The Kiwis will face the Kangaroos in the final on Sunday night. Andrew Voerman

The Chiefs’ big money deal for Jarome Luai has come under fire, with journalist Phil Rothfield delivering an almighty swipe at the star playmaker.

Jo Barrett’s incredible impact on women’s rugby league in Queensland has been recognised, with the QRL announcing on Tuesday that its Under 17 female competition will be named after the trailblazing Fox League commentator.

Large Polynesian populations in states such as Hawaii, California and Utah have the IRL confident they will be commercially viable destinations. Liam O'Loughlin

The Broncos have suffered an early setback in their bid to bounce back from their disastrous premiership defence with Josiah Karapani banned for the first two rounds of the 2027 season.

The Samoa star is suspended after showing his frustration at the officiating in his side's loss to Australia in the Rugby League World Cup semifinal. 

Samoa were denied a first-half try by a controversial call that was hard to understand, but their loss to the Kangaroos was of their own making. Mat Kermeen

Payne Haas dominated fitness drills on his first day at South Sydney training but won’t start contact work until January, with the former Broncos prop again forced to shut down theories on why he left the biggest club in Queensland.

It’s locked in. Australia will take on New Zealand in next Sunday’s World Cup final, a repeat of the epic thriller which kicked off the tournament.

Spencer Leniu has called out the pay disparity between Kangaroos players and the rest of the nations, declaring “our little nations carried” the World Cup after Samoa and Tonga bowed out of the tournament.