Australia vs Tonga Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2024 Pacific Championships Final
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The final of the 2024 Pacific Championships will be a fascinating one as Tonga will take on the mighty Australia looking to cause a major upset
START DATE/TIME: Sunday 10th November, 2024, UK – 7:20am / US ET – 2:20am / Saturday 9th November, US PT – 11:20pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK - This match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Mix / AUS - This match will be broadcast live on Watch NRL
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK - This match will be streamed on SkyGo / AUS - This match will be streamed on Watch NRL
Australia: Cam Murray ruled out through injury
Head coach Mal Meninga is forced into making one change as Cam Murray has been ruled out with injury. That sees Hudson Young come into the back row and Lindsay Smith is named on the bench for this final.
Team
1. Dylan Edwards
2. Xavier Coates
3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
4. Tom Trbojevic
5. Zac Lomax
6. Tom Dearden
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Patrick Carrigan
9. Harry Grant
10. Lindsay Collins
11. Angus Crichton
12. Hudson Young
13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange
14. Matt Burton
15. Mitch Barnett
16. Reuben Cotter
17. Lindsay Smith
Reserves
18. Ben Hunt
19. Bradman Best
20. Reece Robson
Tonga: Kristian Woolf’s men go unchanged
It is no surprise that Kristian Woolf has named an unchanged side for this match given how well they played last week in the 25-24 win over New Zealand. Keaon Koloamatangi returned following the birth of his child but Woolf has no reason to change a winning formula.
Team
1. Lehi Hopoate
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Moses Suli
4. Paul Alamoti
5. Sione Katoa
6. Tuimoala Lolohea
7. Isaiya Katoa
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Siliva Havili
10. Felise Kaufusi
11. Haumole Olakau’atu
12. Eli Katoa
13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange
14. Soni Luke
15. Sitili Tupouniua
16. Taniela Paseka
17. Siua Wong
Reserves
18. Tolutau Koula
19. Keaon Koloamatangi
20. Isaiah Iongi
21. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
Australia vs Tonga Prediction
The Pacific Championship final has a different feel about it this year after champions New Zealand were eliminated last week. Australia meet Tonga in what promises to be a fascinating final.
These two teams met in the first round and it was Australia that won 18-0. That scoreline was not wholly reflective of the match as Tonga did so much good work but they just could not break the Aussie’s goalline defence.
They played with some great creativity in the win over New Zealand last week and the way they opened them up in the first half will give them confidence they can do the same to Australia.
Meninga’s men have the fire in their bellies this year. The shut out loss to New Zealand in the final last year was unacceptable on so many levels and they have returned this year determined to right that wrong.
That does not bode well for Tonga here however. There is so much to like about Kristian Woolf’s men but they will not be able to maintain the intensity levels for the full 80 minutes. We expect the Aussies to put a statement on this win and beat the handicap too.
Australia vs Tonga Tip: Australia to win -17.5 points
