Tonga lose Katoa for Lebanon clash

Bostock on debut, earning Player of the Match Honour

Jack Bostock and Kurt Donoghoe will face off when Australia meets Fiji at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, closing Round 2.

Bostock scored a hat-trick and earned Player of the Match in Australia's 24-22 win over New Zealand, while Fiji beat the Cook Islands 40-12.

Donoghoe will again wear Fiji's number six jersey, partnering Brandon Wakeham against the defending champions; Australia beat Fiji 42-8 in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup quarter-finals, played in 2022.

Earlier Sunday, New Zealand hosts the Cook Islands in Christchurch, with both sides seeking their first tournament victory.

The Kiwis lost 24-22 to Australia, while the Cook Islands fell 40-12 to Fiji; Dolphins teammates Jamayne Isaako, Kodi Nikorima and Jeremy Marshall-King will again feature for New Zealand.

On Saturday, Samoa meets Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby, with both sides coming off wins: Samoa beat France 78-4 and the Kumuls defeated Lebanon 42-18.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Francis Molo and Connelly Lemuelu will again represent Samoa, which has won all three previous meetings between the nations.

England and France, both seeking a first win, meet in Perth on Saturday after opening-round losses; England beat France 40-8 in 2024.

Tonga faces Lebanon on Friday without Isaiya Katoa, who aggravated an ankle injury during Tonga's 30-12 victory over England, the nation's first win against the English.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki will again play for Tonga, which beat Lebanon 24-22 in their only previous Rugby League World Cup meeting, the 2017 quarter-final.

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