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.
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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.
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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.