Rugby League World Cup 2026: The struggles behind Tanner Stowers-Smith's Kiwis debut, thoughts of giving up the game, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, New Zealand Kiwis

Tanner Stowers-Smith will make his Rugby League World Cup 2026 debut for the New Zealand Kiwis against the Cook Islands, carrying a family legacy that dates back to his great-grandfather Pat Smith. Pat captained the Kiwis in each of his 10 Tests between 1947 and 1949, and Stowers-Smith says stories and photos from relatives—who once traveled by boat for months before and after international matches—kept that history alive. He recently received an image showing that era and said he still has Pat’s Kiwis jersey at home. Stowers-Smith also described his reaction after receiving a call from Stacey Jones to say he was in the squad, then opened up about doubts and struggles after moving from Christchurch to Auckland to pursue his NRL dream.