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The opening match of this year’s Pacific Cup sees Mal Meninga’s Australia welcome Tonga to the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane
START DATE/TIME: Friday 18th October, 2024, UK – 10:15am / AUS – 7:15pm / US ET – 5:15am / US PT – 2:15am
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: MAL MENINGA’S MEN LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK AFTER POOR 2023
The pressure is firmly on Australia and head coach Mal Meninga this year as they bid to win the tournament after last year’s failure. They were stunned in the final 0-30 by New Zealand last year so they really do need a strong showing this year.
Meninga has named a new-look squad for this one with only eight players surviving that 0-30 hammering by the Kiwis last year.
The halves pairing is new with Tom Dearden and Mitch Moses making their Test debuts while there is plenty of buzz around star Tom Trbojevic returning to the Test scene for the first time since 2018.
SQUAD:
1. Dylan Edwards
2. Xavier Coates
3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
4. Tom Trbojevic
5. Zac Lomax
6. Tom Dearden
7. Mitch Moses
8. Patrick Carrigan
9. Harry Grant
10. Lindsay Collins
11. Angus Crichton
12. Cameron Murray
13. Isaah Yeo (c)
Interchange
14. Matt Burton
15. Mitchell Barnett
16. Reuben Cotter
17. Hudson Young
Reserves
18. Ben Hunt
19. Lindsay Smith
20. Reece Robson
21. Bradman Best
TONGA: GRAND FINAL HERO PAUL ALAMOTI HANDED DEBUT
Tonga did not participate in the 2023 edition of the Pacific Championship as they were the touring side that travelled to Europe to face England. They lost all three of those Tests but they were good competitive matches that will have served them well.
The squad they have named for this opening match looks strong as they are blessed with some quality talents from the NRL. Penrith Panthers’ Grand Final star Paul Alamoti will make his Test debut while Lehi Hopoate makes his debut also after an outstanding season for the Manly Sea Eagles.
SQUAD:
1. Lehi Hopoate
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Moses Suli
4. Paul Alamoti
5. Sione Katoa
6. Tui Lolohea
7. Isaiya Katoa
8. Addin Fonua-Blake (c)
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. Keaon Koloamatangi
Reserves
18. Tolu Koula
19. Siua Wong
20. Isaiah Iongi
21. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
AUSTRALIA VS TONGA PREDICTION
The Pacific Championship gets underway with Australia meeting Tonga and one gets the feeling that this is not a tournament Australia can take lightly this year.
The 0-30 loss to arch-rivals New Zealand in the final last year was something of an embarrassment and one that will not be accepted this time around.
That will likely see them fired up this time around and with motivation on a par with the quality they have at their disposal, should make them formidable opposition.
Tonga will compete and are always tough to play against. They will be happy playing the Kangaroos in the opening match while not fully up to speed. The hosts should have too much quality for them overall however and expect the Aussies to win by a double-digit margin.
AUSTRALIA VS TONGA TIP: AUSTRALIA TO WIN BY 10 OR MORE POINTS