Pacific Championship Finals | Super League Stars

The highly anticipated Pacific Championships Finals took place at the weekend, featuring a number of Betfred Super League stars.

Tui Lolohea’s Tonga competed in the Pacific Cup Final against Australia on Sunday, falling short by just six points.

Australia had built up a confident 20-4 lead in the first forty, although Tonga did forge an incredible comeback in the second stanza - with Lolohea’s crucial grubber setting up a try for Haumole Olakau'atu and breathing life back into the Tongan outfit.

Stone cold from Olakau'atu ?#PacificChamps pic.twitter.com/Ks9mZDOBr4

— NRL (@NRL) November 10, 2024

Tonga managed to reduce the deficit to just six points with Lolohea once again playing a pivotal role in the halves. This then set up a dramatic final few minutes, but Australia would hold on to claim the title.

Meanwhile, Peta Hiku’s New Zealand side enjoyed a huge 54-12 win over Papua New Guinea in Sunday’s promotion-relegation clash, ensuring that the Kiwis would remain in the top tier in 2025.

Hiku made 115 metres in just nine runs on Sunday, while producing one try assist and one line break assist – rounding off an impressive, individual Pacific Championships campaign as the first Super League player to earn a call-up for the Kiwis since 2017.

In defeat, Rodrick Tai (134) and Nene Macdonald (116) topped the metres made for PNG, as well as most runs (17) and (14) while Judah Rimbu made 32 tackles.

Castleford duo Liam Horne and Sylvester Namo combined for PNG’s opening try – something which Tigers fans can look forward to witnessing in 2025.

Horne ? Namo

A Kumuls try made in Castleford ???#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/elJ9zp2Ro1

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) November 10, 2024

Lachlan Lam continued to proudly captain his country, while Rhyse Martin converted 2/2 goals for PNG as the 2024 Pacific Championships action reached its conclusion.