Pacific Championships 2025

HarVeeGee13 said:
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.
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Haha you lot make it too easy to run this place … and thank goodness you’re here HVG, such great insight and chat!

As for Brandon Smith … look at him being passed easily under the posts by a regulation Cam Murray hit up in the 2022 World Cup semi vs Aus, at the 53rd minute, he was completely gassed. Literally cost us the game with his lack of fitness. Contrast that with Crossland in the loss to Tonga last year, cranked out 65 minutes, made 44 tackles, scored a try and was named Kiwis MVP.

There's certain players who just know what's required at that level, and I think Crossland has already identified himself as one. 100% effort and doesn't stop, that's invaluable. I liken him to Kenny Bromwich and his place in the Kiwi's side, not the biggest name, but I think he's someone they'll just always find a place for in the side, whether it be starting or bench.

waynesworld said:
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.
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Was 50% expecting Ponga to be named today, but this actually makes a lot of sense too.

As for Leo ... pretty clearly he wasn't up to international level this year (despite his second place in the Knights player of the year award?!). Not a surprise he's been overlooked.

Kiwis can make some strange selection decisions at times, but this squad looks great.
 
jamesgould said:
Was 50% expecting Ponga to be named today, but this actually makes a lot of sense too.

As for Leo ... pretty clearly he wasn't up to international level this year (despite his second place in the Knights player of the year award?!). Not a surprise he's been overlooked.

Kiwis can make some strange selection decisions at times, but this squad looks great.
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I also think his holding out hope the eligibility laws change before the World Cup which honestly seems likely. Then he doesn’t appear to turn his back on QLD and gets to play for NZ anyway. If he makes that call now, given the calibre of fullbacks QLD have he probably never gets picked again.
 
www.nrl.com

International Tour Match | Junior Kumuls & Orchids v Australian Schools

Junior Orchards v Australian Schoolgirls & Junior Kumuls v Australian Schoolboys live from Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
www.nrl.com www.nrl.com

Live stream of the School Girls and Boys playing PNG from 9.45 tomorrow.

Captain of the schoolgirls, 17 year old Stella Lewis, will be in the Knights NRLW top 24 next year. She is basically a 17 year old version of Yasmin Clydesdale. We also have 17 year old prop Emily McArthur on the bench. She was starting prop in the Harvey Norman Cup (reserve grade) grandfinal 2 weeks ago.

In the boys we have Toby Winter playing centre. He is usually a very good fullback, but centre might be an easier path to higher grades for him.
 
The link above goes live in 5 minutes.

The junior Kumuls beat the Australian schoolboys last year. They are a year or 2 older than the schoolboys side on average, so it's a very competitive match-up.
 
Stevie Botham has come into the starting side at number 5 - Stella lewis 11, Emily McArthur 16
 
20 - 12 win by the Schoolgirls over the PNG Orchids.
Knights girls went OK without getting many chances to shine. Lewis had a couple of strong runs and defended well - MacArthur was mostly defending and Stevie Botham looked fast in the 2 or 3 times she get the ball.
 
Junior Kumals 10 - 4 Aus Schoolboys at halftime.

Toby Winter has had a few good runs, but the second rower inside him is a ballhog who won't pass, so he's had limited chances.

Replacement prop Taulani for PNG is the younger brother of our Taulani, who is playing seniors later on today. The young guy is a big prop and looks good.
 
Schoolboys won 24 - 14 - very poor standard of game all round - both sides would have completed at less than 50%.
 
Taulani has made 17 tackles and missed 1 in short minutes. Pretty decent for a Flegg player V quality firsgraders. His younger brother looked good in the junior game too.
 
Mason Teague put in his usual mountain of work for Cook Islands - played 80 minutes, half at hooker and half at lock, topped the tackle count, looked like he got a try but it was not given.
He is still listed as unsigned for next year. He might end up in our reserve grade squad I suppose, but I hope someone gives him a run.
 
Very exciting opening game between the Kiwi Ferns and Samoa … 20-0 to Samoa but the Kiwis ended up winning 22-20. Hufanga running 90 metres to score the matchwinner … she’s improved her fitness since I last saw her play, she’d have been flat out running 9 metres two seasons ago.

Hopefully that scare filters through to the Kiwis and shakes them out of any complacency. I can see Samoa being pretty fired up, and the Kiwis weren’t great last year.
 
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