Almanac Rugby League – 2022 Representative Round: It’s all happening!

 

Rugby league’s Representative Round for 2022 takes the place of regular NRL fixtures this weekend with a total of eight matches to be played commencing tonight and running through to Sunday night. All eight matches will be broadcast live on various Channel 9 stations. Check local guides for details.

 

For an overview of the weekend’s matches click here.

 

 

 

The significance of State of Origin to rugby league is on show during this weekend’s Representative Round with four matches to be played: Under 19s and seniors in both men’s and women’s games.

 

Tonight features a double-header with the Under19s in action at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney. The women take the field at 5.45pm to be followed by the men at 7.45pm.

 

See the U19 women’s teams here.

 

See the U19 men’s teams here.

 

The 2022 Ampol State of Origin women’s clash will be played at Canberra’s GIO Stadium tomorrow night from 7.45pm. See team lists here. This match is previewed in a separate article on The Footy Almanac today.

 

Game 2 of the 2022 men’s Ampol State of Origin series will be played at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Sunday evening starting at 7.50pm Eastern Standard Time. See team lists here. This match is previewed in a separate article on The Footy 

 

The international component of the weekend kicks off on Saturday afternoon with the women’s clash between the Kiwi Ferns and the Mate Ma’a Tonga Women at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium from 1.10pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.

 

At the time of writing the respective squads are:

Kiwi Ferns: Amy Turner, Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala, Autumn-Rain Stephens Daly, Charlotte Scanlan, Christyl Stowers, Georgia Hale, Hailee-Jay Maunsell, Kararaina Wira-Kohu, Karli Hansen, Katelyn Vaha’akolo, Krystal Rota, Laishon Albert-Jones, Madison Bartlett, Mya Hill-Moana, Ngatokotoru Arakua, Nita Maynard, Page, McGregor, Raecene McGregor, Roxy Murdoch.

Mate Ma’a Tonga: Laikha Clarke (Gold Coast Titans), Tegan Dymock (St George Illawarra Dragons), Keisharn Hala (Brisbane Tigers), Elenoa Havea, Haylee Hifo (Mounties), Kalosipani Hopoate (Sydney Roosters), Bridget Hoy (Tweed Seagulls, Mary Latu, Amelia Mafi, Seli Mailangi (Parramatta Eels), Shannon Muru (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Kimberly Nikua (St Marys), Monica Samita, Natasha Penitani (Cronulla Sharks), China Polata (Brisbane Broncos), Pier Pritchard (North Sydney Bears), Erana Reti (St George Dragons), Luisa Sekona (West Brisbane Panthers), Lavinia Tauhalaliku, Ana Taumalolo.

 

With a raft of NRLW players included, the Ferns will be favourites to take out this clash but it is expected to be a enthusiastic encounter!

 

A mouth-watering clash between the New Zealand Kiwis and Mate Ma’a Tonga men’s teams follows from 3.20pm. Just have a look at the two squads listed below and you can’t come to any conclusion other than that this will be a thunderous encounter! Talk about power, might and skill in both lists. I hope the tectonic plates are stable on Saturday afternoon because this game has the potential to rock the foundations of the stadium.

 

To see the team lists click here.

 

It takes as brave man to pick a winner here with any confidence. The code has come a long way in the Pacific nations in recent years with Tonga leading the way. I won’t be surprised to see them maintain that momentum and emerge in front at the final whistle.

 

The action then comes back across the Tasman to Campbelltown Sports Stadium where Samoa takes on Cook Islands at 5.40pm.

 

To see the full team lists click here.

 

There seems to be quite an imbalance of talent here with the Samoan team made up of all NRL players while Cook Islands have had to draw from far and wide to make up their team. Samoa will be the shortest of short price favourites.

 

The later match at 7.50pm sees Papua New Guinea Kumuls pitted against Fiji Bati.

 

To see the full team lists click here.

 

The Kumuls squad is made up solely of NRL and Queensland Cup/Hostplus Cup players while Fiji has had to draw on a more cosmopolitan array of clubs to fill their team. No quarter will be asked or given in this match! Expect it to be fast and furious. I favour the Kumuls because I think they will prove to be the more cohesive unit.

 

So get yourself well set up for a feast of fantastic footy for the next four days. I’ll be back on Monday with a wrap of all the action.

 

To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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