Wests Tigers stars Stefano Utoikamanu and Kezie Apps will be in action this weekend at the inaugural Pacific Championships.
Both players will compete in the highly anticipated double-header in Townsville on Saturday, which will kick off the post-season event.
Apps will don the green and gold for the 14th time when she takes on the Kiwi Ferns and two Wests Tigers teammates, Leianne Tufuga and Najvada George.
The seasoned forward and Wests Tigers NRLW Co-captain says it’s always an honor to represent her country, something she’s done for the past decade.
It’s great that we have so many girls from our inaugural Wests Tigers team playing at these championships.
“I’m so happy for all of us.”
Tufuga has been picked on the wing after starting all nine games at left centre for Wests Tigers in their maiden NRLW season, while George will come off the bench as a middle forward.
Utoikamanu has also made mention of his Wests Tigers teammates, ahead of his international debut.
The 23-year-old prop will suit up in blue for the second time this season, after making his NSW Origin debut in June.
It should be a blockbuster clash between these two teams, eleven months after they met in last year’s World Cup at Old Trafford.
“In terms of representative honours, it’s been a good year for me, but it’s only come about because of the help I’ve had from my club teammates,” Utoikamanu said.
Stefano’s mother and both her parents were born in Samoa, making this debut a special occasion for the family
“I’m so excited and very proud to represent Samoa and my family,” he said.
Tommy Talau, the Manly-bound centre, has been picked to an extended bench alongside Wests Tigers teammate Justin Matamua.
In Port Moresby on Sunday, Samoa will compete against Fiji in the women’s event before PNG takes against the Cook Islands.
Pauline Piliae-Rasabale will start at five-eighth for Fetu Samoa after strong first season in the NRLW. Wests Tigers teammate Christian Pio is unavailable for this match having returned to Sydney for family reasons.
Former Wests Tigers hooker Rua Ngatikaura, who was part of the club’s top-30 squad this season, will start in the No. 9 jersey for Cook Islands in the men’s game.
Wests Tigers fans will have to wait until the second weekend of the Pacific Championships to see their 2023 Player of the Year, Jahream Bula in action.
The livewire fullback will make his international debut in a very strong Fiji side against Cook Islands in Port Moresby.
“I’m really excited and honoured to represent Fiji for the first time, it’s special for me and for my family.” Bula said.
It’s been an incredible first year in the NRL for me, and I owe so much to my Wests Tigers teammates for their assistance in getting here.
“I can’t wait to run out in Port Moresby next weekend, and I’m sure I will learn a lot from this experience.”
Also playing for Fiji from Wests Tigers 2023 squad is Brandon Wakeham and Apisalome Saukuru.
Isaiah Papali’i will have his first hit-out in what promises to be a belter of a match when New Zealand takes on Samoa next weekend at Eden Park.
It will see ‘Ice’ line up against his Wests Tigers teammate Utoikamanu, and possibly Matamua and Talau well.
“It’s always an honour to represent my country and I’m stoked to be playing again for the Kiwis,” said Papali’i.
“We’ve got a very strong squad and I know pretty much all of the guys really well.
I’ll be representing not just my country and my family but Wests Tigers as well.
There will be several Wests Tigers players in action at Eden Park next weekend as part of a triple-header which includes a men’s game between New Zealand ‘A’ and Tonga ‘A’.
Tonga women’s team, which includes Wests Tigers NRLW forward Folau Vaki, will play its first game of the tournament against New Zealand.