Pacific Test 2022

Nofoaluma scores four as Samoa cruise to beat Cook Islands

Samoa coach Matt Parish blooded eight debutants for the international fixture while only two players - Marty Taupau and Bunty Afoa - remained from the last Test match played in 2019. 

After seven losses in their past nine matches, the emergence of young NRL stars Josh Schuster, Izack Tago and Taylan May in recent seasons added flair for the Samoan side while Nofoaluma cashed in on the edge.

Tago and May crossed for early tries on international debut before Nofoaluma scored a double in each half as the Samoans racked up a comfortable lead throughout the evening. 

Manu mammoth as Kiwis get the better of Tonga

Carrying on the form that has made him a standout for the Roosters in 2022, Manu ran for 404 metres and had seven tackle breaks as New Zealand made a strong statement ahead of this year's World Cup. 

The emotion of the pre-game Haka and Sipi Tau had barely subsided when Kiwi playmaker Jahrome Hughes stepped ojn the gas from 10 metres out and carried three defenders over with him for the game's opening try.

New Zealand v Mate Ma'a Tonga: Emotional return to Mt Smart

The Warriors' last home game before the COVID-19 panedemic on August 30, 2019, and the last Test match played at the ground was five weeks before that on June 22 when New Zealand beat Tonga 34-14.

On that occasion it was Shaun Johnson stealing the show with a hat-trick but the veteran playmaker has made way for Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes, who debuted off the bench in that Test and has gone on to establish himself as one of the game's premier No.7s.

Samoa v Cook Islands: Panther power meets band of brothers

On that night it was the unfancied Cook Islands side under the coaching of David Fairleigh which sprung a 22-20 upset to qualify for the main draw in Port Moresby, where they had a win over Fiji before losing to PNG in the final.

Samoa went on to participate in the 2013 and 2017 World Cups, reaching the quarter-finals on both occasions, while their most recent Test match appearance in 2019 resulted in a loss to Fiji in Auckland.

PNG v Fiji: Johnston and Kikau headline all star cast

After Samoa and Cook Islanads have the set the scene in the earlier game it's over to PNG and Fiji to light up the stadium with some ferocious defence and flashy attack in their first clash since November, 2019.

On that occasion it was the Bati prevailing 22-20 in a thriller in Christchurch with Viliame Kikau and Tui Kamikamica among the tryscorers and Maika Sivo running for 214 metres.

Dragons de Belin Unavailable

However, newly appointed Kumuls Head Coach, Stanley Tepend is hopeful the lock will accept a call-up later in the year. 

Tepend and his predecessor Michael Marum have held discussions with De Belin about representing his grandmother’s birth nation over the last 12 months.

De Belin only returned to the NRL last year and hasn’t played representative football since 2018, with the 31-year-old ruling himself out of Kumuls selection ahead of next week’s Test at Campbelltown.

Tupou, Staggs named in Tonga squad for Kiwis Test

Tonga coach Kristian Woolf named a 25-man squad ahead of the June 25 Test, with Tupou named on the wing and Staggs at five-eighth - despite the pair playing for the Blues in last week's opening Origin match.

Manly second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu and Cronulla centre Siosifa Talakai, who have both been mentioned as contenders to join the NSW squad for Origin II in Perth on June 26, have also been included along with the likes of Jason Taumalolo, Addin Fonua-Blake and Tevita Pangai jnr.

Under international eligibility rules, players can play for both their state and Tonga.

Brown set for Kiwis debut as Johnson misses squad

New Zealand coach Michael Maguire has named a 25-man wider squad to travel home to Aotearoa to face their Pacific rivals at Mt Smart Stadium on June 25 and there was no place for Johnston or Kodi Nikorima among the playmakers.

Brown is set to partner Melbourne Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes at the scrum base, with Manly veteran Kieran Foran also in the squad.

Eight of the squad are potential Kiwi debutants, including Ellerslie Eagles junior Ronaldo Mulitalo, who leads the NRL with 20 linebreaks for the Sharks this season, and Eels playmaker Dylan Brown.

Fiji Bati Name Squad

The Bati squad features 15 NRL players, with Sydney Roosters winger, Kevin Naiqama, named captain and Panthers player, Viliame Kikau, named vice captain.

Other NRL players include, Issac Lumelume, Braydon Wakeham and Penioni Tagituimua (Caterbury Bulldogs), Sunia Turuva (Penrith Panthers), Semi Valemei (Canberra Raiders), Mikaele Ravalawa (St George Illawarra Dragons), Maika Sivo (Parramatta Eels), Vuate Karawalevu and Tui Kamikamica (Melbourne Storm), Taane Milne (South Sydney Rabbitohs) and Iosefo Masi, Taniela Sadrugu, and Laitia Moceidreke (Queensland Cowboys).