International Affairs: Turbo charged 'Roos, Phoenix rising for Kiwis
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Tom Trbojevic is set to play for the Kangaroos squad for the first time since 2018, while Phoenix Crossland could be a bolter for the Kiwis and Lehi Hopoate is on the radar for Tongan selection.
With the draw for the Pacific Championships announced, all eyes will now be on the players in contention to represent Australia, New Zealand and Tonga in the Pacific Cup and Cook Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Bowl.
New Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou is expected to have the services of Xavier Coates for this year's Pacific Bowl campaign, while Fiji are set to be bolstered by the return of Viliame Kikau and Cook Islands are still hoping to Val Holmes and Joey Manu will play for them.
The Men's Pacific Championship draw explained
Australia
Mal Meninga is sweating on a call to confirm the availability of star halfback Nathan Cleary while contemplating a decision on the future of captain and fullback James Tedesco.
Tedesco captained the Kangaroos to victory at the last World Cup in 2022 and the Sydney Roosters fullback is widely tipped to be one of the leading contenders for the Dally M Medal, along with Storm and Kiwis halfback Jahrome Hughes.
However, Tedesco was forced to make way for Edwards in the NSW team which won this year’s Origin series, leaving Meninga to ponder whether to chose a new fullback - and therefore a new captain.
Cleary would be an obvious choice if he is fit and the latest news out of Penrith is that the superstar playmaker is on track to return from a shoulder injury in the NRL finals.
It is believed Cleary was strongly considered as the next NSW captain after coach Michael Maguire decided to drop Tedesco for Edwards, but a hamstring injury ruled him out.
The Blues were captained by Jake Trbojevic, while the Queensland skipper was Daly Cherry-Evans but neither are guaranteed to be in the Australian team, with Cleary set to be the first-choice halfback if he is fit.
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Mitchell Moses, who ruptured his bicep during NSW's epic Origin decider win, is also under consideration to play halfback if Cleary is unavailable.
Trbojevic’s frontrow rivals include NSW team-mate Payne Haas and the Maroons trio of Lindsay Collins, Pat Carrigan and Reuben Cotter, while Isaah Yeo was used as an interchange prop by Blues coach Michael Maguire.
Meninga has also mentioned Warriors enforcer Mitch Barnett, who made his Origin debut for NSW in the series decider, and Bulldogs prop Josh Curran as possible bolters for Australian selection.
Cameron Murray, Liam Martin, Angus Crichton and Yeo are likely to be the Kangaroos backrowers, while Tom Trbojevic, Bradman Best and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are Meninga’s main centre options.
Last Test (0-30 loss v NZ): James Tedesco; Dylan Edwards, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Kotoni Staggs, Valentine Holmes; Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans; Payne Haas, Ben Hunt, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Cameron Murray, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo. Int: Harry Grant, Lindsay Collins, Patrick Carrigan, Reuben Cotter.
New Zealand
Incoming New Zealand coach Stacey Jones is likely to have a stronger squad at his disposal than the one which inflicted a record defeat of the Kangaroos in last year's final.
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The Kiwis were forced to play veteran playmaker Kieran Foran at hooker during the 2023 Pacific Championships but Brandon Smith and Jeremy Marshall-King are currently both fit, while Phoenix Crossland can also fill the dummy half role.
Crossland, who was born in Wellington, was under consideration for a Kiwis call up last year but the Knights utility suffered a knee injury during the finals and was ruled out.
Other players who didn't play in the Pacific Championships but are likely to be in contention include Jordan Riki, Braden Hamlin-Uele and Seb Kris.
Storm centre Jack Howarth, who last year played for New Zealand A alongside club mate Will Warbrick, may come under consideration to replace rugby union-bound Manu.
Titans fullback Keano Kini was in last season's squad but is yet to make his Test debut.
It was revealed last week that Jones had approached Dally M Medallist and Golden Boot winner Roger Tuivasa-Sheck about playing for the Kiwis after his return from rugby union but he is committed to representing Samoa.
Last Test (30-0 win v Australia): Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad; Ronaldo Mulitalo, Matthew Timoko, Joseph Manu, Jamayne Isaako; Dylan Brown, Jahrome Hughes; James Fisher-Harris, Kieran Foran, Moses Leota, Isaiah Papali'i, Briton Nikora, Joseph Tapine. Int: Fa'amanu Brown, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Griffin Neame, Leo Thompson.
Tonga
After making his Test debut at the 2022 World Cup in England before he had made his NRL debut, boom halfback Isaiya Katoa is set to lead Tonga around in the Pacific Championships.
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Rookie Wests Tigers playmaker Latu Fainu went on last year's tour to England and may be a long-term halves partner for Katoa, while his 20-year-old brother Samuela is also set to come into consideration for a second-row berth.
Another young star in contention for a place in Kristian Woolf's team is Manly outside back Lehi Hopoate, whose brother Will was Tonga's captain until his retirement last year.
If selected, Hopoate is likely to join Sea Eagles team-mates Haumole Olakau'atu and Tolutau Koula in the Tongan squad.
Cowboys forward Jason Taumalolo, Sharks winger Sione Katoa, Titans second-rower David Fifita and Dolphins prop Tevita Pangai Jnr were among the players who did not go on last year's tour to England.
Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak spoke about switching from the Kiwis to Tonga but did not play for either team at the end of last year.
Star prop Addin Fonua-Blake, who took over the captaincy in England, missed the third and final Test against England
Last Test (4-26 loss v England): Will Hopoate; Will Penisini, Konrad Hurrell, Moses Suli, Tolutau Koula; Tuimoala Lolohea, Isaiya Katoa; Hame Sele, Siliva Havili, Felise Kaufusi, Tyson Frizell, Haumole Olakau'atu, Keaon Koloamatangi. Int: Latu Fainu, Moeaki Fotuaika, Eliesa Katoa, Siua Wong.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea won the final of last year's Pacific Bowl, downing Fiji 32-12 in Port Moresby, and will aiming to repeat the feat to earn a place in the promotion-relegation play-off against the third placed Pacific Cup team.
Fiji Bati v PNG Kumuls - Pacific Bowl final, 2023
New Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou will draw on players from the NRL, Queensland Cup and England, where up to half the squad play in the Super League or Championship.
Storm winger Xavier Coates is due to return from a hamstring injury next weekend and will be a welcome addition to the team after missing last year's tournament due to injury.
However, star fullback Alex Johnston (Achilles) and centre Zac Laybutt (knee) are out, while there are doubts about the fitness of home-grown hero Justin Olam (knee).
Halfback Lachlan Lam, hooker Edwin Ipape, outside backs Nene Macdonald and Rodrick Tai, and forwards Rhyse Martin, Liam Horne, Nixon Putt, Wellington Albert, Sylvester Namo, Emmanual Waine and Keven Appo all play in the UK.
Jack de Belin, Kyle Laybutt, Robert Derby, Dan Russell and Jacob Allick bring NRL experience to the squad while Demetriou will also draw on players from the PNG Hunters and other Queensland Cup teams.
Among them are likely to be Hunters hooker Judah Rimbuh, props Valentine Richard and Junior Rop, centre Benji Kot and halfback Joshua Lau.
Last Test (32-12 v Fiji): Alex Johnston; Robert Derby, Zac Laybutt, Rodrick Tai, Nene Macdonald; Kyle Laybutt, Lachlan Lam; Epel Kapinias, Edwin Ipape, Valentine Richard, Rhyse Martin, Dan Russell, Jack De Belin. Int: Judah Rimbu, Liam Horne, Junior Rop, Nixon Putt.
Fiji
The Bati are set to be bolstered by the inclusion of strike forward Viliame Kikau, who captained the team at the World Cup in 2022, as well as hooker Api Koroisau.
Kikau didn't play in last year's Pacific Championships and will be a key addition to the Fiji team as he has returned to his best form this season for the Bulldogs.
Fiji Bati v Cook Islands Aitu – Week 2, 2023
Storm forward Tui Kamikamica captained the team in Papua New Guinea last season and his experience will again be invaluable, along with Maika Sivo, Taane Milne and Mikaele Ravalawa.
After missing last year's Pacific Bowl final due to injury, Penrith's Sunia Turuva will be another key inclusion for Fiji but star fullback Jahream Bula has undergone shoulder surgery, which ended his 2024 season with Wests Tigers.
Dolphins playmaker Kurt Donoghoe and Bulldogs forward Kitione Kautoga have both received more NRL exposure this season after playing for the Bati at the last year's Pacific Championships.
Last Test (12-32 loss v PNG): Jahream Bula; Maika Sivo, Waqa Blake, Mikaele Ravalawa, Jason Qareqare; Kurt Donoghoe, Brandon Wakeham; Tui Kamikamica, Penioni Tagituimua, King Vuniyayawa, Apisalome Saukuru, Taane Milne, Caleb Navale. Int: Kitione Kautoga, Gordon Whippy, Watisoni Waqanisaravi, Pio Seci.
Cook Islands
Cook Islands officials believe that if they ever get their best team on the field the Aitu will be a force to be reckoned with and hold out hope that Val Holmes and Joey Manu will play for them.
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Holmes publicly declared that he was considering representing his Cook Islands heritage at the last World Cup in England, while Manu has said he would like to do so either before heading to Japanese rugby union at the end of the season or if he returns.
Regardless, the number of Cook Islands players making an impact in the NRL has grown since last year's Pacific Championships under the coaching of Karmichael Hunt.
Kayal Iro has cemented his place in Cronulla's backline, Brendan Piakura was a member of the extended Queensland squad during this year's Origin series and forward Xavier Willison is also regular member of the Broncos team.
South Sydney prop Davvy Moale and Parramatta's Makahesi Makatoa have now played more than 50 NRL matches each, while Reuben Porter has been playing regularly in the forwards for Wests Tigers.
Last Test (18-22 loss v Fiji): Esam Ioka; Malachi Morgan, Kayal Iro, Alvin Maungaati, Steven Marsters; Brad Takairangi, Esan Marsters; Davvy Moale, Rua Ngatikaura,Takai Mokohar, Zane Tetevano, Reuben Porter, Pride Petterson-Robati. Int: William Samuel, Rhys Dakin, Justin Estall-Makirere, Kadiyae Ioka.
