The Stats Zone
October 17 2024, 14:11 · Rob Esteva

Fiji vs Papua New Guinea Preview & Prediction | 2024 Pacific Bowl

Fiji vs Papua New Guinea Preview & Prediction | 2024 Pacific Bowl

Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

We have a repeat of the 2023 Pacific Bowl final in Suva as Fiji will be looking to avenge the 32-12 loss handed to them by Papua New Guinea last year

START DATE/TIME: Saturday 19th October, 2024, UK – 10:15am / AUS – 7:15pm / US ET – 5:15am / US PT – 2:15am

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK - This match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Mix / AUS - This match will be broadcast live on Watch NRL

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK - This match will be streamed on SkyGo / AUS - This match will be streamed on Watch NRL

FIJI: THE BATI LOOK TO AVENGE 2023 FINAL LOSS

The Fijians will be eager to bounce back from last year’s Pacific Bowl final loss as after beating Papua New Guinea in the group stage, they lost the final.

Led by Tui Kamikamica who played a key role in the Melbourne Storm’s run to the NRL Grand Final, Fiji will be without Jabream Bula due to injury but they have plenty of quality in their ranks including experienced dup Michael Jennings and Waqa Blake.

SQUAD:

1. Sunia Turuva

2. Maika Sivo

3. Michael Jennings

4. Waqa Blake

5. Semi Valemei

6. Kevin Naiqama

7. Kurt Donoghoe

8. Tui Kamikamica

9. Penioni Tagituimua

10. Ben Nakubuwai

11. Viliame Kikau

12. Kitione Kautoga

13. Caleb Navale

Interchange

14. Joe Lovodua

15. Taane Milne

16. Kylan Mafoa

17. Jordan Miller

Reserves

18. James Valevatu

19. Ronald Philitoga

20. Nathan Kegg-King

21. Ratu Rinakama

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: THE KUMULS LOOKING TO REPEAT 2023 SUCCESS

Papua New Guinea come into this year’s Pacific Bowl with good confidence although they will be with Alex Johnston and Justin Olam for this one.

Six players from Super League have been named in Papua New Guinea’s squad including the likes of Nene McDonald, Rodrick Tai, Lachlan Lam and Rhyse Martin and they will be key to their chances of success this year.

SQUAD:

1. Nene Macdonald

2. Elijah Roltinga

3. Robert Mathias

4. Rodrick Tai

5. Robert Derby

6. Kyle Laybutt

7. Lachlan Lam

8. Valentine Richard

9. Judah Rimbu

10. Jacob Alick-Wiencke

11. Rhyse Martin

12. Jeremiah Simbiken

13. Jack De Belin

Interchange

14. Liam Horne

15. Koso Bandi

16. Sylvester Namo

17. Ila Alu

Reserves

18. Daniel Russell

19. Sanny Wabo

20. Morea Morea

FIJI VS PAPUA NEW GUINEA PREDICTION

These two nations sit next to each other in the world rankings which is no surprise given how evenly-matched the teams are. PNG have the comfort of knowing they produced the goods when it mattered most last year as after being comprehensively beaten in the round-robin phase, they bounced back and won the final.

A repeat of that will not be easy however at the HFC Bank Stadium in the Fijian capital Suva. The hosts will be fired up and they have picked some experienced players like Kevin Naiqama to help them this time around.

Both teams will know that the outcome of this match is not that important given they will likely both beat the Cook Islands and reach the final. It should still however be a typically hard-fought game. We expect points in this one and plenty of them. We favour over 45.5 points in this one and marginally prefer the home side.

FIJI VS PAPUA NEW GUINEA TIP: OVER 45.5 TOTAL POINTS

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