The Pacific Championships kick off this week on Friday night with a double-header from Suncorp Stadium with the Jillaroos and the PNG Orchids squaring off.
Best Bet
Jillaroos coach Brad Donald made a complete hash of his selection by leaving out Dally M Player of the Year Olivia Kernick but he still has a ridiculously strong team that should run rampant over an Orchids side on a quick backup.
Kezie Apps is the only backup from five days ago for Australia while virtually the whole Orchids team are trying to lift again.
The backline is littered with stars including Karyn Murphy Medal winner Tarryn Aiken, premiership winner Isabelle Kelly, former Dally M Medal winner Tamika Upton and Dally M Team of the Year players Tiana Penitani and Julia Robinson.
The pack includes Team of the Year player Simaima Taufua, Yasmine Clydesdale and Shannon Mato as well as Millie Elliott.
Tahnee Norris coaches the Orchids and they will roll out 16 of the 17 who turned out five days ago against the PM’s XIII that went down 50-0 with star Elsie Albert the only addition. That team was getting trounced 44-0 at the break but did dig deep in the second half to go down just just 6-0 in the second stanza.
The Orchids have played Australia three times. They were tough in 42-4 and 40-4 losses in Port Moresby in 2017 and 2018 but were thumped 82-0 when these teams met in far more adversarial circumstances at the 2022 World Cup.
Following on from two disappointing Tests in 2023, Australia will be wanting to lay a marker. Lay the 62.5 as a solid bet.
Same Game Multi
Julia Robinson scored nine tries in 10 appearances this season and ranks top four in the all-time NRLW tryscorers.
Tiana Penitani comes off her best domestic season where she scored nine tries in 11 matches and scored a double in her only Test, for Tonga against New Zealand.
Jakiya Whitfeld scored four tries when meeting PNG last time.
Tamika Upton has remarkably played just two Tests but has two tries and comes off a seven-try season.
Value Bet
Quincy Dodd was amongst Cronulla’s best this year and it showed with her tryscoring s she crossed three times in her last eight matches. She has long been deserving of national honours and won’t miss her chance when the pack dominates.
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