Women’s Rugby League World Cup Tips and Predictions – Round 1

The 2026 Women's Rugby League World Cup gets underway this weekend, with eight nations across four fixtures kicking off what promises to be a fiercely contested tournament on Australian, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinean soil. 

Defending champions Australia open against a dangerous Samoa side, while Papua New Guinea host France in Port Moresby. 

England take on Wales in a Northern Hemisphere derby in Perth, and New Zealand face Fiji to finish off an action-packed Round 1. 

With new combinations, tournament debutants, and plenty of Pacific pride in play, here's everything you need to know ahead of the Women's Rugby League World Cup. 

For all the latest news, analysis, and odds ahead of the opening round of the 2026 Women’s RLWC, check out our Women’s Rugby League World Cup Round 1 tips and predictions below.

Australia Women vs Samoa Women Prediction 

Friday, October 16, 8:05pm AEDT – CommBank Stadium 

The Jillaroos open their campaign with a new look halves pairing, as Jocelyn Kelleher makes her debut alongside Tarryn Aiken. 

It's a bold selection call, but one that reflects the depth Australia can call upon even when shuffling combinations. 

Jess Sergis lines up in the centres carrying a remarkable record of 10 tries in 10 Tests, and she'll look to add to that tally against a Samoan defence still finding its feet at this level. 

Up front, Shaylee Bent returns to the Jillaroos fold for the first time since 2022, fresh off being named Dally M Second Rower of the Year, while Olivia Kernick and Millie Elliott anchor a forward pack built for go-forward. 

Isabelle Kelly leads the side as captain, bringing composure and experience to a line-up stacked with representative class.

Samoa counter with Destiny Mino-Sinapati at fullback, tasked with shutting down space in behind, while Evania Isa'ako and Laikha Clarke provide the forward platform. 

Taliah Fuimaono and Pauline Piliae-Rasabale control the halves for Samoa, and their ability to manage field position will be critical against an Australian outfit that thrives on quick play-the-balls and go-forward.

History offers little comfort for Samoa here, however. Their last meeting with Australia ended in a 60-0 defeat, and the gulf in depth between the two squads remains significant.

Head-to-head prediction: Australia Women. 

Papua New Guinea Women vs France Women Prediction 

Saturday, October 17, 1:15pm AEDT – Santos National Football Stadium 

Papua New Guinea will lean heavily on the experience of captain Elsie Albert here, whose work in the front row sets the tone for a side built on physicality and pride. 

Fleur Ginn starts at five-eighth, directing traffic for a PNG outfit that will look to use quick play-the-balls and go through the middle early to establish territory.

France on the other hand have Camille Boudaud at five-eighth, and she will act as a key organiser for a squad still building its profile on the international stage. 

The French forwards will need to match PNG's intensity in the middle third if they're to control the tempo of this contest.

This fixture is harder to split than the other Round 1 matches, with both nations still establishing themselves at World Cup level. 

Discipline and completion rates in the middle 20 minutes could prove decisive, but we expect PNG’s home ground advantage to be the real gamebreaker in this one. 

Head-to-head prediction: Papua New Guinea Women.

England Women vs Wales Women Prediction 

Saturday, October 17, 5:35pm AEDT – HBF Park 

England enter this UK derby with a settled spine, with Georgia Roche controlling proceedings at halfback and Fran Goldthorp providing a strong last line of defence at fullback. 

The standout inclusion is Jasmin Strange, who makes her international debut after an impressive NRLW campaign with the Roosters. 

Hollie-Mae Dodd and Anna Davies round out a line-up that has dominated this fixture in recent years.

Wales will pin their hopes on Tayla Preston, who pulls on the No.7 jersey and offers genuine NRLW pedigree with the Bulldogs. Preston's ability to inject pace and ball-playing skill will be crucial if Wales are to avoid another lopsided scoreline.

The head-to-head record here is stark. England have won all five of their recent meetings with Wales, four of them by more than 60 points to nil. 

That kind of dominance is difficult to ignore, and Strange's debut adds another dangerous attacking weapon to an already potent England side.

Head-to-head prediction: England Women. 

New Zealand Women vs Fiji Women Prediction 

Sunday, October 18, 1:50pm AEDT – McDonald Jones Stadium 

The final game of Round 1 of the Women’s Rugby League World Cup sees New Zealand arrive with a blend of proven performers and exciting new faces. 

Captain Raecene McGregor steers the side around the park, while Zahara Temara and Shannon Mato both make their Kiwi Ferns debuts. 

The headline inclusion is Stacey Waaka, who brings a stunning NRLW record of 15 tries in 16 games into her first international outing. 

Mele Hufanga, with 29 tries in 40 NRLW appearances, adds further attacking firepower out wide, while Georgia Hale directs play from hooker and Otesa Pule provides go-forward in the middle.

Fiji will rely on Cassie Staples at fullback to organise their back-field defence, with Isabella Waterman, who has scored five tries in her last eight games, a genuine threat in the centres alongside Taina Naividi. 

Talei Holmes anchors the forward pack from lock, a role that will be tested repeatedly against New Zealand's dangerous outside backs.

Fiji's resilience shouldn't be underestimated. They haven't lost by more than 14 points since re-entering international competition in 2019, a run that speaks to genuine improvement and composure under pressure.

Fiji's recent form suggests this won't be a blowout, but we expect Waaka and Hufanga to still cause plenty of problems out wide.

Head-to-head prediction: New Zealand Women.