QUEENSLAND COUNTRY BANK STADIUM, TOWNSVILLE
Australia and Samoa will kick off the inaugural Pacific Championships on Saturday night in their first clash since the World Cup final last November.
But there’s a host of changes to both teams, with Penrith stars Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai both scratched for their respective Test sides.
Samoa are looking to start their new coaching era with a bang, while New Zealand are determined to collect their first piece of silverware in 15 years.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has named four debutants in his team to face Samoa in the opening game of the 2023 Pacific Championships on Saturday night in Townsville.
Meninga will unleash a new look backline for the Kangaroos, with both the starting wingers and centres (Dylan Edwards, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo) to make their international debut for Australia.
Dylan Edwards will get his chance to prove New South Wales selectors wrong when the Panthers fullback makes his Kangaroos debut.
They will sit outside the experienced halves pairing of Cam Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans.
The Kangaroos will be without more than half the team that started in their World Cup final triumph over Samoa last November.
Nathan Cleary (knee) and Latrell Mitchell (hand) are injured, Valentine Holmes and Josh Addo-Carr are suspended, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Angus Crichton weren’t picked, while Jack Wighton has retired from representative football.
Kangaroos veteran Daly Cherry-Evans starts for Cleary at halfback against Samoa, while four debutants will replace Mitchell, Holmes, Addo-Carr and Wighton.
Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow comes into the centres – where he plays for Queensland – to pair Broncos star Kotoni Staggs.
Staggs played his only game for New South Wales in the centres, in the Origin series opener last year, and also represented Tonga at the World Cup.
Brisbane young gun Selwyn Cobbo is the only specialist winger in Meninga’s squad and will also make his Kangaroos debut with Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards to start on the other wing.
Meanwhile, Samoa have named Panthers star Stephen Crichton at five-eighth in a shock move. SATURDAY OCTOBER 14th.
There was plenty of drama during Matt Parish’s 10-year reign as Samoa’s coach, but ultimately he went out on top.
There may have been player-led coups to overthrow the controversial coach, but the history books will list Parish’s last game in charge as the World Cup final.
Parish stepped down in August and the following month Samoa announced Panthers assistant Ben Gardiner as his replacement.
Gardiner has worked as an assistant coach for New Zealand and also spent time at the Rabbitohs and Tigers before landing at Penrith as a replacement for Cameron Ciraldo and Andrew Webster.
It doesn’t get any tougher in your first game as an international head coach than coming up against the best team in the world.
Gardiner will have to work out how to upset Australia without one of his best players in Jarome Luai (shoulder).
However, Gardiner still has three-time premiership winner Stephen Crichton who was reportedly considering defecting to Australia for this tournament.
Crichton booted the match-winning field goal to sink England in the World Cup semis, and is fresh off a third straight premiership with the Panthers.
Brian To’o, Izack Tago and Spencer Leniu are the other Penrith premiers in his side, while former Blues prop Junior Paulo will again captain the side.
Murray Taulagi played for Australia at the World Cup but missed selection this year and will make his debut for Samoa on Saturday.
Kangaroos team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Dylan Edwards* 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow* 4. Kotoni Staggs* 5. Selwyn Cobbo* 6. Cam Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Payne Haas 9. Ben Hunt 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Cameron Murray 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Harry Grant 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Patrick Carrigan 17 Reuben Cotter 18. Nicho Hynes 19. Jake Trbojevic 20. Tom Flegler 21. Valentine Holmes
Toa Samoa team: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. Murray Taulagi 3. Izack Tago 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Brian To’o 6. Stephen Crichton 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 10. Junior Paulo 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Keenan Palasia 14. Spencer Leniu 15. Terrell May 16. Heilum Luki 17. Ronald Volkman 18. Royce Hunt 19. Justin Matamua 20. Greg Marzhew 21. Tommy Talau
Who will win? Australia by 15 points.
WOMEN’S
SATURDAY OCTOBER 14
Australian Jillaroos vs Kiwi Ferns, 6pm AEDT at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Jillaroos team: 1. Tamika Upton 2. Jaime Chapman 3. Jessica Sergis 4. Isabelle Kelly 5. Julia Robinson 6. Tarryn Aiken 7. Ali Brigginshaw 8. Shannon Mato 9. Keeley Davis 10. Jessika Elliston 11. Kezie Apps 12. Olivia Kernick 13. Simaima Taufa 14. Emma Tonegato 15. Caitlan Johnston 16. Kennedy Cherrington 17. Shaylee Bent 18. Lauren Brown 19. Emma Manzelmann 20. Keilee Joseph
Ferns team: 1. Apii Nicholls 2. Annessa Biddle 3. Shanice Parker 4. Mele Hufanga 5. Leianne Tufuga 6. Ash Quinlan 7. Raecene Mcgregor 8. Mya Hill-Moana 9. Brooke Anderson 10. Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa 11. Otesa Pule 12. Laishon Albert-Jones 13. Georgia Hale 14. Tyla Nathan-Wong 15. Najvada George 16. Jasmine Fogavini 17. Amelia Pasikala 18. Abigail Roache 19. Cheyelle Robins-Reti 20. Tiana Davison 21. Capri Paekau
The Kiwi Ferns have pinned their faith in a new-look squad as they look to avenge a heavy defeat to the Jillaroos in last year’s World Cup Final.
Losing to their arch-rivals on the game’s biggest stage would have been painful enough but the 50-point margin at Old Trafford was the stuff of nightmares for Ricky Henry and his team.
Among the newcomers looking to make a mark in the Pacific Championships are NRLW rookie of the year Annessa Biddle and her Sharks teammate Brooke Anderson, along with Olympic gold medalist Tyla Nathan-Wong
Joining Biddle in the squad is Sharks teammate and hooker Brooke Anderson. Anderson is no stranger to representative rugby league, having represented the Māori All-Stars and NSW Sky Blues in 2023.
Olympic gold medallist and dual code star Tyla Nathan-Wong gets her first Kiwi Ferns selection after an impressive debut season in the NRLW while Wests Tigers duo Leianne Tufuga and Najvada George are also out to make an impression.
With Sam Bremner (retired) and Evania Pelite (knee) the only two players missing from the squad that put the Ferns to the sword in the Cup Final, the Jillaroos boast a powerhouse side that knows what it takes to win big games.
Referee: Todd Smith
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Touch Judge: Darian Furner
Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
The Kiwi Ferns’ last win over the Jillaroos was a 26-16 triumph in Newcastle in 2016.
Jillaroos trio Julia Robinson, Jess Sergis and Evania Pelite were the equal top tryscorers at last year’s World Cup with seven tries each.
Isabelle Kelly and Sam Bremner share the record for most tries in Tests for the Jillaroos with 14.
Who will win? Australia by 15 points.
Papua New Guinea Kumuls vs Cook Islands Aitu, 4pm AEDT at Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, SUNDAY OCTOBER 15th.
PNG team: 1. Alex Johnston 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Rodrick Tai 5. Nene Macdonald 6. Kyle Laybutt 7. Lachlan Lam 8. Epel Kapinias 9. Judah Rimbu 10. Valentine Richard 11. Jacob Alick 12. Dan Russell 13. Jack de Belin 14. Liam Horne 15. Nixon Putt 16. Junior Rop 17. Benji Kott 18. Cruise Ten 19. Rhyse Martin 20. Wellington Albert 21. Justin Olam
Cook Islands team: 1. Esom Ioka 2. Malachi Morgan 3. Kayal Iro 4. Esan Marsters 5. Steven Marsters 6. Brad Takairangi 7. Tevin Arona 8. Davvy Moale 9. Rua Ngatikaura 10. Makahesi Makatoa 11. Zane Tetevano 12. Reuben Porter 13. Pride Petterson-Robati 14. William Samuel 15. Rhys Dakin 16. Justin Makirere 17. Kadiyae Ioka 18. Takai Mokohar 19. Isiah Cooper-Tetevano 20. Alvin Maungatti 21. Lucky Pokipoki
Who will win? PNG.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 15
Fetu Samoa vs Fiji Bulikula, 1.45pm AEDT at Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Boasting a handful of former New Zealand representatives, Fetu Samoa take on a Fiji Bulikula side with a good base of NRLW talent.
Alongside cross-code Titans star Niall Williams-Guthrie, Jamie Soward’s side is boosted by the presence of Broncos enforcer Annetta Nu’uausala and one-time Kiwi Fern Onjeurlina Hunt (née Leiataua).
Fiji meanwhile has impressive Sharks trio Cassie Staples, Talei Holmes and Sereana Naitokatoka and a handful of other young talent who are part of NRLW systems.
Sunday’s clash at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby will be the first time Samoa have played since 2020, while Fiji will be taking the field for the first time in four years.
It will be the very first time the two nations have played each other in a women’s Test match.
1. Destiny Mino-Sinipati, 2. Taylor Mapusua,3. Petesa Lio,4. Niall Williams-Guthrie, 5. Lindsay Tui, 6. Pauline Piliae-Rasabale,7. Sienna Lofipo,8. Fiona Jahnke,9. Destiny Brill, 10.Janelle Williams,12. Malaela Sua,15. Onjerulina Hunt,13. Annetta Claudia Nu’uausala
Interchange
16. Pihuka Berryman-Duff, 17. Tafao Asaua, 19. Tamerah Leati, 21. Makayla Eli
Reserves
20. Avery-Rose Carmont,
FIJI BULIKULA
1. Cassie Staples, 2. Ana Raduva,3. Adi Patricia Raikadroka,4. Vitaline Naikore, 5. Asena Rokomarama,6. Sieena Laing, 7. Sereana Naitokatoka,8. Josephine Maejiirs
9. Teaghan Laing,10. Anastacia Shum-Cottrell,11. Ema Rainima,12. Talei Holmes
13. Aliti Namoce
Interchange
14. Siniva Sa’anga, 15. Grace Waqa,16. Mere Kilawekana,17. Merewalesi Rokouono
Reserves
18. Asenaca Diranuve,19. Adi Sokula Waqa,20. Alesi Kilawekana,21. Salote Sukuakinamena
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Christian Pio led the NRLW in offloads this year with 21 in nine games.
Talei Holmes started in the second row in each of the Sharks’ nine games this year and averaged 100 metres per appearance.
Annetta Nu’uausala is the most experienced player in this game, having made 18 appearances across five NRLW seasons.
Who will win? Fetu Samoa.
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