With week two of the Rugby League World Cup now wrapped up, here are five things you may have missed from the weekend of action.

Australia’s men’s and women’s sides both qualified for the semi-finals this week, whilst New Zealand winger Jamayne Isaako made history for breaking the record for most points by a Kiwi in a World Cup match.

Those stories all made headlines, but what about the events that didn’t get as much airtime? Below are five headlines and events that took place over the course of the World Cup’s second week of action that perhaps went under the radar.

Five things you may have missed from Rugby League World Cup week two

Retiring Rhyse hailed by PNG faithful:

Hull KR forward Rhyse Martin played what is very likely to be the penultimate game of his career on Saturday, and his final ever game in Port Moresby.

Twelve years on from making his Papua New Guinea debut, the retiring back rower was given plenty of recognition following the Kumuls’ 64-6 defeat to Samoa.

Martin was reduced to tears after being lifted up on the shoulders by his teammates before taking a lap of honour, allowing himself to feel the energy, passion and love from the Papua New Guinea crowd.

Barring a miracle, the final game of the 33-year-old’s career will come next week when PNG take on England in Wollongong on Friday.

Emotional scenes from Rhyse Martin 👏 🇵🇬

#RLWC26 https://t.co/tpZqxSWR8T

— Rugby League World Cup 2026 (@rugbyleaguewcup) October 24, 2026

Cunningham’s ‘Sharpie shirt’:

England Women’s 78-0 defeat to Australia was a big talking point in itself, but one small moment from the game has come to the public’s attention, and it involved the kit of captain Jodie Cunningham.

The retiring trailblazer was involved in a head clash in the first half that resulted in blood getting over her shirt. Per rugby league rules, players must change their kit should blood get on their jersey, however England didn’t have a spare kit with Cunningham’s number printed on.

That made for a scramble situation when, per LoveRugbyLeague, the match commissioner informed the England staff that her shirt must have a number on before she re-entered the field. As a result, her number, 14, was drawn on to the back of her shirt in black marker pen, which then allowed her to return to the pitch.

Judging by the first two weeks of the World Cup, Warrington Wolves have a solid signing of their hands as Fiji’s Mitchell Prest stood out once again.

Prest will be banned for next week’s must-win game against New Zealand, having picked up his second disciplinary charge in as many weeks. However, barring that, the 23-year-old has excelled in games against the Cook Islands and Australia, and if he takes that form into Super League next season, Wire have a handy player joining their ranks.

Making 112 metres from 13 carries, 43 of which were post-contact, Prest was a key part of the Bati pack that dominated Australia for the majority of the contest. He also made 26 tackles with two misses.

Super League club’s academy work with Tonga:

It was a very special day for the St Helens academy squad, who got the chance to observe a training session of Tonga’s ahead of their would-be victory against Lebanon.

Tonga’s head coach is ex-Saints boss Kristian Woolf – a winner of three Super League trophies during his time in England. The nation’s coaching staff also had ex-Red Vee men Will Hopoate and Konrad Hurrell involved.

Not only did they get to watch the Tongan’s train, but they also had a field session themselves that was led by Woolf. Taking place at the New South Wales Rugby League Training Complex, it was a special day for all involved, and was perfect preparation going into Saints’ final game of the tour. They faced North Sydney Bears and earned a 16-12 comeback win.

Grand Final winner’s social media outburst:

Super League Grand Final winner and Bradford Bulls signing Lachlan Walmsley took to social media over the weekend to voice his displeasure over the reduced number of teams at this year’s World Cup.

Walmsley’s Scotland are one of the sides involved in the 2022 World Cup that failed to qualify for this year’s tournament, and the Australian-born speedster believes more countries should have got the chance to play in the competition.

He said on X, formerly Twitter: “So Scotland, Wales, Italy and Ireland don’t get to compete in this World Cup, but a poor man’s England wins by 80 points… It’s a joke, this. I want to represent my family but can’t. What a waste of time.”

He was joined in his views by fellow Scot, Ryan King, who replied: “Thank f*** someone said it, whole set-up is s***!”

Scotland are currently playing in a Celtic Cup tournament between themselves, Ireland and Wales, however neither player is involved in the national side.

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