Watch New Zealand v Tonga on 7plus, Sky Sport NZ and the world feed

The New Zealand v Tonga fixture of the Rugby League World Cup 2026 goes live on Saturday, 7 November 2026, with kick-off at 09:05 UK time. Coverage will flow across a broad range of channels, and the headline broadcast is being carried on 7plus in Australia and New Zealand by presenter Mel McLaughlin, while the competing New Zealand audience tunes into Sky Sport NZ. British and international viewers can follow the action through the world feed and a growing catalogue of Premier Sports channels, so there is plenty of choice whether you are watching from London, Sydney or Wellington.

Channel 7's broadcast is once again fronted by Mel McLaughlin, who alongside Andrew Voss leads the commentary for the main line-up. Mel McLaughlin has been a fixture across the sport's television coverage for years, anchoring the Seven network's World Cup broadcasts and drawing on his reputation as a frontman who can keep the crowd informed while the players sort out who is playing whom. He is joined on several channels by Lucas Keary and Trent Robinson, two of the most accomplished names in the commentator's room, alongside Trent Robinson's former playmate Ryan Girdler and Shane Flanagan.

Who is commenting and where to watch

The main commentator for the New Zealand v Tonga fixture is Andrew Voss, who fronts both the world feed and the 7plus line-up. Andrew Voss has long been a lead voice in the commentary network, and his partnership with Mel McLaughlin on the Seven channels has become a staple of the season's biggest fixtures. He is joined on 7plus by Lucas Keary, Trent Robinson, and supported by reporters Charlie White and James Graham.

The world feed mirrors this closely, with Andrew Voss as main commentator and Lucas Keary alongside Trent Robinson as co-commentators, reporting through Charlie White and James Graham. This is the cleanest option for viewers who want a single, authoritative feed feeding both Australian and international channels.

New Zealand's own broadcast is carried on Sky Sport NZ HD by presenter Kriste Sainway, with commentary supplied as the world feed and expert opinions from Monty Betham and Blake Ayshford. A second Sky Sport NZ HD channel also carries the fixture, keeping Monty Betham, Blake Ayshford and the reporting team on hand throughout.

Irish and UK audiences have a wide choice through the Premier Sports family of HD channels, all presented by Mel McLaughlin and running commentary as the world feed, with pundits Lucas Keary, James Graham, Trent Robinson and Charlie White offering their take. The SEN channels add another commentary layer, with Joel Caine as main commentator alongside co-commentators Justin Holbrook and Camell Graham, reported by Brett Kimmorley.

The Australian and New Zealand networks

Channel 7 Australia runs the same core line-up as 7plus, with Mel McLaughlin presenting, Andrew Voss as main commentator and Lucas Keary and Trent Robinson providing commentary, plus Charlie White and James Graham reporting and Charlie White as a pundit. The Triple M / LiSTNR network takes a different approach, with Ben Dobbin as main commentator, co-commentators Ryan Girdler and Shane Flanagan, and Charlie White reporting.

Ben Dobbin, born in 1976, is an Australian radio presenter and sports journalist who has been a staple of the Triple M coverage for years. He began as a jackaroo on Bunette Downs in the Northern Territory before spending 15 years as a stock and station agent across Queensland, a background that gives him an authenticity few media-trained commentators can match. He joined the Triple M network in 2012 and remains a leading voice in Queensland's rugby league commentary.

The ABC Sport channel rounds out the Australian options, with Andrew Moore as main commentator, co-commentator Ruan Sims and reporter Bridget Murphy. For the British side of things, audiences can tune into the BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, available via the BBC Sounds app and BBC Sport Online in audio format, while Australian viewers are catered for through Fox Sports and the world feed.

With so many channels covering the same fixture, the choice comes down to preference. The 7plus and world feed line-ups led by Mel McLaughlin and Andrew Voss offer the most complete commentary, while Sky Sport NZ keeps the New Zealand perspective front and centre. Whichever channel you choose, the New Zealand v Tonga fixture of the Rugby League World Cup 2026 kicks off at 09:05 UK time on 7 November 2026.

Article generated: 7 November 2026, 09:14 GMT