England vs PNG Prediction & Tips: Rugby League World Cup

England must beat PNG in Wollongong on Friday night and need a big margin to keep their Rugby League World Cup semi-final hopes alive. Our tip, the odds and the named teams.

England have to beat Papua New Guinea in Wollongong to keep their semi-final hopes alive, and even a win may not be enough. They lost 30-12 to Tonga before hammering France 82-0, and they need a big margin here and a Tonga win over Samoa on Sunday to go through. PNG beat Lebanon but were thrashed 64-6 by Samoa and come in with injuries.

Below are our tip and the reasoning, the head to head, the named teams and what is at stake. Every match is on our Rugby League World Cup hub.

Match Details

England vs Papua New Guinea Tips & Prediction

Our pick: England to win. England have won all five meetings with PNG, including World Cup quarter-finals in 2017 (36-6) and 2022 (46-6), and PNG are short of bodies after the Samoa game. The women’s England v Samoa game is on the same ground earlier in the evening.

Best bet: England -37.5 at the line (about $1.90). England have a reason to keep scoring: their semi-final hopes depend on points difference. They scored 14 tries against France, and PNG conceded 13 to Samoa a week ago, with Jack de Belin hurt and Nene Macdonald ill in that game. De Belin has since been ruled out with his rib injury.

The odds. England are $1.02 head to head at Ladbrokes on Tuesday evening (27 October), after the teams were named, with PNG $15. The line has moved from England -35.5 on Monday to -37.5, $1.90 either side, and the total is 60.5. Prices move with late team news, so compare them on the day.

England vs Papua New Guinea Head to Head

England have won all five Tests between the sides, including two World Cup quarter-finals. PNG have never beaten England.

Form at this World Cup

England lost 30-12 to Tonga in Perth in Round 1, then beat France 82-0 in Perth, with hat-tricks for Dominic Young and Herbie Farnworth and 13 goals from Hugo Savala.

PNG beat Lebanon 42-18 in Port Moresby in Round 1, then lost 64-6 to Samoa at home, with Samoa scoring six tries in the last 15 minutes.

England vs Papua New Guinea Team News

Both teams were named on Tuesday 27 October. Coaches can still make changes up to an hour before kick-off, so check the late mail on the day.

England: named team

England have made two changes to the side that beat France. Jez Litten starts at hooker, with Brad O’Neill dropping out of the 17, and Morgan Knowles is back at lock after a calf injury, with Victor Radley moving to the bench. Mikey Lewis and Jack Welsby are on the bench again. Named team: AJ Brimson; Dominic Young, Hugo Savala, Herbie Farnworth, Matty Ashton; George Williams (c), Harry Smith; Max King, Jez Litten, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Kai Pearce-Paul, Morgan Knowles. Bench: Mikey Lewis, Sam Walters, Ethan Havard, Victor Radley, Ben Currie, Jack Welsby.

PNG: named team

Jack de Belin is out with his rib injury and Khaiya Waiembi also misses out. Zac Laybutt moves to fullback, Josh Feledy and Nene Macdonald are the centres, Luca Moretti returns at prop and Liam Horne starts at lock. Named team: Zac Laybutt; Robert Derby, Josh Feledy, Nene Macdonald, Dudley Dotoi; Gairo Voro, Bailey Biondi-Odo; Epel Kapinias, Edwin Ipape, Luca Moretti, Rhyse Martin (c), Nixon Putt, Liam Horne. Bench: Finley Glare, Jacob Taulani, Robert Mathias, Sanny Wabo, Valentine Richard, Zev John.

What Is at Stake

England must win. Even then they also need Tonga to beat Samoa on Sunday, and their winning margin plus Tonga’s must add up to more than 68 points, because Samoa’s points difference is so strong. Tonga are already guaranteed to finish above England, having beaten them. PNG need a big win and a big Samoa win over Tonga to have any chance.

The top two on the combined Pools B and C table reach the semi-finals. The winner of the table plays the Pool A runner-up in Newcastle on Saturday 7 November, and the runner-up plays Australia in Sydney on Sunday 8 November.

England vs Papua New Guinea Betting Markets

• Head to head: the match winner, with golden point extra time if it is level at full time.
• Line: a points start for the underdog, usually the better market when the head-to-head price is short.
• Total points: over or under a set number of combined points.
• Try scorers: first, last and anytime try scorer markets on both squads.
• Same game multi: a result, margin and try scorers in one bet. See our same game multi guide.

Compare prices across our best NRL betting sites, which all price the World Cup.

England vs Papua New Guinea FAQs

When is England vs PNG at the Rugby League World Cup?

Friday 30 October 2026 at WIN Stadium in Wollongong, kicking off at 8:05pm AEDT.

Can England still make the semi-finals?

Yes, but they need to beat PNG, need Tonga to beat Samoa, and need their winning margin plus Tonga’s to be more than 68 points.

Who will win England vs PNG?

Our pick is England, and our best bet is England -37.5 at the line, because England need points and PNG have injuries.

What are the odds for England vs PNG?

England were $1.02 and PNG $15 at Ladbrokes on Tuesday 27 October, with the line at England -37.5 (it opened at -35.5).

Where can I watch England vs PNG?

Live and free on Seven and 7plus in Australia.

More Rugby League World Cup Coverage

• New Zealand vs Fiji tips
• Australia vs Cook Islands tips
• Lebanon vs France tips
• Tonga vs Samoa tips
• Jillaroos vs Wales tips
• Australia 36-22 Fiji: result
• New Zealand 82-16 Cook Islands: result
• Rugby League World Cup hub: schedule, ladder and tips
• Results and ladder
• Schedule and TV guide
• Women’s Rugby League World Cup
• The final

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