Boasting a handful of former New Zealand representatives, Fetu Samoa take on a Fiji Bulikula side with a good base of NRLW talent.
Alongside cross-code Titans star Niall Williams-Guthrie, Jamie Soward's side is boosted by the presence of Broncos enforcer Annetta Nu'uausala and one-time Kiwi Fern Onjeurlina Hunt (née Leiataua).
Fiji meanwhile has impressive Sharks trio Cassie Staples, Talei Holmes and Sereana Naitokatoka and a handful of other young talent who are part of NRLW systems.
Sunday’s clash at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby will be the first time Samoa have played since 2020, while Fiji will be taking the field for the first time in four years.
It will be the very first time the two nations have played each other in a women’s Test match.
Match: Fetu Samoa v Fiji Bulikula
Week 1 -
home Team
Fetu Samoa
1st Position
away Team
Fiji Bulikula
2nd Position
Venue: Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Team News
Fetu Samoa: Niall Williams-Guthrie starts in the centres while Titans young guns Destiny Mino-Sinapati and Sienna Lofipo headline an impressive Samoa spine that also includes Wests Tigers playmaker Pauline Piliae-Rasabale. Origin winner Destiny Brill is the hooker with Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala named at lock.
Fiji Bulikula: Sharks winger Cassie Staples moves to fullback while Patricia Raikadroka, who represented the Australian Prime Minister's XIII in 2018 and 2019 has been named in the centres. Former Dragon, Eel and current Shark Sereana Naitokatoka is the halfback with Sienna Laing named at five-eighth. Her sister Teaghan Laing, who was one of the first women to represent Fiji in rugby league has been named at hooker.
Match: Fetu Samoa v Fiji Bulikula
Week 1 -
home Team
Fetu Samoa
away Team
Fiji Bulikula
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Fetu Samoa is number 1 Destiny Mino-SinapatiFullback for Fiji Bulikula is number 1 Cassie Staples
-
Winger for Fetu Samoa is number 2 Taylor MapusuaWinger for Fiji Bulikula is number 2 Vitalina Naikore
-
Centre for Fetu Samoa is number 3 Petesa LioCentre for Fiji Bulikula is number 3 Merewalesi Rokouono
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Centre for Fetu Samoa is number 4 Niall Williams-GuthrieCentre for Fiji Bulikula is number 4 Patricia Raikadroka
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Winger for Fetu Samoa is number 5 Lindsay TuiWinger for Fiji Bulikula is number 5 Asena Rokomarama
-
Five-Eighth for Fetu Samoa is number 6 Pauline Piliae-RasabaleFive-Eighth for Fiji Bulikula is number 6 Sienna Laing
-
Halfback for Fetu Samoa is number 7 Sienna LofipoHalfback for Fiji Bulikula is number 7 Sereana Naitokatoka
Forwards
-
Prop for Fetu Samoa is number 8 Fiona JahnkeProp for Fiji Bulikula is number 8 Aliti Namoce
-
Hooker for Fetu Samoa is number 9 Destiny BrillHooker for Fiji Bulikula is number 9 Teaghan Laing
-
Prop for Fetu Samoa is number 10 Janelle WilliamsProp for Fiji Bulikula is number 10 Anastacia Shum-Cottrell
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2nd Row for Fetu Samoa is number 12 Malaela Sua2nd Row for Fiji Bulikula is number 11 Talei Holmes
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2nd Row for Fetu Samoa is number 15 Onjeurlina Hunt2nd Row for Fiji Bulikula is number 12 Ema Rainima
-
Lock for Fetu Samoa is number 13 Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausalaLock for Fiji Bulikula is number 13 Josephine Maejiirs
Interchange
-
Interchange for Fetu Samoa is number 16 Pihuka Berryman-DuffInterchange for Fiji Bulikula is number 14 Siniva Sa'anga
-
Interchange for Fetu Samoa is number 18 Tafao AsauaInterchange for Fiji Bulikula is number 15 Grace Waqa
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Interchange for Fetu Samoa is number 19 Tamerah LeatiInterchange for Fiji Bulikula is number 16 Mere Kilawekana
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Interchange for Fetu Samoa is number 21 Makayla EliInterchange for Fiji Bulikula is number 17 Adi Sokula Waqa
Reserves
-
Replacement for Fetu Samoa is number 17 Sauleone SaipeleReplacement for Fiji Bulikula is number 18 Alesi Kilawekana
Match Officials
- Referee: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- Christian Pio led the NRLW in offloads this year with 21 in nine games.
- Talei Holmes started in the second row in each of the Sharks' nine games this year and averaged 100 metres per appearance.
- Annetta Nu'uausala is the most experienced player in this game, having made 18 appearances across five NRLW seasons.
