Will Tonga reign supreme and are PNG set to join them in the history annals?

The Tonga XIII and Papua New Guinea Kumuls have a chance at making history by toppling two Rugby League juggernauts this weekend.

In the Pacific Championship Cup Final, Tonga face Australia, while the PNG Kumuls will challenge the New Zealand Kiwis in a relegation match.

Barnstormer and Tonga captain Jason Taumalolo told the NRL that he is excited to play in front of the passionate Tongan fans.

“Our people always turn up wherever we go - whether it’s Brisbane, Auckland, or Sydney, they always seem to find their way to come to support us no matter what.”

The veteran claimed nearly 200 running metres against his former representative team, the Kiwis. Leading his side to victory from the middle of the park, Taumalolo said the fans gave the team that extra push.

“I love every time I get to come into this camp and seeing the boys again, and being a part of this atmosphere. It gives you a little bit of energy and a bit more confidence when you do.”

Tonga and Australia have played each other only three times, with Tonga claiming one historic win in 2019.

Head coach Kristian Woolf said Tonga would be confident in taking their opportunities against the world champion Kangaroos.
"We knew we had a good performance against Australia. We took a lot of confidence out of that," Woolf told NRL Media.
"We didn't quite ice a couple of opportunities that we did create against Australia and we knew that if we executed those and made the most of those, we would be right in the contest. That's been our conversation all week."
Woolf has made no changes to his team ahead of Sunday’s clash.

PNG vs Kiwis

Following their flawless results during the 2024 Pacific Bowl, the PNG Kumuls have a chance to move up to the premier international competition.

Most of the Kumuls will face the Kiwis for the first time, and one new-face Kyle Newbett is excited about the challenge.

“This week will be the first time ever playing New Zealand for most of us and it’s going to be a massive challenge.

“But I know these boys in here are really excited and we can’t wait to get there and play.”

Newbett said the Kumuls were “shocked” in the opening minutes of their test against the Cook Islands, and would need to show more composure against the Kiwis.

“It was a tough start and I think we kind of expected it, Cookies were coming off a pretty tough loss last week, so they did get us at the jump there and it took us a while to kick in, but we knew once we got into our processes that we would come around.

“I think we might have and it probably did take us a little bit to get going, but once we got into it and got that rude little shock, we came good.”

For the Kiwis, it will be veteran Shaun Johnson’s final professional game of rugby league. And while the Kiwis prepare to farewell SJ, the new generation of players are getting the call-up.

Tongan-Sāmoan Naufahu Whyte comes into the starting side at lock, as Leo Thompson is moved to the bench.

The PNG-NZ game will follow the Pacific Championship final on Sunday evening at Sydney’s Commbank Stadium.