Mitchell Moses Ruled Out of Rugby League World Cup as Kalyn Ponga Undergoes Surgery

Australia have suffered a major blow ahead of their clash with Fiji, with Mitchell Moses ruled out of the tournament after suffering a serious leg injury, while New Zealand fullback Kalyn Ponga has suffered a broken arm.

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup has already delivered two significant injury setbacks, with Australian halfback Mitchell Moses ruled out for the remainder of the tournament and New Zealand superstar Kalyn Ponga facing a race against time to return.

Both players were injured during Australia's thrilling 24–22 victory over New Zealand in the tournament opener on Thursday night, with the aftermath leaving both nations sweating over the availability of two of their most important players.

However, the latest updates have delivered very different outlooks for the pair.

While Moses' World Cup campaign is officially over, the Kiwis have not given up hope of seeing Ponga return later in the tournament.

Australia's worst fears have been confirmed, with Moses ruled out of the remainder of the Rugby League World Cup after scans revealed a high-grade muscle tear in his lower leg.

The Parramatta Eels captain initially appeared to be dealing with a calf problem during Australia's opening match against New Zealand.

Moses attempted to play through the injury but was unable to continue shortly after half-time, leaving the field less than two minutes into the second half.

An MRI scan subsequently confirmed the severity of the injury, ending his hopes of helping Australia defend their World Cup title.

The injury is another disappointing setback for Moses on the representative stage, with the playmaker now facing a recovery period following his tournament-ending diagnosis.

Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters praised Moses for attempting to continue playing despite the injury.

"Mitch made a wonderful contribution to our World Cup preparations during the camp in Sydney," Walters said.

The Australian coach also acknowledged Moses' disappointment at being unable to contribute for the remainder of the campaign.

Canberra Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange has been called into the Australian squad as Moses' replacement.

The change gives Australia another option in the halves as they prepare for their next match against Fiji.

While Australia have lost Moses for the tournament, New Zealand are still hoping Ponga can make a return before the World Cup concludes.

The Newcastle Knights fullback broke the radius in his left arm during the second half of Thursday night's clash with Australia and subsequently underwent surgery.

Ponga suffered the injury while tackling Australian five-eighth Cameron Munster but continued playing for approximately 20 minutes despite the discomfort.

His determination was evident as he continued to trouble the Australian defence, scoring two tries in an outstanding individual performance on his long-awaited Test debut for New Zealand.

The 28-year-old finished with 253 running metres, three line breaks and five tackle breaks, giving the Kiwis plenty to build on despite their narrow defeat.

However, his injury has left New Zealand facing the possibility of losing one of its most influential attacking players for a significant portion of the tournament.

Kiwis team doctor Greg Macleod confirmed the broken radius and surgery, while the team indicated Ponga would remain with the squad during his recovery.

New Zealand have not completely ruled out a return, with the prospect of playing again dependent on his recovery and the team's progress through the competition.

The World Cup final is scheduled for November 15, although there is no confirmed date for Ponga's return.

The loss of Moses creates a significant selection challenge for Australia, particularly given the importance of his combination with the team's other attacking players.

Moses was selected to provide organisation and kicking options in the halves, and his absence forces Walters to reconsider his preferred combination.

Tom Dearden and Sam Walker are expected to feature in Australia's halves against Fiji, with Walker set to take on the halfback role and Dearden playing at five-eighth.

The pair will have an opportunity to establish a combination as Australia look to maintain their title defence.

New Zealand's situation is more complicated because Ponga offers a level of individual attacking threat that is difficult to replace.

His speed, footwork and ability to create opportunities from broken play were on full display against Australia, and his absence would be a major setback for the Kiwis' hopes of winning the tournament.

Keano Kini is among the options to fill the fullback position if Ponga is unavailable for upcoming matches.

New Zealand will need to manage Ponga's recovery carefully while preparing for their remaining group-stage fixtures.

The possibility of a return remains open, but there is no confirmed timeline for Ponga's recovery following surgery.

A broken radius requiring surgery is a significant injury, and any decision about his return will depend on his recovery, medical clearance and ability to safely handle contact.

New Zealand's decision to keep Ponga with the squad indicates the door has not been completely closed on his tournament.

However, remaining with the team does not guarantee that he will play again.

The Kiwis will first need to navigate their remaining group matches against the Cook Islands and Fiji before their prospects of reaching the knockout stages become clearer.

If New Zealand progress deep into the competition, Ponga will have a target to work towards, but his availability remains uncertain.

For now, the priority will be ensuring his recovery progresses without unnecessary risks.