International rugby league returns this weekend with the first round of the 2025 Pacific Championships. Three weeks of qualifiers in both men’s and women’s competitions will lead up to the Championships finals to be played at Commbank Stadium in Sydney on Sunday 9th November. Next weekend will see the beginning of the 3-Test Ashes series between England and Australia.
The men’s series opener on Saturday afternoon pits Fiji Bati against Cook Islands Aitu at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby. There’s no shortage of NRL experience in both teams as well as a smattering of up and coming talent. The Bati will be led by experienced Storm front rower Tui Kamikamica with young Michael Waqa up front wanting to make an impression. Milne, Kaitoga and Navale all have experience on their side. Wests Tigers’ Jahream Bula at fullback is joined by Turuva, Jennings, the emerging Jethro Rinakana and Semi Valamei in a talented backline hoping to get good ball from experienced halves Brandon Wakeham and Kurt Donoghue. Quite an impressive line-up on paper; now they just have to click on the paddock. The Aitu are not without experience with the likes of Esan Marsters, KL Iro and Brad Takairangi organising the backline while their pack boasts the likes of Makahesi Makatoa, Tepai Moeroa, Brendan Piakura and Rueben Porter. All up, this suggests a good game in prospect. I lean towards the Bati who, to my eye, seem to have a bit more experience and a better spread of talent.
Then, on Sunday afternoon, the Kiwis play host to Toa Samoa at Go Media Stadium in Auckland. The NZ team is notable as much for who misses out as for who makes the 17-man line-up. What does it say when you can have Xavier Willison, Keano Kini, Scott Sorensen and Sebastian Kris not even in the top 17! The team features strength, experience and a hint of menace in the pack; the backs boast speed, skill and firepower. I’d have to name all 17 to give you the full picture. Perhaps you might just go to the team line-ups link below to get the full picture. Then check out the Samoan team – almost a case of more of the same with loads of NRL experience across the paddock. Look at their pack – power and mobility; the backs ooze class. What a classic in prospect! The teams play in black and blue. Don’t be surprised if there are a few black and blue bruises come Sunday after they hammer and tongs at each other. I favour NZ at home, but not with any great confidence.
The women’s series opener will see the PNG Orchids take on Cook Islands Moana in Port Moresby. The Orchids will benefit from last weekend’s outing in the Prime Minister’s XIII even though they suffered a heavy loss to their Australian counterparts. Elsie Alberts can be expected to lead from the front, as always, and with the local fans providing a cacophony of sound in support, the Orchids will be hard to beat. The Moana have some NRL experience on board with the likes of Chantay Kiria-Ratu in the key halfback position and Livinia Kitai up front to take on Alberts. This one is hard to call given their unknown factor with many of the players. I expect the Orchids to prevail to the delight of the locals.
On Sunday, the Kiwi Ferns will go up against Fetu Samoa. Both sides boast a wealth of NRLW experience and emerging talent with premiership-winning experience shared to boot. As with the men’s teams above, go to the full team lists to see the talent on display. This list is too long to outline them in full here. I’ve long been a fan of Raecene McGregor who has both the skills and the footy smarts to direct her side around the park. I think this may well be the key factor in this game and so I expect the Ferns to emerge as winners.
Toi see all the team line-ups for this weekend click here.
All games will be shown live on Channel 9. Check your local tv guides for match times.
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About Ian Hauser
A former teacher with a (very) modest sporting CV enjoying his retirement years. A Queenslander through and through, especially when it comes to cricket and rugby league. Enjoys travel, coffee and cake, reading, McWilliam's Cream Apera and a glass or three of wine. Footy Almanac's Thursday online editor who moonlights as a hobby editor.
thank you for this detailed preview (as always!) Ian
The ‘health’ – the standard of the game in the Pacific – seems to be on the up & up (?!)
Cue: comment from the learned Patrick Skene!