'We do not fear any opposition' says Jason Taumalolo ahead of Pacific Cup final

"We do not fear any opposition."

That's the bold statement from co-captain Jason Taumalolo as the Tonga XIII wraps up their preparations for Sunday's men's Pacific Cup final against the Kangaroos in Sydney.

Speaking to the media in Sydney, Taumalolo said they are hyped up to play the Australians, who defeated them in Brisbane four weekends ago.

"We do not fear any opposition, regardless of what they have got on the front of their logo," said the who led the Tonga rugby league revival.

"That's how Tongans are. We do not fear anyone, regardless of that number one, nunmber two, or number three in the world."

Taumalolo and the team have camped out close to their Pasifika community in Sydney in the past six days.

They have had no shortage of support, with Tongans turning out in large numbers at their training sessions daily.

Taumalolo said they are all set to once again play for their fans and families.

"It means everything," he said.

"The boys play for something bigger than themselves. They play for their fans, they play for their families.

"Our people always turn up wherever we go - whether it's Brisbane, Auckland, or Sydney. They always seem to find their way to come to support us, no matter what.

"I love every time I get to come into this camp, seeing the boys again, and being a part of this atmosphere. It gives you a little bit of energy and a bit more confidence."

The famous 'Sea of Red' is expected to take over CommsBank Stadium on Sunday, as all tickets for the four matches have been sold out.

Taumalolo and his co-captain Addin Fonua-Blake wlll lead the side, affectinately known as Mate Ma'a Tonga (MMT).

They won the right to have a second shot at the Kangaroos after they pipped the Kiwis 25-24 in Auckland last Saturday.

2017 legends Andrew Fifita, Siosiua Taukei'aho, and Peni Terepo visited the team in camp on Thursday and shared their best wishes with the players.

Head coach Kristian Woolf has kep the same 17 that played against the Kiwis for the decider.

A win would catapulate the team to greater honours in Tonga and within the Tongan diaspora.

It would mean rewriting history.

Tonga could become the first Pacific team to win a major rugby league title, potentially beating both New Zealand and Australia in one series.

Kangaroos head coach Mal Meninga has made two changes to his 17.

NRL Media said Canberra's Hudson Young moves into the starting side in place of the injured Cameron Murray (wrist), with Panthers premiership winner, Lindsay Smith joining the bench for his Test debut.

Australia has won two out of three clashes so far, with Tonga winning in 2019.

Kumuls excited with Kiwi clash

PNG Kumuls five-eighth Kyle Laybutt said his side were ready to embrace the challenge of facing off against top-tier nation New Zealand for a berth in next year's Pacific Cup.

This follows their back-to-back Pacific Bowl title wins, after they despatched Cook Islands in the final round game last Sunday.

The Kumuls were forced to shake off a gutsy Cook Islands in Port Moresby, and get to face the Kiwis in the first for many current players.

"It was a tough start and I think we kind of expected it, Cookies were coming off a pretty tough loss last week, so they did get us at the jump there and it took us a while to kick in, but we knew once we got into our processes that we would come around," Laybutt told NRL Media.

"This week will be the first time ever playing New Zealand for most of us and it's going to be a massive challenge.

"But I know these boys in here are all really excited and we can't wait to get there and play."

PNG's only win from 18 Tests against the Kiwis was in 1986.

This year they managed to beat both the Fiji Bati and the Cook Islands under new head coach Jason Demetriou.

Laybutt said Demetriou has been pushing them.

"He's been good. I think he knows what we're good at and he's really looked into that," Laybutt told NRL Media.

"I think he's just tapped into that and then added a little bit of his professionalism to it. We're playing pretty simple, but each week, we're building on combinations and adding a few strings to our bows, so it's exciting."

Demetriou told The National newspaper in Port Moresby he is confident the side will compete well against the more experienced New Zealand Kiwi side.

The 48 year old coach said he is happy with how the players have responded.

Demetriou says the team has grown together, since they first got together in Suva three weeks ago.

But the Kiwis will be no pushover as they want to send off their veteran playrmaker Shaun Johnson on a high.

Johnson was called up by Kiwi coach Stacey Jones last month to fill in for inured players in the Pacific Cup series.

He will be the man to initiate the side's attacks against the Kumuls, and a win would be the best sent off for the player, after his 35th Test appearance, equalling the late Quentin Pongia and winger Sean Hoppe.

Fetu Samoa and Orchids battle for Cup spot

The women's promotion relegation clast between Fetu Samoa, the Pacific Biwls winner, and PNG Orchids will be another thriller of a game.

Although the side had lost their two games against Australia and New Zealand so far this series, the Orchids will be no pushover.

Coach Tahnee Norris has named an unchanged starting side for the clash.

Shae De La Cruz has been named to start at fullback, recovering well after she failed to finish the match against the Ferns last week after a heavy tackle.

A reshuffle of the interchange sees Delailah Ahose and Mala Mark return to the bench.

Lilah Malabag and Roswita Kapo move to the reserves. The new replacement player is Talitha Kunjil.

Fetu Samoa, who defeated the Fiji Bulikula in the Pacific Bowls final last weekend in Auckland, will be on a high, as they have already qualified for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.

Insiprational captain Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala will be the key player again.

She scored two tries against the Bulikula, including the winner late in the second half.

Fullback Evania Pelite has missed the game and will be replaced by Jetaya Faifua, who helped spark Samoa's comeback against Fiji off the bench last week.

Other changes see Christian Pio set to start at prop with Evah McEwan moving into the second row. Jasmine Fogavini has been promoted from 18th player duties last week onto the bench, alongside Viena Tinao.

Penitani counts on Tongans fans to support them

Jillaroos star Tiana Penitani is counting on Tongan fans to get behind her and the Aussies against New Zealand in Sunday's women's Pacific Cup final.

NRL Media said the famed Sea of Red is set to descend on a sold-out CommBank Stadium for the quadruple header.

"The Tongans know how to turn up and get behind their team," Penitani told NRL.com. "It's going to be a big Sea of Red.

"We've got a few Tongan girls in the Australian team with mixed heritage. We'll be riding that wave of energy and we're really excited to see everyone turn up."

The centre is joined in the Jillaroos squad by Simaima Taufa and Yasmin Clydsdale as players with Tongan heritage.

Penitani's father's family is Tongan.

She has been among the Jillaroos best as they defeated Papua New Guinea and New Zealand in earlier games.

Her stint so far has seen her shifting from her preferred centre position into the halves when needed.

It's a change the athlete has enjoyed and she'll take plenty of lessons from the experience when she returns to the centres for Sunday's Cup final against the Kiwi Ferns.

"It's been really fun," she said. "I'm lucky I've got the best players in the world around me who really know how to do their jobs. That made my job a lot easier in moving to a different position.

"I didn't have to steer the ship, it was more just about getting my hands on the ball early, having a crack and creating some opportunities. I really loved it but I'm happy to be back in the centres this week."