Kiwi Ferns Call Up Olympic Gold Duo for Women's Rugby League World Cup

New Zealand Rugby League has confirmed its 23-player Kiwi Ferns squad for the 2026 Women's Rugby League World Cup, with cross-code stars Stacey Waaka and Tenika Willison the headline selections. The pair won Olympic gold together with the Black Ferns Sevens at Tokyo 2020 before switching to rugby league, and they will now chase a World Cup crown together this October. The squad carries a mix of proven experience and new faces, including five potential debutants. Co-captain Raecene McGregor leads the group after a standout NRLW season in which she finished runner-up for the Dally M Medal, while veteran Georgia Hale brings deep leadership alongside her. Four players have switched allegiance for the tournament: Shannon Mato and Zahara Temara, who previously represented Australia, and Kaiyah Atai and Chantay Kiria-Ratu, who played for the Cook Islands. The Kiwi Ferns assemble in Newcastle this weekend to open their campaign against Fiji on October 18 at McDonald Jones Stadium. They then host France in Christchurch on October 25 before meeting Papua New Guinea on the Gold Coast on October 31, with a semi-final berth the target. Head coach Ricky Henry said the depth of Kiwi talent made selection difficult, but backed his group to go one better after the way the previous World Cup ended.