NZ vs Tonga RLWC 2026: NRL League Heroes Cards to Watch
Four of the key players in Saturday's RLWC semi-final between the NZ Kiwis and Tonga XIII are covered in the 2026 Select NRL League Heroes set, and two of them carry pulls that are genuinely hard to find. The match kicks off at 8:05pm AEDT at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle. Here's what to track before kick-off.
Which Tonga XIII cards should you track?
Both co-captains are in the set. Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys), playing his fourth World Cup after switching from New Zealand eligibility to represent Tonga in 2017, tops out at Mercury M120 /450 and Gladiators G90 /599. One early checklist doing the rounds had his Gladiators as G153; that's wrong (G153 is Alex Twal, Wests Tigers). Taumalolo has no TRYumph Gold.
Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks), who scored the 73rd-minute winner against Samoa that booked this semi-final, has Mercury M039 /450 and Gladiators G29 /599 as his limited cards. His Game Breakers Pink GBP13 is a Rebel starter exclusive, easy to miss if you're only shopping at the local newsagent.
- Taumalolo: Base #130, Game Breakers GB80, Gladiators G90 /599, Mercury M120 /450, Bang B60, Bang Gold BG50, Colours Diecut CD130
- Fonua-Blake: Base #43, League Heads LH26, Game Breakers GB27, GBP13 (Rebel exclusive), Gladiators G29 /599, Mercury M039 /450, Colours Diecut CD41
What's the headline NZ chase card?
Jahrome Hughes (Storm) is the most card-heavy player in this match. The Kiwis halfback and 2024 Dally M Medal winner has a TRYumph Red TR44 (1:18 packs) and the TRYumph Gold TG44 /80 (1:432 packs): the single hardest pull among the four profiled players. He also carries a Dally M Predictor Gold DPG37 /270, a predictor card anchored to his 2024 Dally M win.
If you've got a Hughes TRYumph Gold sitting in a binder, snap a photo to value it in CardLoft. They don't surface often.
- Base #97, League Heads LH61, Game Breakers GB59, Colours Diecut CD98
- Gladiators G67 /599, Mercury M089 /450, Bang B45, Bang Gold BG37
- TRYumph Red TR44, TRYumph Gold TG44 /80
- Dally M Predictor Gold DPG37 /270
Why is the Fisher-Harris GT16 the rarest card in this match-up?
Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris (Warriors) won both the Dally M Captain of the Year and Dally M Prop of the Year in 2026, his second season at the Warriors after leaving Penrith. His headline card is the Golden Treasure GT16 /80, a team redemption with Fisher-Harris as the face player. It pulls at 1:2,592 packs, with just 17 in the entire set (one per club).
Fisher-Harris has no TRYumph Gold, but GT16 is the rarer pull by a long way. GBP62 (Game Breakers Pink, Rebel starter exclusive) is the other one worth tracking.
- Base #200, League Heads LH123, Game Breakers GB124, GBP62 (Rebel exclusive)
- Gladiators G139 /599, Mercury M184 /450
- Golden Treasure GT16 /80 (team redemption, 1:2,592 packs)
- Colours Diecut CD200
Do any of these cards show World Cup jerseys?
None of them. The 2026 Select NRL League Heroes set is a club product: Taumalolo is in Cowboys maroon, Fonua-Blake in Sharks black and blue, Hughes in Storm purple, Fisher-Harris in Warriors black. No RLWC imagery. The international stakes are entirely in who's lining up at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night.
Frequently asked questions
When does NZ vs Tonga kick off at the 2026 RLWC?
8:05pm AEDT, Saturday 7 November 2026, at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle.
Does Jason Taumalolo have a TRYumph Gold in 2026 NRL League Heroes?
No. Cowboys TRYumph cards cover Cotter, Drinkwater, Nanai, and Taulagi; Taumalolo is not included. His top pulls are Mercury M120 /450 and Gladiators G90 /599.
What is the Golden Treasure GT16 and why does it matter?
It's the rarest card in this match-up: a team redemption featuring James Fisher-Harris as the Warriors' face player, numbered /80 and pulling at 1:2,592 packs. Only 17 exist across the whole set.
Is Addin Fonua-Blake at the Bulldogs or the Sharks?
The Sharks. Fonua-Blake is at Cronulla-Sutherland in 2026; his card (#43) and all inserts reflect his Sharks colours. The Bulldogs link is outdated.
Who is the Kiwis captain for the semi-final?
James Fisher-Harris. Jahrome Hughes is the halfback and 2024 Dally M Medal winner, but Fisher-Harris wears the armband.
