LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Stacey Jones has praised the increasing strength of island nations as the upcoming Pacific Championships sets the stage for the 2024 Rugby League World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Notably, Australia will not participate for the first time, allowing New Zealand, Samoa, and Tonga to compete for the Pacific Cup.
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and the Cook Islands will vie for the second-tier Pacific Bowl trophy.
While the Kangaroos are touring England for the first time since 2003, the formidable sides from Tonga and Samoa, featuring over a dozen former Australian and Kiwi representatives, are expected to draw large crowds during the three-Test Ashes series across the Tasman.
Prominent players like Payne Haas, Josh Papalii, Junior Paulo, and Jeremiah Nanai have switched their national allegiance from Australia to strengthen the Toa Samoa team, which is led by four-time premiership winner Jarome Luai.
Addin Fonua-Blake and Eliesa Katoa, who would easily fit in with the Kiwis, have again opted to play for Tonga after their final run in last year's Pacific Cup.
Similar choices have been made by Tolu Koula, Isaya Katoa, and Robert Toia, who have selected Tonga despite their potential to represent Australia in the future.
The Pacific Cup opener will feature Samoa against New Zealand in Auckland on Sunday, following the Bowl match between Fiji and the Cook Islands on Saturday in Port Moresby.