The five must watch pool games during the RLWC

With the NRL and Super League seasons officially coming to a close, Rugby League fans are now turning their attention to the upcoming World Cup.

10 sides are set to battle it out for the title of World Champions; it’s set to be an incredible month of action.

With that in mind, NRL.com's Brad Walter has named the five games during the pool stage that are must-watch.

See the list and reasoning behind the choices below.

SEN will have live coverage of selected matches throughout the tournament across our radio network and on the SEN app from October 15.

5. Cook Islands vs Fiji (October 18 - McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle)

“I'm really interested to see how they (the Cook Islands) go,” Walter said on SEN’s Vossy’s Verdict.

“They're gonna be a bit stronger than in the past. They've got Valentine Holmes playing for them. KL Iro is captain of the side.

“They've got some good young talent. Glassie Glassie, he's a schoolboy, a dual rugby league, rugby union star. He’s at the West Tigers, excited to see how he goes.

“They've got some forwards, I think they're gonna be strong, it's gonna be interesting to see how they go against Fiji.

“Fiji, probably not as strong as we'd hoped they would be.

“A few injuries like Viliame Kikau and Jahream Bula, but still stacked with NRL stars, and Jacob Safiti back (from) suspension because Newcastle Knights went all the way through to the Grand Final.

4. Papua New Guinea vs Samoa (October 24 - Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby)

“This is gonna be the biggest game that's ever been played in Papua New Guinea, at least until the Chiefs opening game in 2028.

“Jarome Luai, Brian To’o, who they've signed with the Chiefs, so there's a hell of a lot of interest in them.

“Brian To'o’s never been to Papua New Guinea; he signed basically on the word of Jarome, so it's gonna be his first time having a look at what it's like in Papua New Guinea.

“He's gonna get a real taste cos, I'm telling you that the atmosphere of that game is gonna be off the charts.

No. 3 England vs Tonga (October 17 - HBF Park, Perth)

“England, they've picked 11 NRL players in their squad; it's gonna be really interesting to see how they come together, I suppose, with the players from the Super League.

“A few new faces there: Hugo Savala, Victor Radley, Max King and Ben Talty, making their debuts. They're the NRL players that we know.

“Herbie Farnworth, Dom Young, have got some big stars, obviously.

“But I've looked at that Tonga 23-man squad. I've got no idea how Kristian Woolf is gonna pick his starting 13 and his bench. He's absolutely stacked, particularly with centres or outside backs, second rowers and middles; it's incredible.

“They've got Isaiya Katoa steering them around at halfback, and they've got a few options in for hooker and a five-eighth.

“But I don't think it really matters when you're playing against a forward pack that has the likes of Addin Fonua-Blake, Jason Taumalolo, Tyson Frizell, who is just coming off a Grand Final. Those guys will be in the middle.

“Haumole Olakau'atu, (Salesi) Foketi from the Roosters.

2. Tonga vs Samoa (November 1 - CommBank Stadium, Sydney)

“It's the last game of the pool rounds; it's probably gonna decide which of those teams get through.

“It's basically sold out already; it's no surprise even before the teams were named, I think everybody knew that Samoa versus Tonga, the atmosphere will be incredible.

“We had 45,000 for Samoa vs Tonga at Suncorp last year.

“We just talked about Tonga, Samoa's got an equally stacked team chock full of NRL stars, missing the likes of Payne Haas unfortunately, but still got an incredible side.

“Chanel Harris-Tevita, The Hammer (Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow) at fullback, or he could be in the centre. Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai, the two Newcastle second rowers (Francis Manuleleua and Jermaine McEwen) from the Grand Final, Junior Paulo.

“They made the final of the last World Cup (and) they're aiming to go one better this year, but I think that game is gonna be the one that decides whether Samoa or Tonga go through to the semis.

1. Australia vs New Zealand (October 15 - Allianz Stadium, Sydney)

“Kangaroos, defending World Cup champions, Ashes winners last year. Kiwis won the Pacific Championships.

“They beat Australia in 2023 in the final of the Pacific Championships, but I think everybody's looked at that Kiwi side and just gone, wow.

“That forward pack is phenomenal, the bench is gonna be incredible, and then Kalyn Ponga playing at the back, Jahrome Hughes is gonna be steering it around in the halves.

“Dane Gagai's playing for the Kiwis along with Casey McLean.

“That opening game, we're gonna see Latrell Mitchell up against Dane Gagai again, just as we did in the opening in the Newcastle (vs) Rabbitohs finals match.”