Fiji and the Cook Islands will meet in Port Moresby this afternoon to kick off the 2025 Pacific Championships.

Both teams are looking for their first ever Pacific Bowl title, with PNG taking out the title in 2023 and 2024.

Fiji have won both previous meetings between these two sides (22-18 in 2023, 56-6 in 2024) and will be heavily favoured again given their team is littered with NRL stars, including Tigers duo Jahream Bula and Sunia Turuva and Dolphins utility Kurt Donoghoe.

Sharks star KL Iro will lead out the Cook Islands side. Iro hasn’t represented the nation since 2023. Broncos premiership hero Brendan Piakura will start at edge forward in his first international Test match appearance since 2022.

On Sunday, Samoa take on New Zealand in the first match of this year’s Pacific Cup.

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