Watch Tonga v Samoa on 7plus and ABC Sport, with Andrew Voss calling the line

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup kicks off today, and the Tonga v Samoa match is one of the first on the board. It begins at 09:05 UK time on 1 November 2026. If you want to follow it, the main broadcast is on 7plus (Channel 7 Australia), and there is also an ABC Sport channel. Both are worth tuning into if you want to see the whole thing play out.

For those who prefer the wider picture, there is a world feed running as well. On top of that, several other channels are carrying parts of the match, so you have plenty of options depending on how deep you want to go.

The 7plus broadcast

The headline channel is 7plus, Channel 7 Australia. Presenting the match are Mel McLaughlin as the main presenter, with Emma Freedman alongside as co-presenter. Commentating the actual gameplay is Andrew Voss as the main commentator, joined by Corey Parker and Luke Keary as co-commentators.

Mel McLaughlin is part of the star-studded broadcast team that Seven has unveiled for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. His coverage is set to come to life across all 53 men's, women's and wheelchair matches, with Mel McLaughlin and Matt White as the 7Sport presenters. That means if you are watching him today, you are catching one half of a much larger national broadcast.

Corey Parker is the person with the most pedigree here, having been the 2013 RLWC winner and host of The Agenda Setters: Rugby League. He is leading the coverage alongside Mel McLaughlin, Matt White and Sunrise's Matt Shirvington. It is worth remembering that as a former world cup winner, Corey Parker brings real insight to how a match like Tonga v Samoa can pan out.

The ABC Sport channel

If 7plus is not your thing, ABC Sport is carrying the match too. The main commentator there is Andrew Moore, with Matthew Elliott as co-commentator and Michael Carayannis reporting. This gives you a second, independent read on the same gameplay, which can be handy if you want to compare how two different commentating teams are seeing the board.

The world feed and supporting channels

The world feed runs the same core commentating as the 7plus channel, with Andrew Voss as main commentator and Corey Parker and Luke Keary as co-commentators, plus Katie Brown and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck reporting. It is a good option if you want the flagship commentary without being tied to one specific channel.

Two further channels are also on the board. The LiSTNR / Triple M channel carries Emma Lawrence as its main commentator, while the SEN / SEN App channel runs Jimmy Smith as main commentator with Justin Horo and Campbell Graham as co-commentators. Together these give you several angles on the Tonga v Samoa matchup.

Who is who

For anyone following along, Andrew Voss is the main commentator on both 7plus and the world feed, so he is the one whose word most people will be taking as the definitive read. Keary and Corey Parker fill out the supporting commentary, while the reporters — Katie Brown and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck — are tracking the details as the match develops. On the presentation side, Mel McLaughlin and Emma Freedman are the faces you will see leading the broadcast each day.

Whether you settle in on 7plus, tune into ABC Sport, or follow the world feed, today's Tonga v Samoa match is the first real action of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, and it is shaping up to be one worth watching.

Article generated: 1 November 2026, 09:09 GMT