World Cup Qualification (Women) 2026 Pacific Qualifying Tournament : Pacific Qualifying Tournament

Sat 19th October 2024   - KO  18:00 - HFC Stadium, Suva, Fiji , Fiji
  Attendance: 3271
Official: Wyatt Raymond

Tonga

16

FT

30

Half Time
10 - 20

Samoa

Tries

Goals

Tonga XIII v Fetu Samoa: Debutants on show; Pelite makes switch

Both Tonga and Samoa boast formidable squads to challenge at this Pacific Championships and will be out to make a statement for their nations when they take to the field in Fiji.

A place in the upcoming 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup is also on the line as well, giving this year’s Pacific Championship matches even more meaning. 

Both sides have a majority of players who have featured in the NRLW competition throughout this season and will field strong forward packs who will have a big say in the outcome of the game. 

Tonga have a number of players who featured in the recent NRLW grand final for the Sharks, while Samoa also have combinations to call on, with Titans including Evania Pelite at fullback and Sienna Lofipo at lock having an established connection that was also strengthened during Queensland's Origin campaign. 

Tonga women's team will be co-captained by Sharks second-rower Vanessa Foliaki and Wests Tigers centre Natasha Penitani, who both featured for the nation in last year's Pacific Championships tournament. 

Tonga: Emmanita Paki makes her international debut at five-eighth alongside Eels playmaker Cassey Tohi-Hiku, who moves from her regular No.6 jersey into the halfback role. Exciting young fullback Ana Malupo and centre Kate Fallon also makes their Test debuts. Vastly experienced forward Vanessa Foliaki will co-captain the Tonga side along with Natasha Penitani, who lines up for her third Test match. After squaring off in the NRLW grand final a fortnight ago, Rooster Pani Hopoate and Sharks Tegan Dymock, Manilita Takapautolo, Filomina Hanisi and Foliaki are all now teammates. In Friday's 24-hour update Noia Fotu-Moala and Claudia Finau dropped out of the squad. Seli Mailangi is the reserve and Shannon Muru is 18th player.

Samoa: Former Jillaroo Evania Pelite is joined by fellow Titans Sienna Lofipo, Sarina Masaga and Laikha Clarke in a strong Fetu Samoa outfit looking to build on an impressive win over Fiji in last year's Pac Champs. Centre Lindsay Tui bagged a double in that game while skipper Annetta-Claudia Nuuausala was also among the tries. Wests Tigers back-rower Christian Pio earns a Test debut on the back of a strong season in which she averaged 108 metres per game. Young flyer Mercedez Taulelei-Siala played centre for Queensland Under-19s against NSW this year and gets her first Test cap on the wing.

19 October 2024
World Cup berth in sight for Samoa after downing Tonga

Fetu Samoa are one win away from confirming their ticket to the 2026 World Cup after getting past Pacific neighbours Tonga 30-16 on Saturday night in Suva. 

Following a dream start that had them up by 10 after as many minutes, Samoa had to endure a courageous fight back from Tonga, who trailed by just four with 15 to go, before they finished with a hiss and a roar to run in two late tries and end with a comfortable winning margin. 

Jamie Soward's side will now face the winner of next week's Pacific Bowl encounter between Fiji and Cook Islands, with the winner of that game, which will be played in Auckland on November 3, securing their place at RLWC2026.

For Tonga the qualification dream is over for this cycle. 

Despite their flying start and looking the superior team for large parts of the contest at HFC Bank Stadium, Samoa struggled to put Tonga away and were guilty of shooting themselves in the foot with untimely errors. 

Their cause was helped by standout performances from Titans' forward Sienna Lofipo, former Jillaroo Evania Pelite and long-time Kiwi Fern Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala, while both Jessica Patea and Gold Coast rookie centre Sarina Masaga registered personal doubles. 

After Masaga and Lofipo's efforts inside 10 minutes – which were coupled with a Pauline Piliae-Rasabale penalty goal – Tonga finally settled into the game around the 20-minute mark and began to put up a fight in what was just their fourth Test match since 2008. 

With her opponents having reduced the gap to six after Filomina Hanisi barreled over, Lofipo created a game-changing turnover with nine to go in the half and set in motion a period in which Samoa scored twice in quick succession.

First influential carries from both Pelite and Nu'uausala laid the platform for Patea to cross in the corner, before Masaga broke free down the right for her second.

But the chance to lead by 14 at the half was squandered when Piliae-Rasabale spilled the ball on the restart of play and Manilita Takapautolo ran over for a try which reduced the gap to 10.

It proved to be the breath of life Tonga needed and just six minutes into the second period they got back to within four thanks to Lavinia Tauhalaliku's try which Emmanita Paki converted. 

A golden opportunity to draw even, following a knock on from Pelite metres out from her own line, was blown when Takapautolo spilled the ball on play one and let Samoa off the hook.

Five minutes later Samoa burst into gear with a scintillating play down the right that ended with Patea racing away for a try, before Lindsay Tui put the finishing touch on some hot potato-style footy to put the result beyond doubt with five remaining on the clock. 

19 October 2024