There’s a lot more to International weekend of Rugby League, it doesn’t just begin with the Anzac Test and finish with City v Country. Well, actually it does, but that doesn’t mean what’s in between is worse or deserves less of your interest than the bookending games.
JILLAROOS V KIWI FERNS – SAT 5:30pm SUNCORP STADIUM
For instance, away from Channel 9 on Friday night you have the Women’s Test between the trans Tasman rivals. If the performance and quality on show is the same as the Nines display earlier in the year, than this weekend starts of all right. And surely Australia will get the chocolates at home.
We tip – Jillaroos by 6.
Jillaroos
1 Samantha Hammond
2 Karina Brown
3 Annette Brander
4 Mahalia Murphy
5 Latoya Billy
6 Jenny-Sue Hoepper
7 Ali Brigginshaw
8 Stephanie Hancock (c)
9 Brittany Breayley
10 Heather Ballinger
11 Kezie Apps
12 Renae Kunst
13 Ruan Sims
Interchange
14 Vanessa Foliaki
15 Tallisha Harden
16 Casy Karklis
17 Simaima Taufa-Kautai
18 Alex Sulisi
Coach: Steve Folkes
Kiwi Ferns
1 Janna Vaughan
2 Atawhai Tupaea
3 Nora Maaka
4 Tasha Davie
5 Shontelle Dudley
6 Laura Mariu (c)
7 Hilda Peters
8 Kelly Maipi
9Sharnita Woodman
10 Krystal Murray
11 Teuila Fotu-Moala
12 Rona Peters
13 Kahurangi Peters
Interchange
14 Georgia Hale
15 Maitua Feterika
16 Annabelle Hohepa
17 Krystal Rota
18 Kristina Sue
Coach: Alan Jackson
FIJI v PNG – CBUS Stadium – 4:30pm – Suncorp Stadium
JUNIOR ROOS AND KIWIS – 3:00pm – CBUS Stadium
Saturday gives the punters what they want. Heaps of league back to back and plenty of action to sit and sloth with.
First up is the Junior Kangaroos v New Zealands’ best in youth. It kicks off at CBUS stadium on the Gold Coast at 3pm, the first of three there for the day.
The future is now on Saturday – Here’s the line up – we Tip Australia by 8pts.
Junior Kangaroos
1 Jackson Hastings
2 Brenko Lee
3 Robert Jennings
4 Jordan Drew
5 Valentine Holmes
6 Drew Hutchison
7 Ashley Taylor
8 Joe Ofahengaue
9 Jayden Berrell
10 Matthew Lodge
11 Coen Hess
12 Tepai Moeroa
13 Tevita Pangai Junior
Interchange
14 Tyrell Fuimaono
15 Salesi Funaki
16 Jayden Nikorima
17 Alex Twal
18 Jai Arrow
Coach: Justin Holbrook
Junior Kiwis
1 Jamayne Isaako
2 Tony Tumusa
3 Taane Milne
4 Watson Heleta
5 Joseph Manu
6 Te Maire Martin
7 Zach Dockar-Clay
8 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
9 Sione Katoa
10 James Fisher-Harris
11 Lamar Liolevave
12 Marata Niukore
13 Jazz Tevaga
Interchange
14 Daniel Levi
15 Braden Uele
16 Renouf To’omaga
17 Bunty Afoa
Coach: Kelvin Wright
FIJI v PNG – CBUS Stadium – 5:30pm
Next up is the flash of the entertainers – PNG v Fiji, in which the game will be high on attacking plays, and low on stereos and defence. It will be a battle of extreme big men running hard and plenty of entertainment for all.
An exciting prospect for the fans as Gurgler favourite Willie Minoga and Thompson Teteh features for the PNG fresh from a Qld cup win last weekend, and Fiji’s Kevin Naiqama is one of the many highlights of the Fiji side.
Boxes ticked.
We pick PNG on the back of Qld Cup by 4.
Players to watch:
Fiji
1 Kevin Naiqama
2 Marika Koroibete
3 Fabian Goodall
4 Brayden Wiliame
5 Eto Nabuli
6 Darryl Millard
7 Ryan Millard
8 Eloni Vunakece
9 Apisai Koroisau
10 Daniel Saifiti
11 Jason Bukuya
12 Jacob Saifiti
13 Korbin Sims
Interchange
14 Tyrone Phillips
15 Viliame Kikau
16 Tikio Koke
17 Osea Sadrau
18 Timoci Ratulolo Dabea
Coach: Rick Stone
PNG
Stanton Albert
Wellington Albert
Ase Boas
Josh Damen
Israel Eliab
Adam Korave
Nene Macdonald
Rhyse Martin
Tyson Martin
Willie Minoga
Kato Ottio
Luke Page
Brandy Peter
Wartovo Puara
Esau Siune
Thompson Teteh
Ray Thompson
Lawrence Tu’u
Noel Zeming
Coach: Mal Meninga
TONGA v SAMOA – CBUS Stadium – 7:30pm
The opening of this game should be worth of the ticket price for all three, if it runs to schedule. That means their version of the haka, and some crunching first up defence and length of the field specials.
There’s plenty of NRL experience in both sides, and hopefully it will be a tight ferocious game.
Our tips is Samoa by 12.
Samoa
John Asiata
Sam Kasiano
Joseph Leilua
Ricky Leutele
Sam Lisone
Isaac Liu
Dunamis Lui
Alapati Mata’utia
Josh McGuire
Tautau Moga
Dominique Peyroux
Frank Pritchard
Tim Simona
Michael Sio
Sauaso Sue
Carlos Tuimavave
Daniel Vidot
Coach: Matt Parish
Tonga
1 Tuimoala Lolohea
2 Jorge Taufua
3 Konrad Hurrell
4 Solomone Kata
5 Mahe Fonua
6 Samisoni Langi
7 Joel Luani
8 Richard Fa’aoso
9 Pat Politoni
10 Peni Terepo
11 Sika Manu
12 Manu Ma’u
13 Siosiua Taukeiaho
Interchange
14 Sosaia Feki
15 Ben Murdoch-Masila
16 Felise Kaufusi
17 Albert Vete
18 Asipeli Fine
19 John Folau
Coach: Kristian Woolf
QLD CUP V NSW CUP – Tapout Energy Stadium, Langlands Pk, 1:40pm.
Last and certainly not least is the Resident state of origin game and the first clash between the two states.
The Queensland side almost look strong enough on paper to be an NRL team for real, NSW Cup meanwhile is full of enough NRL players as well.
It will no doubt be a game full of passion, and bragging rights for their comp will be on offer, for which as Qld Cup fans we hope it stays in Qld. We think it will too with a win from Qld by 6 points.
Queensland Residents
1 Hezron Murgha
2 Kalifa Faifai Loa
3 Aaron Whitchurch
4 Kyle Feldt
5 Javid Bowen
6 Ben Hampton
7 Shaun Nona
8 Daniel Beasley
9 Tom Butterfield
10 Mitchell Garbutt
11 Mitchell Frei
12 Kenny Bromwich
13 Ben Spina
Interchange
14 Matt Parcell
15 Davin Crampton
16 Patrick Kaufusi
17 Mark Ioane
18 Cameron Cullen
Coach: Aaron Zimmerle
NSW Cup Representative Team
1 Nathan Gardner
2 Mitch Brown
3 Levi Dodd
4 Peter Mata’utia
5 Chanel Mata’utia
6 Darren Nicholls
7 Mitch Cornish
8 Sam Anderson
9 Mitch Williams (c)
10 Danny Fualalo
11 Will Matthews
12 Mitch Barnett
13 Adam Elliott
Interchange
14 Matt Hyland
15 Leilani Latu
16 Mark Nicholls
17 Nathan Green
18 Daniel Alvaro
19 Nathan Ross
Coach: Garth Brennan
