Fiji vs Papua New Guinea Preview & Prediction | 2024 Pacific Bowl
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We have a repeat of the 2023 Pacific Bowl final in Suva as Fiji will be looking to avenge the 32-12 loss handed to them by Papua New Guinea last year
START DATE/TIME: Saturday 19th 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
FIJI: THE BATI LOOK TO AVENGE 2023 FINAL LOSS
The Fijians will be eager to bounce back from last year’s Pacific Bowl final loss as after beating Papua New Guinea in the group stage, they lost the final.
Led by Tui Kamikamica who played a key role in the Melbourne Storm’s run to the NRL Grand Final, Fiji will be without Jabream Bula due to injury but they have plenty of quality in their ranks including experienced dup Michael Jennings and Waqa Blake.
SQUAD:
1. Sunia Turuva
2. Maika Sivo
3. Michael Jennings
4. Waqa Blake
5. Semi Valemei
6. Kevin Naiqama
7. Kurt Donoghoe
8. Tui Kamikamica
9. Penioni Tagituimua
10. Ben Nakubuwai
11. Viliame Kikau
12. Kitione Kautoga
13. Caleb Navale
Interchange
14. Joe Lovodua
15. Taane Milne
16. Kylan Mafoa
17. Jordan Miller
Reserves
18. James Valevatu
19. Ronald Philitoga
20. Nathan Kegg-King
21. Ratu Rinakama
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: THE KUMULS LOOKING TO REPEAT 2023 SUCCESS
Papua New Guinea come into this year’s Pacific Bowl with good confidence although they will be with Alex Johnston and Justin Olam for this one.
Six players from Super League have been named in Papua New Guinea’s squad including the likes of Nene McDonald, Rodrick Tai, Lachlan Lam and Rhyse Martin and they will be key to their chances of success this year.
SQUAD:
1. Nene Macdonald
2. Elijah Roltinga
3. Robert Mathias
4. Rodrick Tai
5. Robert Derby
6. Kyle Laybutt
7. Lachlan Lam
8. Valentine Richard
9. Judah Rimbu
10. Jacob Alick-Wiencke
11. Rhyse Martin
12. Jeremiah Simbiken
13. Jack De Belin
Interchange
14. Liam Horne
15. Koso Bandi
16. Sylvester Namo
17. Ila Alu
Reserves
18. Daniel Russell
19. Sanny Wabo
20. Morea Morea
FIJI VS PAPUA NEW GUINEA PREDICTION
These two nations sit next to each other in the world rankings which is no surprise given how evenly-matched the teams are. PNG have the comfort of knowing they produced the goods when it mattered most last year as after being comprehensively beaten in the round-robin phase, they bounced back and won the final.
A repeat of that will not be easy however at the HFC Bank Stadium in the Fijian capital Suva. The hosts will be fired up and they have picked some experienced players like Kevin Naiqama to help them this time around.
Both teams will know that the outcome of this match is not that important given they will likely both beat the Cook Islands and reach the final. It should still however be a typically hard-fought game. We expect points in this one and plenty of them. We favour over 45.5 points in this one and marginally prefer the home side.
FIJI VS PAPUA NEW GUINEA TIP: OVER 45.5 TOTAL POINTS
