Live updates, Test rugby league: Kangaroos, Jillaroos star in Pacific Championships finals against Tonga and New Zealand

Captain’s call from Ali Brigginshaw to unlock the third try for the Jillaroos

A piece of brilliance from the Jillaroos captain when her side needed it most. New Zealand were enjoying the most possession all game, threatening with the ball deep in the Australia half and asking questions of a defence that hasn’t been unduly troubled all game.

Brigginshaw hits a perfect 40/20, setting up the perfect opportunity for Tiana Penitani to wrestle her way through two Kiwi Fern tackles to crash over.

Lovely work from the Jillaroos.

Jillaroos 12 New Zealand 0

Simaima Taufa getting assessed for a head knock

A massive shoulder to the head for the Jillaroos Simaima Taufa sees her getting assessed, and we will keep an eye on that to see if she is fit to continue in this game.

The Kiwi Ferns have been absolutely scrambling in defence, they even relied on the goalpost to stop a certain Sarah Togatuki try.

New Zealand cannot be faulted for their effort out here in the heat and will be desperate to get onto the scoreboard as soon as possible.

Jillaroos 8 New Zealand 0

Another try for the Jillaroos through Isabelle Kelly

There’s the second try of the afternoon after great work from the playmaker Tarryn Aiken to connect with Tamika Upton, before sending through the outstanding Isabelle Kelly who goes over in the left hand corner for a well taken try.

Ominous signs for the Kiwi Ferns who are facing a Jillaroos team that is growing in confidence.

Jillaroos 8 New Zealand 0

Jillaroos off to the perfect start

Wonderful try for Julia Robinson after great work from centre Isabelle Kelly to muscle the Jillaroos up the field with a great carry. It set up for the perfect platform for some quick hands to send Robinson over for the first try.

It’s still tense here, with New Zealand willing to put up a physical contest against the hot favourites in Parramatta.

Jillaroos 4 New Zealand 0

Kiwi Ferns happy to roll the dice

Cagey stuff to start this game, with the Kiwi Ferns showing that they are very happy to roll the dice by running the ball throughout their set.

The Jillaroos have been extremely impressive throughout these championships and every attack from New Zealand is met with a yellow wall.

Isabelle Kelly in the centre is looking very dangerous with the ball for the Jillaroos already and the pace is already fierce.

Jillaroos 0 New Zealand 0

We are off

The anthems have been sung, the haka has finished and there is a nice crowd building already in a fairly hot Commbank Stadium in Parramatta.

This Irish native is very grateful for air conditioning, it will be a tough ask of the players in what will be a physical and fast affair.

The Jillaroos definitely have the wood on this Kiwi Ferns team , winning 17 of their last 18 tests, the one loss? Last year’s Pacific Championship Final.

New Zealand will be hoping lightning can strike twice today in Western Sydney.

Here we go.

Billie Eder live from Parra

Who have you got?

How the teams are lining up

There’s one change to the Jillaroos squad that triumphed against the Kiwi Ferns two weeks ago in New Zealand with Keeley Davis coming onto the bench and Jess Sergis becoming the 18th player.

Jillaroos co-captain Ali Brigginshaw to play in her 25th Test match and will hope to mark it with some silverware.

A bit more movement for the Kiwi Ferns, Apii Nicholls comes in at fullback after being rested against Papua New Guinea last week, which puts Shanice Parker back onto the wing. Annessa Biddle packs down at second row with Najvada George going to the bench.

Brooke Talataina misses out with an ankle injury, Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa comes in at prop which sees Alexis Tauaneai moving to the bench.

Jillaroos: 1 Tamika Upton, 2 Julia Robinson, 3 Isabelle Kelly, 4 Tiana Penitani, 5 Jakiya Whitfeld, 6 Ali Brigginshaw (c), 7 Tarryn Aiken, 8 Millie Elliott, 9 Olivia Higgins, 10 Shannon Mato, 11 Kezie Apps (c), 12 Yasmin Clydsdale, 13 Simaima Taufa

Interchange: 14 Keeley Davis, 15 Sarah Togatuki, 16 Keilee Joseph, 17 Mahalia Murphy

Kiwi Ferns: 1 Apii Nicholls, 2 Leianne Tufuga, 3 Mele Hufanga, 4 Abigail Roache, 5 Shanice Parker, 6 Gayle Broughton, 7 Tyla King, 8 Brianna Clark, 9 Brooke Anderson, 10 Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa, 11 Annessa Biddle, 12 Amber Hall, 13 Georgia Hale

Interchange: 14 Ashleigh Quinlan, 15 Najvada George, 16 Alexis Tauaneai, 17 Otesa Pule

Good afternoon

Good afternoon, everyone. It’s Jonathan Drennan here to take you through a perfect afternoon of rugby league from Parramatta.

First up, we’ve got the Pacific Cup title on the line between the Jillaroos and the Kiwi Ferns.

If familiarity doesn’t exactly breed contempt between these two teams, it certainly has created a fire in the rivalry after last year’s surprise loss in Melbourne for the Jillaroos, going down 12-6, just a year after they smoked New Zealand by 50 points in the World Cup final.

Two weeks ago, the Jillaroos triumphed 16-0 in Christchurch, but that was then, this is now, it’s a cup final and anything can happen.

We’ve also got Billie Eder live in Parra and here are her thoughts from the Orchids v Samoa which has just wrapped up.

If you’re just tuning into today’s matches, you may have missed that Papua New Guinea’s women’s team played Samoa earlier at CommBank Stadium.

It was a drama-filled match, with Samoa winning 34-12 in a game that included a penalty try for a hair pull and a send-off for a nasty spear tackle.

Orchids playmaker Sera Koroi was sent marching in the 55th minute of the match, after putting Samoan centre Sarina Masaga head-first into the pitch.

Masaga was luckily able to walk off the field, and Koroi’s absence further derailed the Orchids game. However, captain Elsie Albert was a shining light for the team, scoring a double in the team’s defeat.