The 2023 Pacific Championships kicks off this weekend and quite a few budding stars will probably be hoping to place their finest foot ahead.
New Zealand enforcer Wiremu Greig had a breakout NRL season and will probably be determined to make his Kiwis debut.
Meanwhile, a Dragons backrower will probably be hoping to make a large impression on incoming coach Shane Flanagan.
Elsewhere a Sea Eagles cult hero will get an enormous likelihood to shine, being named within the No.9 jersey for his Samoa debut alongside a Storm flyer.
Read beneath for the gamers who may have breakout tournaments on this yr’s Pacific Championships!
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WIREMU GREIG — NEW ZEALAND
Greig performed a vital function for the Eels this season, becoming a member of Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard within the entrance row rotation. The 23-year-old performed 16 NRL video games this season in a breakout yr, having solely featured 3 times previous to 2023. Greig was handed a call-up to the Kiwis squad after a powerful marketing campaign and is a robust likelihood of discovering a place on the bench as an influence center ahead. He additionally battled by way of a Lisfranc harm which stored him sidelined for an prolonged interval. Greig’s output additionally slowly elevated by way of the season and by Round 11 he delivered 34, 50 and 47 minute performances within the center earlier than struggling his harm. The gun prop was additionally rewarded for his breakout marketing campaign with an extension till the tip of 2026, however he may make a fair larger title for himself with strong performances at worldwide degree.
KEANO KINI — NEW ZEALAND
Kini already loved a breakout season for the Titans, however the younger gun could possibly be set to make his worldwide debut for New Zealand. However, he faces stiff competitors with each Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Joey Many within the squad, which may imply the 19-year-old may function as a bench utility underneath Michael Maguire. Kini made six appearances for the Titans this season, taking part in off the bench 4 instances while additionally beginning at fullback in opposition to the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs in Rounds 14 and 27. Kini has tempo to burn and is undoubtedly a star of the long run on the Gold Coast, and a Kiwis debut will solely develop his recreation additional forward of one other NRL marketing campaign underneath new coach Des Hasler.
DAN RUSSELL — PNG
Russell loved a breakout season with the Dragons in 2023, making his debut in Round 19 off the bench. In the next seven video games, he began within the backrow and performed 80 minutes on six events. The 27-year-old took his alternative with each palms underneath interim coach Ryan Carr and was strong, recording a attempt help in opposition to the Eels in Round 23. Russell is a strong, strong participant and runs a tough line on an edge. He additionally performed twice on the World Cup in 2022, profitable one recreation and drawing one other for the Kumuls. Russell is about to turn into one in every of Papua New Guinea’s most vital gamers this season and has been named within the backrow so as to add to his 4 appearances for his nation within the Pacific Championships. He additionally will get an opportunity to indicate Shane Flanagan he’s right here to remain, regardless of the return of standard first grade backrower Jaydn Su’A who was dominated out for the season with a shoulder harm.
ROBERT DERBY — PNG
Derby made a single NRL look in 2023 for the Cowboys, making his first grade debut in opposition to the Eels in Round 13. He was strong in that recreation, and at solely 21-years of age he will probably be determined for one more crack on the NRL. The 21-year-old has at the moment performed 16 video games for the Townsville Blackhawks this season, scoring 13 tries within the Queensland Cup in a strong season. Standing at 193cm, Derby is a hulking determine and has tempo to burn, named on the wing for the Kumuls within the Pacific Championships. Born in Port Moresby, Derby was beforehand contracted with the Storm earlier than relocating to North Queensland. He has solely performed one single recreation for the Kumuls and one for the PNG PM’s XIII, and is about so as to add to that tally this season in his audition for one more NRL recreation.
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GORDON CHAN KUM TONG — SAMOA
The Sea Eagles birthed a brand new cult hero in 2023. Chan Kum Tong performed two video games within the season simply handed, making his debut in Round 26 and scoring a attempt in opposition to the Tigers in Round 27. The younger gun additionally earned lofty reward from skipper Daly Cherry-Evans who stated: “He’s the sort of bloke who is very infectious with his energy, so we were definitely getting up for the game today” after his debut. Chan Kum Tong stays the one recognised hooker in Samoa’s squad for the Pacific Championships and has been named to begin within the No.9 jersey and make his first look for his nation. These video games will even function an enormous audition for the rising hooker, who will probably be determined to make sufficient of a mark that Anthony Seibold deems him a possible No.14 possibility got here 2024, sharing hooking duties with Lachlan Croker.
JUSTIN MATAMUA — SAMOA
Mamatua was named on the prolonged bench for Samoa, however when he will get his likelihood he’ll make sure to take it with each palms. The Tigers gun performed 5 video games of NRL in 2023, tallying seven complete appearances throughout two years. This season the 20-year-old didn’t get an opportunity to begin, however has been touted because the membership’s potential beginning lock in years to return. Originally on a growth contract for 2023, Tigers powerbrokers moved swiftly to increase his deal final yr, maintaining him at Leichhardt till the tip of 2025 and upgrading him to the highest 30. Matamua is an imposing determine and is an opportunity of creating his debut for his nation at this yr’s Pacific Championships.
SUALAUVI FAALAGO — SAMOA
This Storm younger gun made a splash on his NRL debut. In solely 47 minutes in opposition to the Broncos in Round 17 he scored twice, ending off a transfer with star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen. In his 18 appearances for the Sunshine Coast Falcons this season, he additionally scored 13 instances to go along with 22 conversions. This dazzling fullback has proven Ben Gardiner he can do a job at fullback and has been named within the No.1 jersey, set to make a splash on the worldwide scene. Faalago will even be hoping he can present his expertise within the Pacific Championships to doubtlessly earn an improve on his present growth contract which expires on the finish of 2024, with a membership possibility out there for the 2025 season. Storm powerbrokers are reportedly already eager on an improve however quite a few robust showings may earn him a fair larger contract.
KITIONE KAUTOGA — FIJI
Kautoga didn’t function within the NRL in 2023, however did make his first grade debut for the Tigers in 2022 in opposition to the Dragons in Round 24. The hulking 21-year-old backrower was signed by the Bulldogs in a mid-season change this yr, happening to play 18 video games for Canterbury-Bankstown’s reserve grade facet. On debut in Round 4, Kautoga scored a double in opposition to the Warriors and was robust however did fall down the pecking order to shut out the yr, coming off the bench on 5 events. The Dogs gun was handed a call-up to the Fiji squad and could possibly be in line for a Fiji debut, doubtlessly plying his commerce off the bench. Kautoga stands at 187cm and weighs over 100 kilograms and was born in Fiji earlier than making the transfer to Australia. Kautoga will probably be determined to impress Bulldogs powerbrokers if given an opportunity to flaunt his expertise on the worldwide stage.
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CALEB NAVALE — FIJI
Navale is a extremely rated prospect with the Manly Sea Eagles membership. The gun lock gained the Russ Bull Best and Fairest award for the membership’s Jersey Flegg facet in 2023, being hailed because the staff’s most constant ahead. Navale led Manly’s Jersey Flegg facet for working metres, publish contact metres and tackles and was such earned an enormous call-up to Fiji’s squad for the Pacific Championships. The younger gun is an opportunity of incomes an International debut this yr, doubtlessly that includes off the bench as an influence ahead. Sea Eagles coaches will probably be watching intently if he’s named, with coach Waisake Kativerata on the helm of Fiji Bati.
KAYAL IRO — COOK ISLANDS
Iro hails from a storied rugby league household, with each his father Kevin and uncle Tony being Kiwi icons. He made his NRL debut in 2022, taking part in a single recreation after signing on with the Sharks till the tip of 2024. At solely 21-years of age, the gun outdoors again has already performed six Tests for the Cook Islands and has been named within the centres for his facet’s conflict in opposition to Papua New Guinea. Iro will probably be determined to impress Craig Fitzgibbon and has already performed sufficient to earn NSWRL’s NSW Cup Player of the Year in 2022, while additionally profitable three main awards for the Jets. With a capability to play in a number of backline positions and Siosifa Talakai’s place within the centres not locked in, Iro will probably be hoping to make an enormous impression on the Pacific Championships. He has additionally beforehand been linked with a transfer to the Super League, with Castleford Tigers reportedly eager on his providers.
RUA NGATIKAURA — COOK ISLANDS
Ngatikaura is signed on with the Tigers till the tip of 2024 and can get an opportunity to impress membership powerbrokers, beginning within the No.9 for the Cook Islands. He labored his manner by way of the Tigers’ pathway system, having captained an unbeaten Jersey Flegg facet in 2021. Ngatikaura’s robust dummy-half runs and stocky determine has drawn comparisons with Roosters gun Brandon Smith. At 23 he additionally made his Test debut, taking part in for the Cook Islands eventually yr’s World Cup. He made 15 appearances for the Magpies within the NSW Cup this yr, beginning at hooker on 14 events and through his time on the membership then coach Michael Maguire labelled him “talented” and backed him to function within the NRL in years to return. Young gun Tallyn Da Silva has discovered himself profitable the Tigers’ No.14 jersey to shut out the yr, however with quite a few robust performances for the Cook Islands, Ngatikaura could possibly be scorching on his tail.
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