Rugby League Pacific Championships Week 2 Preview

Fiji needs a miracle to qualify for the Pacific Championships promotion match after a bitterly disappointing loss to Papua New Guinea in the Bowl opener, but the Bati will be hellbent on atoning with a victory over Cook Islands in Suva this Saturday.  

Fiji were humbled 22-10 by the Kumuls at home last weekend and could have lost by a lot more after the visitors flubbed several chances to put the final nails in the coffin earlier.

They took 47 minutes to get on the scoreboard themselves and scored their second in the dying moments.  

Veteran five-eight Kevin Naiqama laid on both tries but creativity was generally lacking as the Fijians struggled to capitalise on their firepower-laden outside-back contingent and forward threats on the edges.

Marquee man Viliame Kikau threw two costly intercept passes.  

If that wake-up call wasn’t enough to shatter any sense of complacency in the Fiji camp, the hosts will be wary after narrowly avoiding an upset against Cook Islands in Port Moresby in last year’s competition.  

The Kuki, who were pumped 46-10 by the Kumuls, led Fiji 6-4 at halftime before going down 22-18.  

Cook Islands have a handy 5-7 record against Fiji, though the previous clash before last year was in 2009.

Their last win against any nation was against Wales at the 2022 World Cup – a campaign that also featured a 92-10 loss to Tonga.  

Former Kiwis Brad Takairangi and Esan Marsters will guide Cook Islands from the halves, while Tepai Moeroa, Davvy Moale and Zane Tetavano provide NRL-level engine-room starch.

But there’s a distinct lack of top-level experience in the backline. 

Fiji have made minimal changes: James Valevatu comes in at hooker with Penioni Tagituimua going to the bench.

Kylan Mafoa is also promoted to the interchange, with Joe Lovodua and Nathan Kegg-King dropping out of the 17.  

Disappointing as they were against PNG – and a lack of cohesion in the spine appears to be an issue – there’s an apparent mismatch in Fiji’s favour here that suggests a turnaround is likely.  

Tip: Back Fiji to Cover the Line (-14.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: FIJI BY 11-20 / UNDER 52.5 TOTAL POINTS / MAIKA SIVO TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES / VILIAME KIKAU ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $86.54 

One of the rugby league’s most absorbing rivalries resumes on Sunday as New Zealand’s Kiwi Ferns host Australia’s Jillaroos in the women’s Pacific Championships in Christchurch.

The Jillaroos took a stranglehold on trans-Tasman supremacy with their third straight World Cup victory in 2022 – crushing the Kiwi Ferns 54-4 in the final.

But the Kiwi Ferns made a resounding statement in the teams’ two post-season clashes in 2023. After a gallant 16-10 loss in Townsville, New Zealand carved out a brave, defensively brilliant 12-6 victory in Melbourne to end a seven-year drought against Australia.

The Jillaroos’ build-up was overshadowed by the non-selection of Dally M Medal winner Olivia Kernick, but they had no trouble disposing of the PNG Orchids last Friday in an 84-0 training run.

Julia Robinson scored six tries and fellow winger Jakiya Whitfeld five, while superstars Tamika Upton and Isabelle Kelly bagged doubles. Peerless playmaker Tarryn Aiken and Kelly both racked up four try assists.

Veteran half Ali Brigginshaw – so often a thorn in the Kiwi Ferns’ side – returns for Australia after being rested, which sees Tiana Penitani move to a more familiar centre role and Jess Sergis drop out of the side.

Hooker Quincy Dodd (quad) is out, replaced in the starting team by Olivia Higgins with Jessika Elliston coming onto the bench.

New Zealand’s first hit-out of the year sees Gayle Broughton debut in the halves alongside fellow ex-Black Ferns sevens star Tyla King, with long-term linchpin Raecene McGregor sitting out this tournament.

Apii Nicholls and captain Georgia Hale provide ample experience and guidance, however, while the likes of centre wrecking ball Mele Hufanga – a try-scorer in both matches last year – and second-rower Annessa Biddle will have the Jillaroos on high alert.

The teams’ last clash on New Zealand soil was a 26-24 barnburner in Australia’s favour in 2018. The hostile South Island atmosphere may be an unfamiliar factor for the visitors to contend with.

The Jillaroos have a clear edge in the halves with two accomplished No.7s lining up against a pair of NRLW five-eighths, while their backline speed shapes as another advantage.

But if the Kiwi Ferns can stay in arm-wrestle and cut down the Aussies’ time with the ball – as they did so effectively in both encounters last year – this should be another thriller between the neighbouring nations.

Twelve of the teams’ last 14 internationals were decided by margins of 10 or less and the Jillaroos look to be giving away a few too many points at the line here.

Tip: Back the Kiwi Ferns to Cover the Line (+7.5) @ $1.90

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The Kangaroos head to Christchurch with retribution on their minds – and a guaranteed spot in the Pacific Championships Final also part of their motivation – as they prepare to take on the defending champion Kiwis.  

New Zealand won last year’s decider in Hamilton by a record 30-0, just a week after going down 36-18 to Australia in Melbourne.  

The Kangaroos’ long-awaited response in last Friday’s tournament opener was satisfactory, but somewhat unconvincing: an 18-0 shutout of Tonga.  

Defensively they were superb, but they completed at only 60 percent and their only points for the first 50 minutes came from an intercept, they couldn’t capitalise on a second-half sin-binning against Tonga and a 78th-minute try to debutant Tom Dearden perhaps gave the scoreline a flattering appearance.  

Isaah Yeo led from the front in his first Test as captain, Mitch Moses looked composed on debut and Australia’s big back five consistently gave them a rollicking start to sets.  

Just seven of New Zealand’s triumphant 2023 line-up will take the field in Christchurch as Stacey Jones takes the coaching reins, with the likes of Jahrome Hughes, Dylan Brown, Joey Manu, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Moses Leota, Briton Nikora and Nelson Asofa-Solomona unavailable.  

Halfback Shaun Johnson and bench utility Kodi Nikorima return to the Kiwis after a four-year absence, while Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad moves to the unfamiliar five-eighth role with livewire Keano Kini debuting at fullback.  

Veteran Peta Hiku is the sole Super League player on show in the centres, Phoenix Crossland debuts at hooker and Will Warbrick plays his first Test on the wing. Jordan Riki and Naufahu Whyte are the Kiwis’ other debutants.  

Power through the middle courtesy of captain James Fisher-Harris, Joe Tapine, Griffin Neame and Marata Niukore shapes as the Kiwis’ strength against the unchanged Kangaroos – who did have their hands full with Addin Fonua-Blake and Jason Taumalolo last week.  

Matt Timoko and Jamayne Isaako ensure there’s no shortage of strike in the Kiwis’ backline, too, especially if Johnson and Kini are firing inside them.  

The Kangaroos have not won in New Zealand since 2012, also losing Tests in 2014 (Wellington) and 2018 (Auckland) before last year’s blowout loss in the final.

This is their first visit to Christchurch since a convincing win in 1989; the Kiwis are 6-0 in the city since then.  

A heaving sell-out crowd at Apollo Projects Stadium is another factor that could swing things the Kiwis’ way.

So much rides on Johnson’s fitness, but his last NRL appearance was a reminder of his penchant for a fairytale and the rare class he possesses.  

If the New Zealand forwards get on top, an upset of the $1.28 favourite Australians will be there for the taking.  

The Kangaroos will need to be a couple of notches better – particularly when it comes to icing opportunities with the ball – if they are to silence the home fans and stamp themselves as international rugby league’s benchmark team once again.  

Tip: Back New Zealand to Cover the Line (+11.5) @ $1.90 

SGM: EITHER TEAM BY UNDER 6.5 POINTS / UNDER 47.5 TOTAL POINTS / HAMISO TABUAI-FIDOW ANYTIME TRYSCORER / JAMAYNE ISAAKO ANYTIME TRYSCORER / KEANO KINI ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $144.79