Nrl

The Knights and Cowboys open season 2026 at the 65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium. Audio

A State of Origin match will be played in Eden Park in Auckland in 2027 following three years of high-level talks with the NRL and the Australian Rugby League Commission.

First staged in 2010, the season-opening fixture was conceived as a deliberate exercise in showcasing indigenous excellence and its contribution to the competition.

Papua New Guinea's new NRL franchise has taken another hit with chief executive Andrew Hill leaving the club before a ball has even been kicked.

The rugby union convert sits atop the competition's tryscoring, with two hattricks under her belt.

Two first-half tries to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have propelled the New Zealand Warriors to a 32-18 win over the Gold Coast Titans, landing them back in the NRL top four.

Analysis - Amazingly, they're back in the NRL penthouse - but only through the tradies' entrance.

Just don't mention that dreaded 'C' word...

Morgan Gannon has signed with the Warriors until the end of the 2028 season.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad recently marked 50 games with the Warriors.

The Tonga XIII co-captain said they are all set to once again play for their fans and families in the Pacific Championships Cup final.

Kristian Woolf is confident the Tongans can live up to the standard required against the Australian Kangaroos in the Pacific Championships Cup final.

Australia, Tonga, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Samoa are all in action on Sunday.

There is a silent breeze of confidence flowing through the Tonga XIII rugby league team camp.

Two hat-tricks scored by two individual players sent the Fiji Bati and Fiji Bulikula marching on with hopes of getting into the top positions in the Pacific Bowls competition.

"We want everyone to know, especially our men… if you are going through troubles, all you've got to do is to ask for help - please just ask." Audio

Tonga will meet the World Cup champions at Suncorp Stadium on 18 October before travelling to New Zealand to face last year's Pacific Cup winners at Go Media Stadium on 2 November.

PNG is hoping - with the backing of Australia providing up to $600 million in funding - they can start playing in the NRL as the 18th team in the competition as early as 2028.

The Warriors have been beaten 30-22 by the Storm in their traditional Anzac Day NRL fixture in Melbourne.

The Warriors will field a new halves combination against the Cowboys in their round seven NRL clash in Auckland this weekend.