2025 Pacific Championships
- Thread starter ningnangnong
- Start date
- Jul 28, 2016
- 35,414
- 51,857
Yeah I can't see a 6 across the Tongan squad, so I think Koula goes to 6 (he'd be a pure runner, but when he played fullback he tore teams apart).
Then Alamoti probably to the centres and Lehi to wing.
It comes down to what Wolff is after, because Alamoti was a weapon for penrith... huge yardage and quality finishes on the wing.
Tupou brings height on the wing, yardage carries and quality finishing on the wing.
Hoppa is strong in yardage (despite his small looking frame), but brings huge x factor with his speed and finishing.
I was doing my previous list on my phone and couldn't be bothered cutting and pasting players around... below is probably my updated team for them.
Bench looks a little bit light and I would prefer Lolo on the bench, but I can't see a legit 13 in their squad, and there's not enough 9's to move Havili there.
1 Iongi
2 Tupou
3 Toia
4 Alamoti
5 Lehi
6 Koula
7 Issy Katoa
8 Stefano
9 Havili
10 AFB
11 Eli Katoa
12 Wong/Leka
13 Lolo
14 Soni
15 Finefeuiaki
16 Fotuaika / Vaimauga
17 Leka/Wong
Tongan Squad
Paul Alamoti (Penrith Panthers)
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Dolphins)
Addin Fonua-Blake (c) (Cronulla Sharks)
Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans)
Leka Halasima (Warriors)
Siliva Havili (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Lehi Hopoate (Manly Sea Eagles)
Eliesa Katoa (Melbourne Storm)
Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins)
Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks)
Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins)
Tolu Koula (Manly Sea Eagles)
Isaiah Iongi (Parramatta Eels)
Soni Luke (Penrith Panthers)
Will Penisini (Parramatta Eels)
Jason Taumalolo (c) (North Queensland Cowboys)
Robert Toia (Sydney Roosters)
Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
Stefano Utoikamanu (Melbourne Storm)
Demitric Vaimauga (Warriors)
Siua Wong (Sydney Roosters)
- Jul 28, 2016
- 35,414
- 51,857
Looking at the rest of the squads... I think I've got Samoa looking like the below.
Definitely some spots that will come down to how the coach wants to play it... mostly across the spine and then how that feeds into lock and utility off the bench.
Luai is locked in, and I'd say Talagi is also locked in, but whether that's at 6 or 1.
They don't appear to have an out and out fullback... but probably out of Talagi and RTS... neither have played there regularly for awhile now, but I'd say RTS is the safest pick. RTS on the wing if not at fullback.
Five-eight is probably a battle between Talagi and CHT.. I don't think King-Tongia's defence is good enough to pick. Luai and Talagi have both been left side all year... actually all their halves options are left side halves (Luai, Talagi, Tongia and CHT)... whoever can play right side half is probably getting the nod.
It looks like Ioelu and Jazz are the only guys that play hooker regularly, but Jazz looks to be the only 13 in the squad (although I'd be keen to see how Sasagi would go there). CHT has also played as a utility a fair bit, so if he's not starting at 6 I'd say he would be the utility, which allows Jazz at 13.
1 RTS
2 To'o
3 Tago
4 Taylan May
5 Taulagi / Mariner
6 Talagi ... probably CHT if Talagi at fullback
7 Luai
8 Terrell May
9 Benaiah Ioelu
10 Payne Haas
11 Nanai
12 Su'A
13 Jazz Tevaga
14 CHT
15 Junior Paulo
16 Josh Papalii
17 Simi Sasagi
Toa Samoa squad (alphabetical)
Ata Mariota* (Raiders)
Benaiah Ioelu* (Roosters)
Blaize Talagi-Seuala (Panthers)
Brian To’o (Panthers)
Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors)
Deine Mariner (Broncos)
Francis Molo (Dolphins)
Izack Tago (Panthers)
Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers)
Jaydn Su’A (Dragons)
Jazz Tevaga (Sea Eagles)
Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys)
Josh Papalii (Raiders)
Junior Paulo (Eels)
Lyhkan King-Togia* (Dragons)
Murray Taulagi (Cowboys)
Payne Haas* (Broncos)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
Simi Sasagi (Raiders)
Taylan May (Wests Tigers)
Terrell May (Wests Tigers)
Definitely some spots that will come down to how the coach wants to play it... mostly across the spine and then how that feeds into lock and utility off the bench.
Luai is locked in, and I'd say Talagi is also locked in, but whether that's at 6 or 1.
They don't appear to have an out and out fullback... but probably out of Talagi and RTS... neither have played there regularly for awhile now, but I'd say RTS is the safest pick. RTS on the wing if not at fullback.
Five-eight is probably a battle between Talagi and CHT.. I don't think King-Tongia's defence is good enough to pick. Luai and Talagi have both been left side all year... actually all their halves options are left side halves (Luai, Talagi, Tongia and CHT)... whoever can play right side half is probably getting the nod.
It looks like Ioelu and Jazz are the only guys that play hooker regularly, but Jazz looks to be the only 13 in the squad (although I'd be keen to see how Sasagi would go there). CHT has also played as a utility a fair bit, so if he's not starting at 6 I'd say he would be the utility, which allows Jazz at 13.
1 RTS
2 To'o
3 Tago
4 Taylan May
5 Taulagi / Mariner
6 Talagi ... probably CHT if Talagi at fullback
7 Luai
8 Terrell May
9 Benaiah Ioelu
10 Payne Haas
11 Nanai
12 Su'A
13 Jazz Tevaga
14 CHT
15 Junior Paulo
16 Josh Papalii
17 Simi Sasagi
Toa Samoa squad (alphabetical)
Ata Mariota* (Raiders)
Benaiah Ioelu* (Roosters)
Blaize Talagi-Seuala (Panthers)
Brian To’o (Panthers)
Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors)
Deine Mariner (Broncos)
Francis Molo (Dolphins)
Izack Tago (Panthers)
Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers)
Jaydn Su’A (Dragons)
Jazz Tevaga (Sea Eagles)
Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys)
Josh Papalii (Raiders)
Junior Paulo (Eels)
Lyhkan King-Togia* (Dragons)
Murray Taulagi (Cowboys)
Payne Haas* (Broncos)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
Simi Sasagi (Raiders)
Taylan May (Wests Tigers)
Terrell May (Wests Tigers)
- Jul 28, 2016
- 35,414
- 51,857
Kiwi squad below and my guess on a lineup
Their squad looks pretty settled, but halfback is an issue in the end.
I'm taking Kini over CNK... they're both workhorse fullbacks, but at least Kini provides some x factor.
I wouldn't really want Crossland anywhere in the team, but they don't seem to have any other hookers. JMK can probably play 80 and if they go that way they'd have a massive 4 forward bench... or maybe you chuck a back on there that can bring some x factor... like maybe Seb Kris.
Their backrow stocks look a little bit light... I can only see two specialist and IPap... I'd probably prefer IPap over Sorensen to allow Willison to debut off the bench, but unsure if he can go 80. Surprised Riki didn't at least get a call up to the squad.
That is a beastly middle rotation they've got though... and I haven't even included NAS. Willison not a certainty either.
1 Keano Kini / Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2 Jamayne Isaako
3 Matthew Timoko
4 Casey McLean
5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
6 Dylan Brown
7 Kieran Foran
8 James Fisher-Harris
9 Jeremy Marshall-King
10 Joseph Tapine
11 Scott Sorensen/Isaiah Papali'i
12 Briton Nikora
13 Erin Clark
14 Phoenix Crossland
15 Naufahu Whyte
16 Moses Leota
17 Isaiah Papali'i/Xavier Willison
New Zealand Kiwis
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm)
Dylan Brown (Eels)
Erin Clark (Warriors)
Phoenix Crossland (Knights)
James Fisher-Harris (c) (Warriors)
Kieran Foran (Titans)
Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins)
Keano Kini (Titans)
Sebastian Kris (Raiders)
Moses Leota (Panthers)
Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins)
Casey McLean (Panthers)
Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks)
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors)
Briton Nikora (Sharks)
Isaiah Papali'i (Panthers)
Scott Sorensen (Panthers)
Joseph Tapine (Raiders)
Matthew Timoko (Raiders)
Naufahu Whyte (Roosters)
Xavier Willison* (Broncos)
Their squad looks pretty settled, but halfback is an issue in the end.
I'm taking Kini over CNK... they're both workhorse fullbacks, but at least Kini provides some x factor.
I wouldn't really want Crossland anywhere in the team, but they don't seem to have any other hookers. JMK can probably play 80 and if they go that way they'd have a massive 4 forward bench... or maybe you chuck a back on there that can bring some x factor... like maybe Seb Kris.
Their backrow stocks look a little bit light... I can only see two specialist and IPap... I'd probably prefer IPap over Sorensen to allow Willison to debut off the bench, but unsure if he can go 80. Surprised Riki didn't at least get a call up to the squad.
That is a beastly middle rotation they've got though... and I haven't even included NAS. Willison not a certainty either.
1 Keano Kini / Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2 Jamayne Isaako
3 Matthew Timoko
4 Casey McLean
5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
6 Dylan Brown
7 Kieran Foran
8 James Fisher-Harris
9 Jeremy Marshall-King
10 Joseph Tapine
11 Scott Sorensen/Isaiah Papali'i
12 Briton Nikora
13 Erin Clark
14 Phoenix Crossland
15 Naufahu Whyte
16 Moses Leota
17 Isaiah Papali'i/Xavier Willison
New Zealand Kiwis
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm)
Dylan Brown (Eels)
Erin Clark (Warriors)
Phoenix Crossland (Knights)
James Fisher-Harris (c) (Warriors)
Kieran Foran (Titans)
Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins)
Keano Kini (Titans)
Sebastian Kris (Raiders)
Moses Leota (Panthers)
Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins)
Casey McLean (Panthers)
Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks)
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors)
Briton Nikora (Sharks)
Isaiah Papali'i (Panthers)
Scott Sorensen (Panthers)
Joseph Tapine (Raiders)
Matthew Timoko (Raiders)
Naufahu Whyte (Roosters)
Xavier Willison* (Broncos)
Big Del
State of Origin Rep
- Apr 22, 2017
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Jordie left right out ? WTF ??
- Jun 13, 2019
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If Kotoa can bring his best for sure I could see them taking it, but on paper they are slightly behind Samoa I think.
End of season tests though can bring alot of different player form though, it should be pretty close with the top 3.
Samoa vs Tonga at Lang Park should be a good game with a big crowd.
- Jun 13, 2019
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They will probably put Mariner in the centres over May I think as they are probably a better team with him and Murray starting, and To'o can play either side.
Even though Mariner is significantly better at wing imo as he can use his speed much better, Taulagi has also played some left centre at times for cowboys.
- May 25, 2021
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And easily 90% Samoa fans. NZ have obviously jumped on the Wahs but outside of that they really couldn't give a shit about a national team, IMO
- Jul 28, 2016
- 35,414
- 51,857
Definitely a pro Samoa crowd... boos ringing out from the crowd during the haka
- Mar 5, 2008
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Stupid day and time really. Sunday 6pm. No one can travel around NZ to get home for work tomorrow.
