The inaugural Pacific Championships will get underway on Saturday the 14th of October in Townsville when Australia take on Samoa.
Australia, Samoa and New Zealand will contest the Pacific Cup, while Cook Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea will fight it out for the Pacific Bowl.
Each team will play each other once, with the top two at the end of the round-robin stage to clash in the final.
Read on for everything you need to know about the 2023 Pacific Championships
SCHEDULE/DATES and TIMES (AEDT)
Sat, 14 October – Australia V Samoa – Townsville 8:10pm
Sun, 15 October – PNG v Cook Islands Port Moresby – 4:00pm
Sat, 21 October – New Zealand v Samoa – Auckland 4:00pm
Sun, 22 October – Fiji v Cook Islands – Port Moresby 4:00pm
Sat, 28 October – Australia v New Zealand – Melbourne 8:10pm
Sun, 29 October – PNG v Fiji – Port Moresby 4:00pm
Pool A final – TBD v TBD – Hamilton 3:00pm
Pool B final – TBD v TBD – Port Moresby 4:00pm
Luai shows true colours in lovely scenes | 00:17
TICKETS
You can purchase tickets for via Ticketek and Ticketmaster.
ODDS (TAB)
PACIFIC CUP
Australia $1.35
New Zealand $3.50
Samoa $10
PACIFIC BOWL
PNG $1.60
Fiji $2.35
Cook Islands $19
SQUADS
Click here for a comprehensive break down of each country’s squad in the Pacific Cup
PACIFIC CUP TEAMS
AUSTRALIA (*Denotes debutant)
Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Nicho Hynes (Sharks), Selwyn Cobbo* (Broncos), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans), Thomas Flegler* (Broncos), Harry Grant (Storm), Payne Haas* (Broncos), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Ben Hunt (Dragons), Liam Martin (Panthers), Cameron Munster (Storm), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Kotoni Staggs* (Broncos), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow* (Dolphins), James Tedesco, capt. (Roosters), Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
Addo-Carr suspended two games for brawl | 00:29
SAMOA (*Denotes debutant)
Jesse Arthars (Brisbane Broncos)*, Daejarn Asi (Parramatta Eels)*, Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Manly Sea Eagles)*, Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers), Sualauvi Faalogo (Melbourne Storm)*, Royce Hunt (Cronulla Sharks), Luciano Leilua (North Queensland Cowboys), Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins), Spencer Leniu (Penrith Panthers), Heilum Luki (North Queensland Cowboys)*, Greg Marzhew (Newcastle Knights)*, Justin Matamua (Wests Tigers)*, Terrell May (Sydney Roosters)*, Karl Oloapu (Canterbury Bulldogs)*, Keenan Palasia (Brisbane Broncos), Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels), Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers), Murray Taulagi (North Queensland Cowboys)*, Young Tonumaipea (Melbourne Storm), Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers), Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers)
NEW ZEALAND
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Dylan Brown (Eels), Fa’amanu Brown (Knights), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Kieran Foran (Titans), Wiremu Greig (Eels), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Keano Kini (Titans), Moses Leota (Panthers), Danny Levi (Raiders), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), Griffin Neame (Cowboys), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Isaiah Papali’i (Wests Tigers), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Leo Thompson (Knights), Matthew Timoko (Raiders), Naufahu Whyte (Roosters)
NZ squad named for Pacific Championship | 00:47
PACIFIC BOWL TEAMS
PNG
Alex Johnston (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Benji Kot (PNG Hunters), Dan Russell (St. George Illawarra Dragons), Edwin Ipape (Leigh Leopards), Epel Kapinias (PNG Hunters), Jack de Belin (St George Illawarra Dragons), Jacob Alick (Gold Coast Titans), Judah Rimbu (PNG Hunters), Junior Rop (PNG Hunters), Justin Olam (Melbourne Storm), Kyle Laybutt (Townsville Blackhawks), Lachlan Lam (Leigh Leopards), Liam Horne (Castleford Tigers), Nene Macdonald (Leeds Rhinos), Nixon Putt (Castleford Tigers), Rhyse Martin (Leeds Rhinos), Robert Derby (North Queensland Cowboys), Rodrick Tai (PNG Hunters), Valentine Richard (Central Qld Capras), Wellington Albert (London Broncos), Zac Laybutt (North Queensland Cowboys).
FIJI
Waqa Blake (Parramatta Eels), Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers), Kurt Donoghoe (Dolphins), Kitione Kautoga (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Tui Kamikamica, capt. (Melbourne Storm), Sirilo Lovokuro (Kaiviti Silktails), Taane Milne (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Noah Nailagoliva (Newcastle Knights), Caleb Navale (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Jason Qareqare (Castleford Tigers), Mikaele Ravalawa (St George Illawarra Dragons), Mesake Ravonu (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Apisalome Saukuru (Wests Tigers), Maika Sivo (Parramatta Eels), Peni Tagituimua (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Sunia Turuva (Penrith Panthers), King Vuniyayawa (Salford Red Devils), Brandon Wakeham (Wests Tigers), Watisoni Waqanisaravi (Kaiviti Silktails), Gordon Whippy (Ipswich Jets)
COOK ISLANDS
TBC
