Pacific Championships 2025

jamesgould

jamesgould

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Staff member
Admin
Hugely disappointed in the Pacific Championships schedule announced today, Kiwis have two games in Auckland, and the final is in Australia, despite the three teams being NZ, Tonga and Samoa!

The Tonga vs Samoa pool match is also in Brisbane.

This tournament had the potential to be a fantastic advertisement for the game in NZ and showcase some brilliant international matches around the entire country.

Instead it’s another half assed joke. Don’t even feel like watching on tv after this.
 
jamesgould said:
Hugely disappointed in the Pacific Championships schedule announced today, Kiwis have two games in Auckland, and the final is in Australia, despite the three teams being NZ, Tonga and Samoa!

The Tonga vs Samoa pool match is also in Brisbane.

This tournament had the potential to be a fantastic advertisement for the game in NZ and showcase some brilliant international matches around the entire country.

Instead it’s another half assed joke. Don’t even feel like watching on tv after this.
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That's honestly disheartening to hear that, they really needed to take the game out of Australia to show the NRL actually do care about the Pacific games. In saying that we do have a big representation in Australia and they also dereve the right to go the game so I'll be happy just seeing 1 of the games in Australia but I would prefer just for a year or two seeing all games played in New Zeland.
 
Mclovin said:
That's honestly disheartening to hear that, they really needed to take the game out of Australia to show the NRL actually do care about the Pacific games. In saying that we do have a big representation in Australia and they also dereve the right to go the game so I'll be happy just seeing 1 of the games in Australia but I would prefer just for a year or two seeing all games played in New Zeland.
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I definitely understand Australia not wanting to go without hosting any international football for a year … but why not set up a warm up game vs Fiji or something prior to heading to England?
 
Grandpa Joe - Prev Lord said:
Mal is still coach of the Kangaroos no way we Haas, Tino and Hammer defect.
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Haas has only played 4 games for the Kangaroos and he debuted in 2019, he's consistently opted out of Kangaroos jerseys with Mal at the helm.

Mal holds very little pull within the current generation of players - hence why his appointment as figurehead coach of the Bears is such a dire decision.
 
jamesgould said:
Hugely disappointed in the Pacific Championships schedule announced today, Kiwis have two games in Auckland, and the final is in Australia, despite the three teams being NZ, Tonga and Samoa!

The Tonga vs Samoa pool match is also in Brisbane.

This tournament had the potential to be a fantastic advertisement for the game in NZ and showcase some brilliant international matches around the entire country.

Instead it’s another half assed joke. Don’t even feel like watching on tv after this.
Click to expand...
I take all this back about the final being in Aus, I realised I'll be in Sydney on that Sunday after attending the Oasis concerts on Friday and Saturday ... just bought my tickets lol.
 
Article in the Herald lists the player who have been told to train on for rep games.

The interesting thing is KPP and Leo Thompson and Dylan Brown are all on the list for England, NZ and NZ - but where are they training?

Is Dylan Brown training at Parra, or is he training at our centre - or is he going to a private gym - same for the other 2.

Others told to keep training - Best, Dom, Crossland and Marzhew for Samoa.
 
I saw Leo training with Phoenix out at Mayfield last year - just doing fitness etc
Them, Gamble, Tuala and a few others used to frequent the gym over the off season too.
 
Phoenix Crossland and Dylan Brown are in the NZ team.

Leo Thompson has not been selected...

Likely team:

1. Keano Kini
2. Ronaldo Mulitalo
3. Matthew Timoko
4. Sebastian Kris/Casey McLean/Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
5. Jamayne Isaako
6. Dylan Brown
7. Kieran Foran

13. Joseph Tapine
12. Briton Nikora
11. Isaiah Papali'i
10. Moses Leota
9. Phoenix Crossland/Jeremy Marshall-King
8. James Fisher-Harris

14. Phoenix Crossland/Jeremy Marshall-King
15. Naufahu Whyte
16. Xavier Willison
17. Erin Clark

Kalyn is a dope.
 
It's an immense squad - No Hughes is a shame but that pack is IMO the strongest in the world across the board.

Tongan Squad and my personal teamlist - Caveat is Woolf will definitely pick and probably start Felise Kaufusi but I wouldn't. They could play anyone at 6 given they've chucked Staggs there in the past but I'd personally go Hopoate.

1. Isaiah Iongi
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Tolu Koula
4. Rob Toia
5. Paul Alamoti
6. Lehi Hopoate
7. Isaiya Katoa
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Siliva Havili
10. Stefano Utoikamanu
11. Siua Wong/Leka Halasima
12. Eliesa Katoa
13. Jason Taumalolo

14. Soni Luke
15. Demetric Vaimauga
16. Moeaki Fotuaika
17. Leka Halasima/Siua Wong

18. Viliami Penisini
19. Sione Katoa
20. Felise Kaufusi
21. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
 
Someone on the ****ty Front Row Forums website told me I was an idiot for saying Phoenix was a walk-up start for NZ going forward and he'd always get picked over Cheese when both were fit... I don't want to go back there to gloat because the quality of discussion on there is pathetic compared to here and the mods need to take lessons from James lol. So I'll crow about being right here instead. Lo and behold, Cheese is fit, Phoenix is fit, they want Phoenix over Cheese.

He's a fixture in that team now.
 
waynesworld said:
How come?
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I think he should be playing for New Zealand & the best time to make the switch is right now.

He 1000% sat out for the Kangaroos last year because he doesn't want to close the door on repping the Kiwis, not the reasons given. I'm guessing he wants to say a better farewell to Origin and then he'll look to make the switch in time for the next World Cup.

But at this stage he's only playing for Queensland if Walsh gets hurt. I guess the competitor in him backs himself to get selected over Walsh, but also, Keano Kini is getting a chance to make the NZ jersey his own and it'll become harder to just walk into that one.

But also he always says his biggest goal is winning a comp for Newcastle - well, the absolute best thing he can do to that end is get into an International camp environment and develop his combo with Dylan Brown ASAP.

Also he's missing out on $60K in match fees by not switching to them now lol.
 
MullosLefttoRight said:
It's an immense squad - No Hughes is a shame but that pack is IMO the strongest in the world across the board.

Tongan Squad and my personal teamlist - Caveat is Woolf will definitely pick and probably start Felise Kaufusi but I wouldn't. They could play anyone at 6 given they've chucked Staggs there in the past but I'd personally go Hopoate.

1. Isaiah Iongi
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Tolu Koula
4. Rob Toia
5. Paul Alamoti
6. Lehi Hopoate
7. Isaiya Katoa
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Siliva Havili
10. Stefano Utoikamanu
11. Siua Wong/Leka Halasima
12. Eliesa Katoa
13. Jason Taumalolo

14. Soni Luke
15. Demetric Vaimauga
16. Moeaki Fotuaika
17. Leka Halasima/Siua Wong

18. Viliami Penisini
19. Sione Katoa
20. Felise Kaufusi
21. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
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Only question mark for me is 6/1... they don't have an easy answer there but I would have thought Iongi 6 Lehi fullback?
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
I think he should be playing for New Zealand & the best time to make the switch is right now.

He 1000% sat out for the Kangaroos last year because he doesn't want to close the door on repping the Kiwis, not the reasons given. I'm guessing he wants to say a better farewell to Origin and then he'll look to make the switch in time for the next World Cup.

But at this stage he's only playing for Queensland if Walsh gets hurt. I guess the competitor in him backs himself to get selected over Walsh, but also, Keano Kini is getting a chance to make the NZ jersey his own and it'll become harder to just walk into that one.

But also he always says his biggest goal is winning a comp for Newcastle - well, the absolute best thing he can do to that end is get into an International camp environment and develop his combo with Dylan Brown ASAP.

Also he's missing out on $60K in match fees by not switching to them now lol.
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Good point, I reckon he probably wants to keep his hat in the ring for one more Origin Series then play the Workd Cup for the Kiwis.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Only question mark for me is 6/1... they don't have an easy answer there but I would have thought Iongi 6 Lehi fullback?
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That's definitely their issue - I personally rate Iongi as a more well-rounded fullback than Lehi at this stage, but that mostly stems from Lehi's relative lack of opportunity. They could well swap those two between 6 and 1.

It seemed like they had their halves answer with Katoa pairing up with Latu Fainu. Obviously Fainu is injured now but the rest of the Fainu brothers have seemingly decided to swap their allegiances to Fiji, so it will be interesting to see whether Latu follows suit.
 
Samoa Squad again with my personal take on their lineup - Could hear plenty of argument about who makes the 17/reserves on this one, many would reasonably pick Murray Taulagi however I think Deine Mariner's form (and his performance for Samoa in England) leaves him deserving of his spot.

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2. Brian To'o
3. Taylan May
4. Izack Tago
5. Deine Mariner
6. Blaize Talagi
7. Jarome Luai
8. Junior Paulo
9. Beniah Ioelu
10. Payne Haas
11. Jayd'n Su'a
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Terrell May

14. Chanel Harris-Tavita
15. Francis Molo
16. Josh Papali'i
17. Simi Sasagi

18. Murray Taulagi
19. Lykhan King-Togia
20. Jazz Tevaga
21. Ata Mariota
 
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