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The NRL’s representative weekend won’t just be about Australia versus New Zealand. On Saturday May 2, we will see four Pacific powerhouses take part in a triple header at Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium.
So let’s have a look at the possible squads and what we can expect to see. Game 1 will place Fiji against the rugby league mad nation of Papua New Guinea.
Fiji
1.Kevin Naiqama, 2.Marika Koroibete, 3.Alipate Noilea, 4.Wes Naiqama (captain), 5.Eto Nabuli, 6.Ryan Millard, 7.Aaron Groom, 8.Kane Evans, 9.James Storer, 10.Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11.Junior Roqica, 12.Jayson Bukuya, 13.Korbin Sims, 14.Waqa Blake, 15.Peni Botiki, 16.Osea Sadrau, 17.Sarafu Fatiaki
Papua New Guinea
1.David Mead(captain), 2.Nene MacDonald, 3.Bland Abavu, 4.Thompson Teteh, 5.Wellington Albert, 6.Israel Eliab, 7.Ray Thompson, 8.Luke Page, 9.Kurt Baptiste, 10.Rod Griffin, 11.Rhyse Martin, 12.Tyson Martin, 13.Adam Korave, 14.Richard Kambo, 15.Josh Damen, 16.Timothy Lomai, 17.Stanton Albert
Notable omissions for Fiji include Semi Radradra – who is still battling injury – and the duo of Akuila Uate and Tariq Sims who will likely take part in the city versus country clash in a bid for a NSW jersey.
For Papua New Guinea, boom hooker James Segeyaro will take no part in future Kumuls teams as he has declared himself for Queensland, while their Super League stars such as Paul Aiton, Jessie Joe Parker and Neville Costigan all won’t play as the Kumuls opt for local talent over their UK contingent during non-World Cup years.
Fiji are probably missing the bigger names but luckily for them they have a wealth of NRL talent to choose from (especially out wide) and have the more talented line-up. Papua New Guinea plays with a lot of passion and a whole nation behind them but I think the Bati will just be too talented for them. Expect Fiji to run away with the match over the closing stages.
The main event will see Samoa and Tonga add another page to their rivalry. Samoa will look to build off what was a reasonably successful Four Nations campaign, which saw them come within two points of defeating eventual winners New Zealand.
Tonga will look to emulate their performance of 2013 where they put over 30 points on the board en route to a big win in the mid-year Test against Samoa.
Samoa
1.Peter Mata’utia, 2.Antonio Winterstein, 3.Tim Simona, 4.Joey Leilua, 5.Daniel Vidot, 6.Carlos Tuimavave, 7.Penani Manumalealii, 8.Josh McGuire, 9.Michael Sio, 10.David Fa’alogo (captain), 11.Frank Pritchard, 12.Sia Soliola, 13.Frank-Paul Nu’uausala, 14.Isaac Liu, 15.Suauso Sue, 16.Leeson Ah Mau, 17.Jesse Sene-Lafao
Tonga
1.Glen Fisi’iahi, 2.Mahe Fonua, 3.Konrad Hurrell, 4.Solomone Kata, 5.Bill Tupou, 6.Samisoni Langi, 7.Daniel Foster, 8.Brent Kite, 9.Joel Luani, 10.David Hala, 11.Sika Manu(captain), 12.Anthony Tupou, 13.Sio Siua Taukeiaho 14.Pat Politoni, 15.Ben Murdoch-Masila, 16.Peni Terepo, 17.Sitaleki Akauola
Both sides are packed full of NRL talent and both sides cancel each other out with similar strengths and weaknesses. This will be a very intense, physical and close game that will go right to the wire.
It’s a hard game to pick a winner in. I believe that Samoa will just have the edge though due to their experience gained during last year’s Four Nations tournament. Samoa to win by 4
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