Papua New Guinea reshape their backline, moving Zac Laybutt to fullback and selecting Josh Feledy alongside Nene Macdonald in the centres. Luca Moretti returns to the front row, and Liam Horne replaces the injured Jack de Belin at lock.
What England Need to Reach the Semi-Finals
England must beat Papua New Guinea and then rely on Tonga defeating Samoa. They also need to overcome Samoa’s existing 68-point advantage in points difference.
That gap can close through England’s winning margin and Samoa’s losing margin together; England do not necessarily need to win this match by 68 points. Papua New Guinea face a different equation: victory here, followed by Samoa beating Tonga, with a substantial points-difference swing also required. The official qualification explainer details both routes.
Head-to-Head and Match Outlook
England won the previous World Cup meeting 46–6 in 2022, following a 36–6 victory in 2017. Those results provide encouraging historical context, although Friday’s selection and qualification pressure create a different challenge.
Tactically, England’s priority should be controlled possession before chasing a large score. Williams and Smith can build pressure through their kicking, giving the outside backs opportunities against a tiring defence.
For the Kumuls, completing sets and limiting repeat defensive work will be essential. An unsettled opening could favour England, but sustained resistance would make the visitors’ points-difference target increasingly difficult.