2024 Pacific Championships preview
Sadly, domestic rugby league is finished for 2024 in both hemispheres, and for those of us in the UK it’s even worse now that we’re hurtling head first into winter.
However, fear not, as there’s still plenty of RL to enjoy before the year’s out, starting this weekend in the Pacific Championships.
Four weekends of international matches from the other side of the world is enough to keep me out of hibernation for now, and with England vs Samoa to come as well, it’s not looking too bad at all.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at the runners and riders in this year’s Pacific Championships.
What are the Pacific Championships?
Six nations playing in four countries across four consecutive weekends. In a nutshell, the Pacific Championships should be explosive. There’s relegation and promotion too, with two competitions running simultaneously.
Australia, New Zealand and Tonga will be competing in the Pacific Cup, while Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands will compete in the Pacific Bowl.
The three teams in each competition will play each other once over the next three weekends. Then, in the fourth week, the top two in the Pacific Cup will face off in a final to determine the champions, while the third-paced team will face the side which finishes top of the Pacific Bowl table in a promotion/relegation play-off.
Fixtures
| Date | Fixture | Location | Competition |
| 18/10/2024 | Australia vs Tonga | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | Pacific Cup |
| 19/10/2024 | Fiji vs Papua New Guinea | HFC Bank Stadium, Suva | Pacific Bowl |
| 26/10/2024 | Fiji vs Cook Islands | HFC Bank Stadium, Suva | Pacific Bowl |
| 27/10/2024 | New Zealand vs Australia | Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch | Pacific Cup |
| 02/11/2024 | New Zealand vs Tonga | Go Media Stadium, Auckland | Pacific Cup |
| 03/11/2024 | Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands | Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby | Pacific Bowl |
| 10/11/2024 | 3rd placed Pacific Cup team vs 1st placed Pacific Bowl team | CommBank Stadium, Parramatta | N/A |
| 10/11/2024 | 1st placed Pacific Cup team vs 2nd placed Pacific Cup team | CommBank Stadium, Parramatta | Pacific Cup |
Pacific Cup squads
Australia
Whoever the Kangaroos name, they’ll be a formidable outfit, but their squad is as notable for the absentees as the players who have been named.
James Tedesco, Kalyn Ponga, Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans, Latrell Mitchell and Reece Walsh are just a few of the stars missing for one reason or another.
The positive for Australia though is the number of stars they can replace them with.
Eight players in the squad could be set to make their debuts this tournament, and six have been named for the opening game with Tonga – Tom Dearden, Mitchell Moses, Xavier Coates, Zac Lomax, Hudson Young and Mitch Barnett. The two to miss out in week one are Reece Robson and Lindsay Smith.
New Zealand
Just like the Kangaroos, the Kiwis are missing a host of stars of their own.
Ronaldo Mulitalo, Dylan Brown, Kieran Foran, Moses Leota, Brandon Smith, Jeremy Marshall-King, Briton Nikora, Kayal Iro, Te Maire Martin are all absent with injury, while Nelson Asofa-Solomona is suspended and Joey Manu has already crossed codes and started his rugby union career.
Their absence has helped open the door for eight debutants though – Jordan Riki, Erin Clark, Keano Kini, Will Warbrick, Naufahu Whyte, Phoenix Crossland, Casey McLean and Trent Toelau.
Peta Hiku has also been named, and is the first Super League player to be called up for the national team since 2017.
But perhaps the biggest news of the lot is the return of Shaun Johnson in a Kiwi jumper for the last time. The Warriors legend signed off his NRL career with a last-second try assist in his team’s 28-30 win over the Sharks in round 26. That was expected to be his last ever game, but an injury to new Dally M winner Jahrome Hughes meant a late withdrawal, which has given Johnson the chance for a final farewell.
Tonga
Tonga have established themselves as a force on the international scene in recent years and they’ve named a strong squad.
Five players could be set for debuts – Paul Alamoti, Kulikefu Finefeuaki, Lehi Hopoate, Isaiah Iongi and Taniela Paseka.
The forward pack, meanwhile, looks ferocious with the likes of Addin Fonua-Blake, Keaon Koloamatangi and Jason Taumalolo leading the charge.
And one Super League player has been named in the squad – five-eighth Tui Lolohea, who has been named to start in the halves in week one.
Pacific Bowl squads
Fiji
There’s plenty of established NRL talent in the Fijian squad, including the likes of Viliame Kikau, Maika Sivo and Sunia Turuva.
Seven players are in line for debuts too – Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, Nathan Kegg-Smith, Kylan Mafoa, Jordan Miller, Jethro Rinakama, James Valevatu and Michael Jennings.
Jennings is a peculiar case, having previously represented Australia and Tonga in his international career. The veteran is also without a club in 2025 and is expected to retire after the tournament along with fellow centre Kevin Naiqama, who has also been named.
Papua New Guinea
The Kumuls’ squad contains one current NRL player and a host of former ones now plying their trade elsewhere. Dragons forward Jack de Belin is the standout name, and he’s joined by the likes of Lachlan Lam, Nene Madonald and Rhyse Martin, who have all been starring in Super League in 2024.
Seven players are in line for their PNG debuts – Ila Alu, Koso Bandi, Robert Mathias, Morea Morea, Elijah Roltinga, Sanny Wabo and Khaiya Waiembi.
Justin Olam, Zac Laybutt and Nixon Putt are the big absentees, with all three missing out through injury.
Cook Islands
Xavier Willison and Davvy Moale are the two standout names in the Cook Islands’ squad. Former NRL players Brad Takairangi, Zane Tetevano and Esan Marsters have also been named, while Dolphins utility Mason Teague is set to debut.
