Six players from the Warriors’ NRL ranks and three from the NRLW squad have been named for the Pacific Championships round three doubleheader at Eden Park on Sunday.
It’s all to play for in the men’s Pacific Cup encounter with the Kiwis knowing a win will earn them a place in the November 9 final against Toa Sāmoa but Tonga will need to not only beat New Zealand but do so by 17 points or more to go through.
After a week off following their series-opening 24-18 win over the Samoans on October 19, the Kiwis have named a side featuring four Warriors with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad again at fullback, captain James Fisher-Harris in the front row and replacement utility Te Maire Martin and middle forward Erin Clark on the interchange.
The Tongans have named a side showing a number of changes from the one which suffered a shock 6-34 loss to Toa Sāmoa in front of a crowd of 44,682 at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
Young Warriors forwards Leka Halasima and Demitric Vaimauga are retained after making their Test debuts in Brisbane, Halasima joining Vaimauga on the bench after starting last week.
In the women’s Pacific Cup contest, the white-hot Australian Jillaroos face the Kiwi Ferns with vastly contrasting wins over Fetu Sāmoa in the bank. While the Ferns had to come back from a 0-20 deficit to overcome the Sāmoans 22-20, the Australians romped home 60-0 last Sunday.
Three Warriors are in the New Zealand side with Apii Nicholls at fullback, Patricia Maliepo at standoff and prop Ivana Lauitiiti on the interchange. Tysha Ikenasio and Shakira Baker have been named on the extended bench.
In all 10 One New Zealand Warriors players will be on show in the third round of the series with halfback Emmanita Paki lining up for Tonga against the PNG Orchids in the final women’s Pacific Bowl match in Port Moresby.
