One New Zealand Warriors outside backs Emmanita Paki and Lavinia Tauhalaliku will back up from the NRLW season to represent Tonga in the upcoming Pacific Championships.
They were both in Tonga’s side in the second tier Pacific Bowl tournament played in Port Morseby last year when Paki (22) made her international debut after two State of Origin appearances for the series-winning Queensland side.
Tauhalaliku (26) debuted at international career for the Kiwi Ferns in their one-off Test against Fetu Samoa in 2020 but has represented Tonga for the ’ve been included a Tonga since 2022.
Paki comes off an impressive first season as Warrior #53 when she played all 11 games split between the centres, fullback, halfback and standoff.
She finished with 10 try assists, fourth best in the competition behind only Brisbane’s Dally Player of the Year Tamika Upton (14) and Warriors-bound Gayle Broughton (12) plus Sydney Roosters five eighth Tarryn Aiken (12).
Tauhalaliku (Warrior #72) had an injury-delayed start to her campaign before making three appearances in the second half of the competition.
The Tongans start their programme against the Cook Islands as the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Friday, October 25 followed the PNG Orchids at the same venue on Friday, November 1.
Tonga | 2025 Pacific Championships
Moana Courtenay (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
Ruby Fifita (Wests Tigers)
Fane Finau (Newcastle Knights)
Tatiana Finau (Canberra Raiders)
Jade Fonua (Wests Tigers)
Pani Hopoate (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
Simina Lokotui (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
Ana Lynch-Malupo (North Queensland Cowboys)
Amelia Mafi (Wests Tigers)
Seli Mailangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Martha Mataele (Parramatta Eels)
Shannon Muru (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
Aliyah Nasio (Sydney Roosters)
Emmanita Paki (One New Zealand Warriors)
Natasha Penitani (Gold Coast Titans)
Pauline Suli Ruka (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
Manilita Takapautolo (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks)
Lavina Tauhalaliku (One New Zealand Warriors)
Kaylani Tavita (Souths Logan Magpies)
Malia Tuifua (North Queensland Cowboys)
