Kiwis to play Tonga, Samoa in Pacific Championship, grand final in Australia despite no Kangaroos

New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa will play in this year’s men’s Pacific Championship, with Sydney to host the grand final – despite the defending champions, the Kangaroos, not taking part in the tournament.

The schedule for the competition has been announced: the Kiwis will host Toa Samoa at Mt Smart on October 19 and Tonga at Eden Park on November 2 – both double-headers with the Kiwi Ferns up against Samoa and the Australian Jillaroos, respectively.

The top two teams will play in the grand final on November 9 at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium, while the third-place team will compete in a playoff against the highest-ranked side from the Pacific Bowl, which features Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands.

The Kangaroos are not taking part in the event as they are playing a three-match test series against England, for the first time since 2003.

Last year, the Kiwis lost to Australia and Tonga before beating Papua New Guinea in the playoffs.

The promotion-relegation match won’t take place in this year’s tournament.

Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris is determined to have a strong campaign, with an eye on the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.

“We hate losing,” Fisher-Harris said. “We learnt lots of lessons and it’s ignited the fire for this year.

“Tonga and Samoa are powerhouses in rugby league and it will be a great competition.”

Coach Stacey Jones said he’s starting to sound out players who are interested in playing for the Kiwis, with many players opting to represent their heritage.

New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Greg Peters said hosting the two matches is huge for the sport.

“Rugby league test matches don’t get much better than the Pacific clashes set to be held in Aotearoa this year,” Peters said.

“We know the staunchly proud Tongan and Samoan fans especially will come out in force, celebrating their teams and culture in what will be unmissable matches.

“With the growth of the women’s game too, having the Kiwi Ferns back in Auckland for two matches this year, where they have a strong supporter base, is pivotal in inspiring the next generation of female fans and young players in the game.”

Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.