Pac Champs: Week One Wrap

The Kangaroos can secure a place in the Pacific Cup final by avenging last year's loss to New Zealand next Sunday, while Fetu Samoa are one win away from a World Cup berth.

They were the main takeaways from the opening round of Pacific Championships matches in which the Kangaroos held out Tonga 18-0, the Jillaroos romped to a record 84-0 defeat of the PNG Orchids, the Kumuls overpowered Fiji Bati and Fetu Samoa downed Tonga.

Mal Meninga's new look Australian team were made to fight hard against Tonga but a win in Christchurch against the Kiwis will confirm a place in the final at CommBank Stadium on November 10.

Given what is at stake Meninga is reluctant to make unforced changes to the side which led Tonga 6-0 at halftime and also shut their opponents out in the second half - meaning some squad members may not get a game in the tournament.

“We’ll make some decisions over the next few days, but when we talk about the team and it’s such a new team, and being together for the very first time, it would probably give us some serious consideration around playing again and have better continuity in our footy team,” Meninga said.

If Australia win, New Zealand - who imposed a record 30-0 defeat of the Kangaroos in last year's Pacific Cup decider - and Tonga would then have to fight it out in Auckland on November 2 for the other finals berth.

The Jillaroos are in a similar position after their big win against the Orchids and will also be looking to avenge their first defeat since 2016 by the Kiwi Ferns in Melbourne last year when they meet in Christchurch on Sunday.

The Kiwi Ferns travel to Papua New Guinea to play the Orchids the following week as part of a double-header with the Pacific Bowl match between the Kumuls and Cook Islands Aitu.

The Kumuls proved too strong for Fiji as they backed up their win in last year's Pacific Bowl final, and are now eying a place in the promotion-relegation play-off against the third placed Pacific Cup team in Sydney on November 10.

The Bati need to beat Cook Islands in Suva on Saturday night and hope the Aitu down PNG the following weekend, with for-and-against to then decide the Pacific Bowl.

Fetu Samoa will also sit back and watch as Fiji Bulikula and Cook Islands Moana battle it out on Saturday for the other place in the World Cup qualifying final after beating Tonga 30-16.

The winner of the Fiji-Cook Islands Test in Suva will travel to Auckland to play Fetu at Go Media Stadium on November 2, with a World Cup berth up for grabs.

Tonga and the loser of Saturday night's Test at HFC Stadium are out of contention but the runner-up in Auckland will contest the World Series in 2025 to decide the eighth and final berth at RLWC2026.

The victor in Auckland will also play the third placed Pacific Cup team at CommBank Stadium on November 10 for a chance to win promotion to the top tier next year.

Snapshot

Pacific Cup (men)

• Australia can secure a place in the final if they beat the Kiwis next week.
• If the Kangaroos win, Tonga and New Zealand will battle it out in Week 3 for the other finals spot.
• If the Kiwis triumph, Tonga need to win in Auckland to avoid the relegation match.

Pacific Bowl (men)

• The Kumuls can secure a place in the final and shot at promotion if they beat Cook Islands in Week 3.
• Fiji must defeat Cook Islands in Week 2 and hope the Aitu beat PNG or the Bati finish with a better for-and-against.

Pacific Cup (women)

• The Jillaroos can secure a place in the final if they beat the Kiwi Ferns next week.
• The Orchids need to beat New Zealand in week 3 to avoid the relegation play-off.

Pacific Bowl (women)

• Fetu Samoa play off for a World Cup berth in Auckland on November 2
• Tonga are eliminated.
• Fiji Bulikula host Cook Islands Moana on Saturday to decide the other team in the final against Samoa. The loser is eliminated.
• The winner in Auckland also plays in the promotion-relegation play-off in Sydney on November 10 against the third placed Pacific Bowl team.