Papua New Guinea vs Fiji Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup | Pool Stage
by Alex Sarwar ·
Updated
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After beating France, Papua New Guinea will be all but guaranteed a semi-final spot with a win over Fiji.
Start date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / USA – Premier Player
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Papua New Guinea team news: Only one switch
Papua New Guinea have made just the single switch to their side, which sees Belinda Gwasamun drop out of the starting line-up, with Venessa Nakas coming in.
Squad: Anika Butler, Ivania Wong, Relna Wuruki-Hosea, Tia Molo, Naomi Kelly, Fleur Ginn, Cynthiah Peters, Elsie Albert, Ua Ravu, Jafinda Sap, Vanesa Nakas, Shellie Long, Emily Veivers, Therese Aiton, Essay Banu, Jenny David, India Seeto, Gemma Walker, Mya Muller, Jasmine Joe, Mala Mark, Belinda Gwasamun
Fiji team news: Jones sidelined
Fiji are without Tamika Jones, who is ruled out of this game with a shoulder injury. Nanise Vakacavu will start with Naomi Tegu on the bench and Ema Masi in the reserves.
Squad: Cassie Staples, Maria Paseka, Isabella Waterman, Taina Naividi, Sienna Laing, Luisa Yaranamua, Losana Lutu, Latisha Smythe, Sereana Naitokatoka, Leilani Ahsam, Elizabeth Naleba, Nanise Vakacavu, Talei Holmes, Tahlia Marshall, Teaghan Hartigan, Lorren Ieli, Naomi Tegu, Ema Masi, Aliti Namoce, Rory Muller, Ebony Laing, Abigayle Sekitoga
Who will win this match?
Open poll and resultsPapua New Guinea vs Fiji prediction
Fiji may have wound up on the losing side in the opening round of pool stage fixtures at this World Cup, but they deserve significant credit for their performance against New Zealand, which saw them fall just six points short of their opponents, losing 18-12. Papua New Guinea meanwhile, made light work of France, thrashing them 58-4 in Port Moresby.
Against a side weaker than New Zealand, Fiji will fancy their chances of victory if they can rectify what we saw from them last time out, but this is a PNG side full of confidence, who won’t go down easily. In the end though, Fiji are worth backing to edge out this one.
Papua New Guinea vs Fiji tip: Fiji to win
