Australia, New Zealand and Tonga have all named their squads for the 2024 Pacific Championships, which kicks off next Friday night at Suncorp Stadium when Australia play host to Tonga.
Tonga didn’t take part in last year’s inaugural Pacific Championships, with Samoa, Australia and defending champions New Zealand making up the Pacific Cup in 2023.
Fiji, Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea will again play for the Pacific Bowl, with Fiji the only team to have named their squad.
The Pacific Cup grand final will be played on November 10 at CommBank Stadium, Sydney.
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TONGA
Tonga have named their 20-man squad for this year’s Pacific Championships, with five debutants named including grand final hero Paul Alamoti, exciting back rower Kulikefu Finefeuaki and Manly young gun Lehi Hopoate.
With the likes of Addin Fonua-Blake, Eli Katoa, Moses Suli, Jason Taumalolo and Daniel Tupou to line up, Tonga will field a competitive outfit for their group matches against Australia (Oct 18) and New Zealand (Nov 2).
All but one player named currently plies their trade in the NRL. Five-eighth/fullback Tuimoala Lolohea’s form in the Super League for Huddersfield this season earned him a spot in the 20 man squad.
Tonga Squad
Paul Alamoti* (Panthers)
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki* (Dolphins)
Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks)
Siliva Havili (Rabbitohs)
Lehi Hopoate* (Sea Eagles)
Isaiah Iongi* (Eels)*
Sione Katoa (Sharks)
Eliesa Katoa (Storm)
Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins)
Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs)
Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles)
Tuimoala Lolohea (Huddersfield Giants)
Soni Luke (Panthers)
Haumole Olakau’atu (Sea Eagles)
Taniela Paseka* (Sea Eagles)
Moses Suli (Dragons)
Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys)
Daniel Tupou (Roosters)
Sitili Tupouniua (Bulldogs)
Siua Wong (Roosters)
AUSTRALIA
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has dropped Origin skippers Jake Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans, as well as James Tedesco, for his Australian Pacific Championships squad.
Tom Trbojevic will end his six-year Test exile, while Jake, who captained NSW to a series win this year in his first time leading the state has missed out on Meninga’s Pacific Championships squad.
The Kangaroos selectors have named eight debutants in the squad and six players who took part in Sunday’s Grand Final including captain Isaah Yeo and vice-captain Harry Grant.
Australian Squad
Mitch Barnett* (Warriors)
Matt Burton (Bulldogs)
Bradman Best* (Knights)
Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
Xavier Coates* (Storm)
Lindsay Collins (Roosters)
Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)
Angus Crichton (Roosters)
Tom Dearden* (Cowboys)
Dylan Edwards (Panthers)
Harry Grant (vc) (Storm)
Ben Hunt (Dragons)
Zac Lomax* (Dragons)
Liam Martin (Panthers)
Mitch Moses* (Eels)
Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs)
Reece Robson* (Cowboys)
Lindsay Smith* (Panthers)
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
Isaah Yeo (c) (Panthers)
* Denotes debutant
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand coach Stacey Jones has named a new-look Kiwis side which includes eight debutants.
Fresh off winning a fourth-straight premiership with the Panthers, James Fisher-Harris will captain the side, while reigning Dally M medallist Jahrome Hughes also headlines the squad.
In his first squad announcement since taking over the top job from Michael Maguire, Kiwi legend Jones is set to usher in the next generation of New Zealand internationals, with many players from last year’s Pacific Championships success unavailable with injury or suspension including Ronaldo Mulitalo, Dylan Brown, Brandon Smith and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Phoenix Crossland has been rewarded for his consistency at the Knights, while Keano Kini caps off a stellar season with the Titans and Trent Toelau has gone from New South Wales Cup to international selection in the space of five months.
Rising Roosters star Naufahu Whyte, Warriors-bound utility Erin Clark and Broncos second-rower Jordan Riki are also set to make their Kiwi debut, while Will Warbrick is on track to become a triple international having already represented New Zealand in Australian Rules and Rugby 7s.
New Zealand Squad
Erin Clark (Titans)
Phoenix Crossland* (Knights)
James Fisher-Harris (c) (Panthers)
Peta Hiku (Hull KR)
Jahrome Highes (Storm)
Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins)
Keano Kini* (Titans)
Casey McLean* (Panthers)
Griffin Neame (Cowboys)
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors)
Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins)
Marata Niukore (Warriors)
Isaiah Papali’i (Tigers)
Jordan Riki* (Broncos)
Scott Sorensen (Panthers)
Joseph Tapine (Raiders)
Leo Thompson (Knights)
Matthew Timoko (Raiders)
Trent Toelau* (Panther)
Will Warbrick* (Storm)
Naufahu Whyte* (Roosters)
*Denotes debutant
FIJI
Fiji have named a 21-man squad that should prove hard to beat in this year’s Pacific Bowl.
Grand final hero Sunia Turuva headlines the team alongside Bulldogs star Viliame Kikau and Eels try scoring machine Maika Sivo.
Somewhat surprisingly, two recently retired outside backs in Michael Jennings and Kevin Naiqama have also been named to represent Fiji one last time.
Fiji Squad
Sunia Turuva (Wests Tigers)
Semi Valemei (North Queensland Cowboys)
Maika Sivo (Parramatta Eels)
Taane Milne (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Jethro Rinakama (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Michael Jennings (Retired)
Kevin Naiqama (Retired)
Waqa Blake (St Helens RLFC)
Kurt Donoghoe (The Dolphins)
Caleb Navale (Manly Sea Eagles)
Kitione Kautoga (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Viliame Kikau (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Tui Kamikamica (Melbourne Storm)
Jordan Miller (Wests Tigers)
Nathan Kegg-Smith (Brisbane Tigers)
Kylan Mafoa (Manly Sea Eagles)
Ben Nakubuwai (Leigh Leopards)
Penioni Tagituimua (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Joe Lovodua (Doncaster)
James Valevatu (Wests Tigers)
Bayleigh Bentley-Hape (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
SAMOA
While Samoa aren’t playing in this year’s Pacific Championships, they are involved in post-season internatioanls.
Ben Gardiner’s side travel to England for two end of season tests, and while they will be without Stephen Crichton, Joseph Sua’ali’i and Brian To’o they still boast an incredibly stacked squad that features 11 debutants.
Panthers star Jarome Luai will captain the squad.
Samoa squad
Anthony Milford (Dolphins)
Blaize Talagi (Penrith Panthers)
Deine Mariner (Brisbane Broncos)
Francis Molo (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Manly Sea Eagles)
Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers)
Jake Tago (Parramatta Eels)
Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers)
Jazz Tevaga (Manly Sea Eagles)
Jeral Skelton (Wests Tigers)
Jeremiah Nanai (North Queensland Cowboys)
John Asiata (Leigh Leopards)
Josiah Pahulu (Gold Coast Titans)
Junior Pauga (Sydney Roosters)
Keenan Palasia (Leeds Rhinos)
Lazarus Vaalepu (Melbourne Storm)
Luciano Leilua (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Paul Roache (Warriors)
Ricky Leutele (Leigh Leopards)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
Shawn Blore (Melbourne Storm)
Simi Sasagi (Canberra Raiders)
Terrell May (Sydney Roosters)
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