Pacific Championships 2025

[Jonty]

Nah it’ll be fine

Samoa v Tonga could develop to something which is just a level below origin

Games are probably more exciting too if I’m being honest

Need an annual 3 test series between them outside the pacific cup

Or make the pacific cup home and away

If Tino and hammer follow Samoa will be stacked af

Haas defection should surely add a few thousand on the gate at suncorp?

 

[Jonty]

Englands chances of winning the ashes just increased slightly.

 

[Clarkent]

Are you trying to say Samoa don't have stars? Luai, To'o, Crichton, Leniu to name the bare minimum, let alone rumors of Haas, Hammer and Tino. Waiting for a team list is a piss poor excuse. The media has nothing to do with it. As if the Samoan community doesn't know this game is coming up.

That being said, I'm sure the final crowd will be massive.

The crowd will definitely be massive. Samoa are definitely stacked but I think having Haas in the samoan team will definitely get the samoan fans even more excited tbh, because none of use would ever think Haas will play for Samoa at his peak. Now that Haas is playing for Samoa i expect Tino and Hammer to commit now. Haas is the type of player that gets the rest of the samoan boys on board.

 

[shadowformz]

Englands chances of winning the ashes just increased slightly.

Just need Herbie to be fit now

 

[Perth Red]

Tino and Hammer next then Samoa a real chance at pacific cup and RLWC next year.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

The crowd will definitely be massive. Samoa are definitely stacked but I think having Haas in the samoan team will definitely get the samoan fans even more excited tbh, because none of use would ever think Haas will play for Samoa at his peak. Now that Haas is playing for Samoa i expect Tino and Hammer to commit now. Haas is the type of player that gets the rest of the samoan boys on board.

With Haas, Hammer, Tino, Luai, Chrichton and To'o, Samoa could be looking at winning the World Cup. Would be massive for the game there.

 

[Clarkent]

With Haas, Hammer, Tino, Luai, Chrichton and To'o, Samoa could be looking at winning the World Cup. Would be massive for the game there.

I agree. Samoa still needs a strong spine tho. Next year Talagi will get better after a full season in the panthers system and Ioelu at the roosters looks good playing at hooker

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

I agree. Samoa still needs a strong spine tho. Next year Talagi will get better after a full season in the panthers system and Ioelu at the roosters looks good playing at hooker

Yea 9 and 6 (assuming Luai plays 7) are the question marks amongst the spine, but Talagi is looking promising.

Could say the same thing about Tonga too for that matter, although Talagi is probably further along than Latu at the moment.

Both team's packs are crazy stacked though. If Tino commits alongside Haas, Samoa probably has the edge in the middle but the Tongan backrowers - once Haumole is fit again - is tough to top. For anyone.

 

[taste2taste]

Both team's packs are crazy stacked though. If Tino commits alongside Haas, Samoa probably has the edge in the middle but the Tongan backrowers - once Haumole is fit again - is tough to top. For anyone.

Fully fit id rate the forwards

1 NZ
2 Tonga
3 Samoa
4 Australia
5 England

Id rate the spine

1 Australia
2 NZ
3 Samoa ( assuming Hammer is FB )
4 Tonga
5 England

Might as well rate outside backs too lol

1 Australia
2 Samoa
3 Tonga
4 NZ
5 England

Its a shame NZ miss out on so many outside backs due to Origin, Ponga, Weekes, Toia, Howarth. Put those guys in the Kiwi team and they would be red hot favourites to win the WC

 

[RedVee]

Tino and Hammer next then Samoa a real chance at pacific cup and RLWC next year.

Hammer?
I thought he is indigenous. Ok, I got that wrong somehow.

 

[Clarkent]

Yea 9 and 6 (assuming Luai plays 7) are the question marks amongst the spine, but Talagi is looking promising.

Could say the same thing about Tonga too for that matter, although Talagi is probably further along than Latu at the moment.

Both team's packs are crazy stacked though. If Tino commits alongside Haas, Samoa probably has the edge in the middle but the Tongan backrowers - once Haumole is fit again - is tough to top. For anyone.

Leka Halasima isn't a bad replacement for Olakau'atu lol

 

[Clarkent]

Yea 9 and 6 (assuming Luai plays 7) are the question marks amongst the spine, but Talagi is looking promising.

Could say the same thing about Tonga too for that matter, although Talagi is probably further along than Latu at the moment.

Both team's packs are crazy stacked though. If Tino commits alongside Haas, Samoa probably has the edge in the middle but the Tongan backrowers - once Haumole is fit again - is tough to top. For anyone.

I would have CHT in the halves with Luai this year over Talagi. King-Togia for the dragons is also playing well.

 

[Matua]

Hammer?
I thought he is indigenous. Ok, I got that wrong somehow.

He is, he's TSI (and Samoan).

 

[Jonty]

Just need Herbie to be fit now

100%

 

[Clarkent]

Fully fit id rate the forwards

1 NZ
2 Tonga
3 Samoa
4 Australia
5 England

Id rate the spine

1 Australia
2 NZ
3 Samoa ( assuming Hammer is FB )
4 Tonga
5 England

Might as well rate outside backs too lol

1 Australia
2 Samoa
3 Tonga
4 NZ
5 England

Its a shame NZ miss out on so many outside backs due to Origin, Ponga, Weekes, Toia, Howarth. Put those guys in the Kiwi team and they would be red hot favourites to win the WC

The forward packs out off all those nations are so even you can't pick out which is more dominant. England has a better spine then Samoa and Tonga and maybe Nz. Dont underestimate them

 

[nko11]

Just bought some more tickets for Tonga v Samoa - PAX now 12600.

 

[Clarkent]

Just bought some more tickets for Tonga v Samoa - PAX now 12600.

Is that how many tickets sold so far?

 

[taste2taste]

The forward packs out off all those nations are so even you can't pick out which is more dominant. England has a better spine then Samoa and Tonga and maybe Nz. Dont underestimate them

We'll have to agree to disagree.

The PC that NZ won thier forward pack ran right through the Aus front door, Tapine was making 15m per carry. Neame ran straight through the Aussies middles and scored under the posts. And this was an aussie team with Haas and they still got smoked.

NZ, Tonga and Samoa have a forward pack the Aussies and Brits cant stop.

 

[nko11]

Is that how many tickets sold so far?

My understanding is its the amount of tickets that have been "printed" thus far. As it's post season, don't have to take club members into consideration. Suncorp Stadium members get access to this event as well. I believe there's 5000 members seats at Suncorp. These wouldn't be included in the PAX yet.

So ~12,600 sold, ~17,600 technically allocated.

 

[Clarkent]

We'll have to agree to disagree.

The PC that NZ won thier forward pack ran right through the Aus front door, Tapine was making 15m per carry. Neame ran straight through the Aussies middles and scored under the posts. And this was an aussie team with Haas and they still got smoked.

NZ, Tonga and Samoa have a forward pack the Aussies and Brits cant stop.

Yup the kiwis were dominant on that game but if they were to play again I doubt the aussie forwards will play that poor again. Aussies have a very solid forward pack even without Haas and Tino.
Lindsay Collins
Patrick Carrigan
Ruben Cotter
Lindsay Smith
Mitch Barnett