Pacific Cup 2024

[Thatwasnthighref]

View attachment 95237

Nice, thanks for sharing.

Some good names there but are they missing anyone? I could be wrong but just expected a few more established first graders. At one stage it seemed like every club had a flying Fijian on their roster.

And seeing Kamikamica’s name reminds me, does anyone know if he injured himself in the GF? One 20min stint at the start with just 2 carries – including the very first run of the game - and he was never seen again. Seemed weird, especially with NAS out.

 

[Matua]

I know right... the pack is monstrous and with Katoa, Hopoate and Luke they have some genuine class in the spine. Fk me that team is stacked.

Other than maybe Dave Fifita, I'm struggling to think of a Tongan eligible player that's opted for either the Roos or Kiwis..? They seem to have successfully captured all their best players.

TBH looking through that Tongan side there aren't that many who have genuine NZ links and would have been selected by the Kiwis. The majority of them were born in NZ and then moved to Oz young or are Aussies. The few that actually came through the grades in NZ aren't good enough for the Kiwis. And then there's one Tongan Tongan (as in born and raised in Tonga) and one guy who's played for two national teams already.

 

[shinobi]

Samoa squad named:

 

[Matua]

I wonder if Mariner chose Samoa or if he went with them after being overlooked by the Kiwis?

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

I wonder if Mariner chose Samoa or if he went with them after being overlooked by the Kiwis?

Mariner wanted to play for the Kiwis. What a shame to been overlooked for Hiku lol

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Yeah short as we are on centres, it's interesting that the likes of Hiku and McLean got picked over guys like Mariner, Arthars, Kris, and yes even Berry or Leiataua. Sure you could say they're not Kiwi standard, but they're no less so than an 18 year old rookie or an ageing ex-NRL player. Basically, a rookie and a guy from the past have been preferred over current, fairly regular NRL players.

 

[Matua]

Mariner wanted to play for the Kiwis. What a shame to been overlooked for Hiku lol

According to @Clarkent an NRL article said he turned the Kiwis down.

 

[Clarkent]

Mariner wanted to play for the Kiwis. What a shame to been overlooked for Hiku lol

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

View attachment 95272

Luai and all the stars influencing the young ones over. Makes sense with the Hiku call-up.

 

[shinobi]

I saw Willison was named for the Kukis. Wonder if he knocked NZ back or didnt get selected. Would think he would be there ahead of Whyte. Or is he eligible for Origin and hedging his bets?

 

[JJ]

Liam Martin out for Straya, Hudson Young replaces him...

 

[Big Marn]

Fiji and Samoa teams shouldnt hold any fears for the Kiwis.
What was Khan-Pereiras eligibility status? I see he is in the Prime Ministers 13 vs PNG. Gunning for Australia and Queensland?
He has a Samoan/Maori father according to wiki.

sidenote ( Luke Metcalf trying to give himself opportunities to injure himself over the offseason by being included in the PM13 squad...)