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International Rugby League Betting Odds, Tips & Predictions
New Zealand v Tonga Betting Tips (Saturday, 06:20 BST)
New Zealand will host Tonga at the Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday for their mid-season Test match as they both begin preparations for the World Cup later in the year.
Kiwis coach Michael Maguire has time to put all his focus and energy into the Test team after being sacked by NRL side Wests Tigers.
He has named a 25-man squad with Jesse Bromwich as his captain. No Super League players have been selected with every single squad member playing in the NRL.
Brisbane Broncos star Te Maire Martin has been selected, while Melbourne Storm stars Jahrome Hughes, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Brandon Smith have all been selected.
With the World Cup around the corner, New Zealand will be looking to prove they are one of the tournament favourites, unfortunately, Tonga will believe they are as well.
Tonga shocked everyone in the 2017 World Cup when they marched to the semi-finals, and a controversial decision in the dying moments against England prevented them from reaching the Final.
At the start of every World Cup, the likes of Australia, England and New Zealand are labelled the favourites, but under coach Kristian Woolf, Tonga are a major force on the international scene.
Woolf will not be in charge for this game as he is still in England with St Helens, but Dean Young will lead the side in his absence.
Like New Zealand, Tonga’s squad will feature NRL players with Moses Suli, Kotoni Staggs, Talatau Amone and Tevita Pangai Jnr all expected to feature.
I expect Tonga to stun the Kiwis. Staggs will cause a lot of problems on the edge and Amone has been in fine form for St George Illawarra Dragons this season. Back Tonga to upset New Zealand with a narrow victory.
Samoa v Cook Islands Betting Tips (Saturday, 08:40 BST)
Preparations for the World Cup later this year are underway with Samoa going up against the Cook Islands at the Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday.
These two will lock horns for the first time since they met in a Pacific Cup qualifier back in 2009 when the Cook Islands caused a major upset with a 22-20 success.
Samoa coach Matt Parish has called upon NRL champions Penrith Panthers with Charlie Staines, Taylan May, Izack Tago and Spencer Leniu all named in the squad.
The Cook Islands – who are coached by former Wigan, Manly, Hunter Mariners and New Zealand star Tony Iro – has named a squad that features three sets of brothers.
Esan and Steven Marsters and Reubenn and Vincent Rennie have been selected, as well as Iro’s nephews Kayal and Andre Iro – sons of Tony’s brother Kevin. Anthony Gelling has also been named in the squad and will start at centre.
Samoa have the better squad with more experience, and I cannot see them slipping up against the Cook Islands.
Papua New Guinea v Fiji Betting Tips (Saturday, 10:50 BST)
Papua New Guinea will be looking to prove they have more than an outside chance of winning the World Cup this year when they take on Fiji at the Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday.
Some of the biggest and best players in the NRL will be on display in this game as the Kumuls and the Bati lock horns for the first time since 2019.
Try-scoring machine Alex Johnston will start at full-back in his third game for PNG, while Justin Olam, David Mead and Lachlan Lam will all feature as well as local PNG talent Wartovo Puara and Sylvester Namo.
Fiji have some experienced players in their squad themselves. Kevin Naiqama will captain the Bati with Viliamie Kikau as his co-captain.
The Bati have try-scoring machines themselves with Maika Sivo and Mikaele Ravalawa on the wings. If they can find some space, they could cause the Kumuls a lot of problems.
I am actually going to back PNG to win this one. I feel the halfback pairing of Lam and Kyle Laybutt will more influential than Fiji’s Kevin Naiqama and Nautu’a Masima. They will create more opportunities for their outside backs.
