Rugby league: What you need to know about Pacific Championships

Kiwi Ferns v Fetu Samoa

3.35pm Sunday, October 19

Go Media Stadium, Auckland

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwis v Toa Samoa

6.05pm Sunday, October 19

Go Media Stadium, Auckland

Live blog updates on RNZ

Auckland is braced for a Toa Samoa takeover this Sunday.

Pasifika pride has been palpable in the city this week, with league fans out in force to support their heroes before the Pacific Championships opening-round doubleheader.

Kiwis supporters have been both out-numbered and out-voiced by the Samoans in the build-up to the clash, but Toa will need more than just crowd noise, if they are to pick up their first-ever win over the home teams.

The NZ men have won all five test matches against Samoa, but the World Cup finalists have gone from strength to strength, with a host of star acquisitions, setting the stage for a Samoan upset.

The Kiwis boast a powerful, line-up themselves, with six players who did not feature in the 2023 campaign back in black. While their ranks have suffered losses in recent years due to eligibility laws, they remain a force in the international game.

Meanwhile, the Kiwi Ferns go into their clash with Fetu as heavy favourites in their 30th year since inception.

Form guide

With so many marquee names in their ranks, Samoan rugby league has found itself in a purple patch, after a fairytale run at the last World Cup, falling only at the final hurdle.

The light has dimmed somewhat, with five consecutive defeats since going down 30-10 to the Kangaroos in the 2022 final. They have since been beaten by Australia again, lost both tests to England on last year's northern tour and were crushed 50-0 by the Kiwis in the 2023 Pacific Championships.

The Kiwis have had an equally rough time of late, since their devastating defeat of the Kangaroos in the 2023 Pacific Championships final. Last year's campaign was less fruitful, going down to their Aussie rivals 22-10 in the opening round, before losing a thriller 25-24 to Tonga, courtesy of an Isaiya Katoa field goal.

Redemption was somewhat achieved in their promotion/relegation final outing against Papua New Guinea, a comfortable 54-12 victory.

After winning a tight 2023 final 12-6, the Kiwi Ferns were beaten twice by the Jillaroos during last year's campaign. They easily dispatched Papua New Guinea 36-0, but were no match for Australia, going down 24-4 in the decider in Sydney.

Since losing the 2022 final 54-4 to their trans-Tasman rivals, the Ferns have a three-win, three-loss record.

Fetu spent eight years in the wilderness, playing no tests between 2011-19, totalling just 20 tests since their debut in 2003.

This will be their fourth successive Pacific Championships, and they have yet to taste defeat. They are promoted to the Cup for the first time from the Bowl, after picking up wins over Fiji twice, Tonga and most recently Papua New Guinea 34-12.

They have also earned qualification for the 2026 World Cup, but have never beaten the Ferns in four previous attempts, their heaviest defat coming in 2023, when they were hammered 84-0. They last met in 2020, with the Ferns prevailing 28-8, also Fetu's last loss.

Selections

Toa continue to stack the stars, with some of the games biggest names in Payne Haas, Jerome Luai, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Brian To'o and Blaize Talagi on the books.

Coach Ben Gardiner has been spoilt with talent, with Samoa's line-up including nine State of Origin players. Junior Paulo will co-captain them, alongside premiership winning halfback Jerome Luai, who will be partnered by Talagi.

Despite limited preparation in camp, Kiwis coach Stacey Jones is confident his side will gel in time for Sunday. Jones has opted for an experienced side, with no debutants named in his matchday 17.

Kieran Foran has been handed a starting jersey for first leg of his farewell tour as a Kiwi, while Ronaldo Mulitalo, Dylan Brown, Moses Leota, Briton Nikora and Nelson Asofa-Solomona also return for their first tests since 2023.

Jeremy Marshall-King also returns, after a three-year international hiatus.

The Kiwi Ferns squad is one of the strongest ever assembled and will blood four new caps for the opening round, three of which will become duel internationals.

Coach Ricky Henry has named Ivana Lauiititi, Olympic sevens gold-medalist Tysha Ikenasio, and former Black Ferns Shakira Baker and Patricia Maliepo for the Mt Smart doubleheader. Georgia Hale and Raecene McGregor have been named co-skippers.

Fetu Samoa feature a mix of seasoned vets and rising rookies. Captain and NRLW grand-finalist Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala leads the pack at prop, with Olympic sevens medalist Niall Williams-Guthrie taking fullback duties and premiership-winning super-sub Shalom Sauaso bringing impact off the pine.

Coach Jamie Soward also has Gold Coast Titans young gun Sienna Lofipo in his side, after she pledged for Fetu, despite Jillaroos selection. Ryvrr-Lee Alo will play her first game for Fetu.

RTS repping Toa Samoa

Despite being in supposedly enemy territory, Toa Samoa superstar Tuivasa-Sheck has received the hero's treatment in Auckland this week.

For the first time in his illustrious career, 'RTS' will line up against a New Zealand side, but regardless of the jersey swap, he still has a force of fans in Aotearoa.

After 20 tests with the Kiwis, Tuivasa-Sheck opted to switch to Samoa in 2024, touring with the team to England in November.

"We get lots of love from our fans," he said. "It's all about power of the community and we can feel the love, so we've got to represent them as much as we can and try to do them proud."

Enter the 'Quiet Assassin'

It's been a whirlwind year for rookie sensation Ivana Lauitiiti, who began the NRLW season on a developmental contract and is now in line to debut for New Zealand.

Nicknamed the 'Quiet Assassin' - due to her gentle off-field nature, but ferocious playing style - Lauitiiti made an impact in more ways than one in her rookie season, earning Dally M NRLW Tackle of the Year honours.

Also with Samoan heritage, Lauitiiti could have ended up on the other side of the field this weekend.

"I just wanted to rep where I started my footy," she said. "Samoa is my culture, but I just felt it was right."

Foran farewell

Veteran Kieran Foran thought his test career was over, after a wretched run of injuries saw him call time after 17 years in the NRL.

Now he's back for one last dance, answering Jones' comeback call, with Jahrome Hughes sidelined. Foran will partner Dylan Brown in the halves for his first test, since starting at hooker in the Kiwis' sensational 30-0 rout of the Kangaroos in 2023.

"It's just really hitting home that this is it," he said. "I feel incredibly blessed to be able to finish my career wearing the black-and-white jersey, it's just a great position to be in."

Australia - Where the bloody hell are ya?

This year's men's championships will not feature the world No.1 and reigning champions Australia.

After their 2023 Hamilton humiliation at the hands of the Kiwis, the Kangaroos bounced back to reclaim their crown last year with a 20-14 win over Tonga in the final, but won't be back to defend their title, as they head north for an Ashes series against England.

The sides will meet in a three-match series, beginning 26 October. Starting in 2023 with Tonga, one Pacific Championships side will tour Britain for a series every year. Last year, Samoa who went down 2-0.

What are they saying?

"They play with a lot of pride and passion. The Samoan culture is strong in our team and strong obviously in their team, so there'll be a lot of passion." - Kiwis coach Stacey Jones.

"We are treating them with a lot of respect and we expect the best from them to get the best out of us. We'll be focusing on getting this job done, whether it's rain, sun, whatever it may be." - Kiwi Ferns coach Ricky Henry.

"It's always an honour to put the Samoan jersey on to represent our people - it's dream come true. Hopefully, we can take this energy into Sunday and put on a massive performance." - Toa prop Josh Papalii.

"Two years ago, we were ranked 26th in the world. I think now we are sixth, but we should be higher. It's been a while since we played against Australia and New Zealand, and every girl I've talked to is excited about the challenge." - Fetu coach Jamie Soward.

Head to head

Ferns v Fetu

Played 4, Ferns 4, Fetu 0

2003 World Cup - New Zealand 84 Samoa 0 (Auckland)

2008 World Cup - New Zealand 26 Samoa 4 (Brisbane)

2019 Test - New Zealand 46 Samoa 8 (Auckland)

2020 Test - New Zealand 28 Samoa 8 (Auckland)

Kiwis vs Toa

Played 5, Kiwis 5, Toa 0

2023 Pacific Championships - New Zealand 50 Samoa 0 (Auckland)

2017 World Cup - New Zealand 38 Samoa 8 (Auckland)

2014 Four Nations - New Zealand 14 Samoa 12 (Whangārei)

2013 World Cup - New Zealand 42 Samoa 24 (Warrington)

2010 Test - New Zealand 50 Samoa 6 (Auckland)

Teams

Kiwi Ferns: 1. Apii Nicholls, 2. Shanice Parker, 3. Abigail Roache, 4. Mele Hufuga, 5. Tysha Ikensio, 6. Patricia Maliepo, 7. Raecene McGregor (co-captain), 8. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa, 9. Brooke Anderson, 10. Brianna Clarke, 11. Annessa Biddle, 12. Shakira Baker, 13. Georgia Hale (co-captain)

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan, 15. Otesa Pule, 16. Alexis Tauaneai, 17. Ivana Lauitiiti, 18. Tiana Davidson

Fetu Samoa: 1. Jetaya Faifua, 2. Jessica Patea, 3. Lindsay Tui, 4. Sarina Masaga, 5. Destiny Mino-Sinapati, 6. Taliah Fuimaono, 7. Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, 8. Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala (captain), 9. Destiny Brill, 10. Eliza Lopamaua, 11. Niall Williams-Guthrie, 12. Ryvrr-Lee Alo, 13. Sienna Lofipo

Interchange: 14. Pihuka Berryman-Duff, 15. Laikha Clarke, 16. Tavarna Papalii, 17. Shalom Sauaso

Kiwis: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Matthew Timoko, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Dylan Brown, 7. Kieran Foran, 8. James Fisher-Harris (captain), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Isaiah Papali'i, 13. Joseph Tapine

Interchange: 14. Phoenix Crossland, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Toa Samoa: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. Murray Taulagi, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Deine Mariner, 5. Brian To'o, 6. Blaize Talagi, 7. Jarome Luai (co-captain), 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Jazz Tevaga, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Jeremiah Nanai, 12. Jaydn Su'A, 13. Junior Paulo (co-captain)

Interchange: 14. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 15. Simi Sasagi, 16. Terrell May, 17. Francis Molo

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