Pacific Championships 2024

[YoHadrian]

Munster ruled out through injury

Dentist appointment.

 

[chrisD]

1. Edwards 2. Hammer 3. Best 4. Turbo 5. Lomax 6. Dearden 7. Moses 8. Barnett 9. Grant 10. Carrigan 11. Crichton 12. Martin 13. Yeo 14. Hunt 15. Collins 16. Cotter/Smith (neither good selections) 17. Murray

I don't like it.

 

[Scootsie]

I think Mals worried about the halfback spot in case Moses ain't up to it

Yeah, I think you’re right there. He has been out for a while.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Looks like around 15-20k right now. I'd imagine most would be holding off until they see the strength of the Togan team.

I'd suggest that anything above 20k is a win here. Just a short 10 years ago we would have killed for an Australia v anyone other than England or NZ to be drawing 20k.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Not sure if I've got all of them, but who is out of the Kiwis side?

Dylan Brown, Foran, Johnson, Manu, Cheese, RTS... Anyone else?

Kiwis should still be favourites

1. Charnz
2. Mulitalo / Isaako
3. Timoko
4. ???
5. Warbrick
6. Nikorima / Martin
7. Hughes
8. JFH
9. JMK
10. Leota
11. Katoa (Kiwis or Tonga?)
12. Riki / Papalii
13. Tapine

Solid side

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Tonga?

1. Hopoate
2. Toupou
3. Staggs
4. Suli
5. Katoa
6. Fainu
7. Katoa
8. AFB
9. Havilii
10. Fotueka
11. Katoa (Kiwis or Tonga?) / Olakauatu
12. Fifita
13. Koloamatagi

Dangerous and pretty competitive

 

[Clarkent]

Not sure if I've got all of them, but who is out of the Kiwis side?

Dylan Brown, Foran, Johnson, Manu, Cheese, RTS... Anyone else?

Kiwis should still be favourites

1. Charnz
2. Mulitalo / Isaako
3. Timoko
4. ???
5. Warbrick
6. Nikorima / Martin
7. Hughes
8. JFH
9. JMK
10. Leota
11. Katoa (Kiwis or Tonga?)
12. Riki / Papalii
13. Tapine

Solid side

Mulitalo out injured. I would have Chanz at center and Kini at fullback

 

[Clarkent]

Tonga?

1. Hopoate
2. Toupou
3. Staggs
4. Suli
5. Katoa
6. Fainu
7. Katoa
8. AFB
9. Havilii
10. Fotueka
11. Katoa (Kiwis or Tonga?) / Olakauatu
12. Fifita
13. Koloamatagi

Dangerous and pretty competitive

Katoa is definitely with Tonga he confirmed it already. If Tonga doesn't own the aussies with that forward pack I'll be pissed off

 

[taste2taste]

Mulitalo out injured. I would have Chanz at center and Kini at fullback

Nikora, Mulitalo, Smith, Brown, Iro, NAS, Marshall King, Johnson, Foran, RTS choosing Samoa, Manu off to rugby and Howarth flipping and choosing Origin ( despite choosing NZ last year)

NZ will have to go back to the dark old days and pick players from reserve grade to play in the halves and outside backs.

 

[taste2taste]

Tonga?

1. Hopoate
2. Toupou
3. Staggs
4. Suli
5. Katoa
6. Fainu
7. Katoa
8. AFB
9. Havilii
10. Fotueka
11. Katoa (Kiwis or Tonga?) / Olakauatu
12. Fifita
13. Koloamatagi

Dangerous and pretty competitive

Yeah, I think that's about right. But Koula will be FB and I think they'll stick with Penisini in the centres. Last year Staggs chose Australia, Tonga don't need to be picking players that are going to flip and flop. Also, DWZ will likely have a wing spot.

Add Kaufusi, Taumalolo, Frizell, Wong, Tupouniua to the bench and you have a forward pack that will be hard to stop in the middle and edges. Hopefully they throw the ball around a bit, last year against England they tried to run over England's middles and failed dismally.

 

[Clarkent]

 

[Clarkent]

How weak is that team? No Moses Leota as well he could be injured or he's playing for samoa

 

[Burns]

Some very ordinary teams named so far. Is Tonga naming theirs today?

 

[Clarkent]

Some very ordinary teams named so far. Is Tonga naming theirs today?

Yup in a few minutes but with island time, probably tonight

 

[taste2taste]

View attachment 95205

1 CNK
2 Isaako
3 Timoko
4 Hiku
5 Warbrick
6 Nikorema
7 Hughes
8 JFH
9 Crosslands
10 Tapine
11 Riki
12 Papalii
13 Sorensen

Bench Whyte, Thompson, Neame, ??? Insert utility player here.

 

[Clarkent]

 

[Clarkent]

That tongan forward pack is the most stacked out of the 3 teams they just need Katoa at halfback to lead them well

 

[taste2taste]

View attachment 95208

No Fifita, Staggs, Penisini, Frizell or Fotueka ?
At a guess I'd say...

1 Koula
2 Tupou
3 Alamoti
4 Suli
5 Katoa
6 Lolohea
7 Katoa
8 AFB
9 Havili
10 Paseka ( well deserved, should have been picked way back for the WC )
11 Kaufusi
12 Katoa
13 Koloamatangi

Bench Taumalolo, Olakauatu, Luke, Wong/ Tupouniua

 

[MRN]

No Fifita, Staggs, Penisini, Frizell or Fotueka ?
At a guess I'd say...

1 Koula
2 Tupou
3 Alamoti
4 Suli
5 Katoa
6 Lolohea
7 Katoa
8 AFB
9 Havili
10 Paseka ( well deserved, should have been picked way back for the WC )
11 Kaufusi
12 Katoa
13 Koloamatangi

Bench Taumalolo, Olakauatu, Luke, Wong/ Tupouniua

Staggs unavailable through injury. Only reason he wasn't selected in the Australian squad as per Fox Sports.

 

[Clarkent]

No Fifita, Staggs, Penisini, Frizell or Fotueka ?
At a guess I'd say...

1 Koula
2 Tupou
3 Alamoti
4 Suli
5 Katoa
6 Lolohea
7 Katoa
8 AFB
9 Havili
10 Paseka ( well deserved, should have been picked way back for the WC )
11 Kaufusi
12 Katoa
13 Koloamatangi

Bench Taumalolo, Olakauatu, Luke, Wong/ Tupouniua

Frizell retired from rep, Penisini must've got dropped or I'm pretty sure he got injured this year. Olakau'atu and Katoa starting second rowers for me