Pacific Championships 2023, Samoa v Fiji, match preview, Jamie Soward, Annetta Nu'uausala, Niall Williams-Guthrie

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Wed 11 Oct 2023, 06:26 AM

Boasting a handful of former New Zealand representatives, Fetu Samoa take on a Fiji Bulikula side with a good base of NRLW talent.

Alongside cross-code Titans star Niall Williams-Guthrie, Jamie Soward's side is boosted by the presence of Broncos enforcer Annetta Nu'uausala and one-time Kiwi Fern Onjeurlina Hunt (née Leiataua).

Fiji meanwhile has impressive Sharks trio Cassie Staples, Talei Holmes and Sereana Naitokatoka and a handful of other young talent who are part of NRLW systems.

Sunday’s clash at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby will be the first time Samoa have played since 2020, while Fiji will be taking the field for the first time in four years.

It will be the very first time the two nations have played each other in a women’s Test match.

Week 1 - Week 1 - Sunday 15 Oct

Full Time

Fetu Samoa

Fiji Bulikula

Venue: Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby

Highlights Latest

Team News

Fetu Samoa: Niall Williams-Guthrie starts in the centres while Titans young guns Destiny Mino-Sinapati and Sienna Lofipo headline an impressive Samoa spine that also includes Wests Tigers playmaker Pauline Piliae-Rasabale. Origin winner Destiny Brill is the hooker with Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala named at lock.

Fiji Bulikula: Sharks winger Cassie Staples moves to fullback while Patricia Raikadroka, who represented the Australian Prime Minister's XIII in 2018 and 2019 has been named in the centres. Former Dragon, Eel and current Shark Sereana Naitokatoka is the halfback with Sienna Laing named at five-eighth. Her sister Teaghan Laing, who was one of the first women to represent Fiji in rugby league has been named at hooker.

Week 1 - Week 1 - Sunday 15 Oct

Full Time

Fetu Samoa

Fiji Bulikula

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Fetu Samoa is number 1 Destiny Mino-Sinapati

Fullback for Fiji Bulikula is number 1 Cassie Staples
Winger for Fetu Samoa is number 2 Taylor Mapusua

Winger for Fiji Bulikula is number 2 Vitalina Naikore
Centre for Fetu Samoa is number 3 Petesa Lio

Centre for Fiji Bulikula is number 3 Merewalesi Rokouono
Centre for Fetu Samoa is number 4 Niall Williams-Guthrie

Centre for Fiji Bulikula is number 4 Patricia Raikadroka
Winger for Fetu Samoa is number 5 Lindsay Tui

Winger for Fiji Bulikula is number 5 Asena Rokomarama
Five-Eighth for Fetu Samoa is number 6 Pauline Piliae-Rasabale

Five-Eighth for Fiji Bulikula is number 6 Sienna Laing
Halfback for Fetu Samoa is number 7 Sienna Lofipo

Halfback for Fiji Bulikula is number 7 Sereana Naitokatoka

Forwards

Prop for Fetu Samoa is number 8 Fiona Jahnke

Prop for Fiji Bulikula is number 8 Aliti Namoce
Hooker for Fetu Samoa is number 9 Destiny Brill

Hooker for Fiji Bulikula is number 9 Teaghan Laing
Prop for Fetu Samoa is number 10 Janelle Williams

Prop for Fiji Bulikula is number 10 Anastacia Shum-Cottrell
2nd Row for Fetu Samoa is number 12 Malaela Sua

2nd Row for Fiji Bulikula is number 11 Talei Holmes
2nd Row for Fetu Samoa is number 15 Onjeurlina Hunt

2nd Row for Fiji Bulikula is number 12 Ema Rainima
Lock for Fetu Samoa is number 13 Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala

Lock for Fiji Bulikula is number 13 Josephine Maejiirs

Interchange

Interchange for Fetu Samoa is number 16 Pihuka Berryman-Duff

Interchange for Fiji Bulikula is number 14 Siniva Sa'anga
Interchange for Fetu Samoa is number 18 Tafao Asaua

Interchange for Fiji Bulikula is number 15 Grace Waqa
Interchange for Fetu Samoa is number 19 Tamerah Leati

Interchange for Fiji Bulikula is number 16 Mere Kilawekana
Interchange for Fetu Samoa is number 21 Makayla Eli

Interchange for Fiji Bulikula is number 17 Adi Sokula Waqa

Reserves

Replacement for Fetu Samoa is number 17 Sauleone Saipele

Replacement for Fiji Bulikula is number 18 Alesi Kilawekana

Match Officials

Referee: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 10/25/2023 6:16:02 AM

Stat Attack

Christian Pio led the NRLW in offloads this year with 21 in nine games.
Talei Holmes started in the second row in each of the Sharks' nine games this year and averaged 100 metres per appearance.
Annetta Nu'uausala is the most experienced player in this game, having made 18 appearances across five NRLW seasons.