Super League men star as Papua New Guinea win Pacific Bowl and set up New Zealand clash

Lachlan Lam and Nene Macdonald were among the stars as Papua New Guinea clinched the Pacific Bowl to set up a mouthwatering clash with New Zealand next week.

Leigh Leopards half-back Lam was captaining his country for the first time, following in the footsteps of his father Adrian – with the pair becoming only the second father-son duo to skipper a major rugby league nation.

And he scored one of PNG’s eight tries as they dismantled the Cook Islands 42-20 to secure a second straight victory in the Pacific Bowl.

But the game’s outstanding player was arguably Salford Red Devils centre Macdonald, who starred for the Kumuls from fullback and scored twice to help his nation progress to next week’s play-off to decide the third and final spot in next year’s Pacific Championships.

PNG will now face New Zealand to decide who joins Samoa and Tonga in the top tier of the competition in 2025.

Castleford Tigers prop Sylvester Namo was another who impressed, with the forward scoring a rampaging try early in the second half to put PNG in control of the contest: but he was also sin-binned for a high tackle.

New Tigers signing Judah Rimbu started at hooker for the Kumuls, with Warrington Wolves centre Rodrick Tai also involved alongside new Wire signing Dan Russell. Namo came off the bench alongside another Tigers star, hooker Liam Horne.

And with PNG progressing, it means they are now one win away from promotion to the top tier of the Pacific Championships.

The final of that competition will see Australia face Tonga as part of four games played on the same day – with the women’s games also being staged in Sydney.

“The Pacific Championships is becoming the biggest international sporting event in the region,” NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said.

“The final next Sunday not only features four high stakes Test matches, but it will be a celebration of Pacific culture, bringing together fans from five different nations to create a festival atmosphere that has never been seen before in our game.”

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International round-up: Samoa qualify for Women’s World Cup as Tonga stun New Zealand in men’s Test

On Saturday, Fetu Samoa came from behind to beat Fiji Bulikula 16-12 in a women’s Test match in the Pacific Championships which saw Jamie Soward’s side clinch qualification for the next Rugby League World Cup in 2026.

Samoa have ended a decade-long wait between Women’s World Cup appearances as they secured the Pacific Bowl title and and a shot at promotion in the Pacific Cup for next year.

Fiji’s World Cup hopes now rely on them emerging victorious from the 2025 World Series against Ireland (Europe), Nigeria (Africa) and the winner of November’s Americas qualifying tournament between Canada, Jamaica and the USA.

Elsewhere, the Kiwi Ferns thrashed the PNG Orchids 36-0 in Port Moresby, booking their place in next week’s final against the Jillaroos as they look to retain their Pacific Cup crown.

In the men’s Pacific Championships on Saturday, Tonga came up with a shock 25-24 win over reigning Pacific Cup champions New Zealand, with Super League star Peta Hiku in good form for the Kiwis. However, it was a drop goal from Tonga half-back Isaiya Katoa that proved the difference between the sides.

Meanwhile, England wrapped up a 2-0 series whitewash victory over Samoa in the men’s Test series in England, with a Herbie Farnworth masterclass inspiring Shaun Wane’s side to a 34-16 win over Ben Gardiner’s Samoans in Leeds on Saturday night.

Below is a list of the weekend’s international rugby league results:

Women: Samoa 16-12 Fiji
Women: Papua New Guinea 0-36 New Zealand
Men: New Zealand 24-25 Tonga
Men: Papua New Guinea 42-20 Cook Islands
Men: England 34-16 Samoa

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