Pacific Championships: Sydney To Host Four-Game Finale
Article – RNZ
Australia, Tonga, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Samoa are all in action on Sunday.Four matches will be played at CommBank Stadium in Sydney as the Pacific Championships wrap up on Sunday.
Australia, Tonga, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Samoa are all in action.
The day will start with the PNG Orchids and Fetu Samoa in the women’s promotion/relegation playoff, followed by the Pacific Cup women’s final between Australia and New Zealand.
The men’s Cup final will be next between Australia and Tonga, before the Kiwis and PNG clash in the men’s promotion-relegation playoff.
The winners of the promotion-relegation playoffs will go to the Pacific Cup top tier for 2025, with the losers dropping to the Pacific Bowl.
Meanwhile, Kangaroos player Ben Hunt is expecting another sea of red of Tongan fans at this weekend’s final.
The Kangaroos beat Tonga 18-nil in the opening game of the Pacific Championships three weeks ago, before Tonga shocked the Kiwis 25-24 last Saturday.
Hunt reckons this weekend’s final will have a State of Origin-like atmosphere.
“It will be a sea of red again. I think they are expecting a pretty big crowd there, close to a sell out,” Hunt said.
“I reckon it’s awesome; I really do. The Tongan community love supporting their team. It’s going to be amazing, the noise and the whole atmosphere.”
Reuben Cotter said the Australian camp expects Tonga to employ a similar power game as they did in Auckland, and admits that they will have a size advantage.
But he said, while Tonga had been playing great footy, the Kangaroos believed they could win the forwards battle.
“They are hard to tackle, they are big boys and you have got to throw everything at them.
“It will be a tough game and it will be won through the middle, I reckon, so there is going to be a big focus on our defence.
“Playing in the middle you have to be physical, and you have to come out with that intent, otherwise you just get bullied. We will be coming out physical. We have just got to go hell for leather.”
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