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Papua New Guinea and Toa Samoa will square off their Saturday at Leichhardt Oval as they do battle in the final game of a three-match program for the 2019 Ox & Palm Pacific Test Invitational.

With the Women's Test between Fiji and PNG taking place at 3:40pm followed by the Men's Test between Lebanon and Fiji at 5:40pm, the Leichhardt Oval crowd will certainly be fired up come kickoff for Samoa's clash with Papua New Guinea as Matt Parrish's side look to establish themselves on the international stage once again.

With limited playing history between the two sides, it's tough to gauge a good form line for this game but there's no shortage of key players available across the park — meaning we should be in for a high-quality game of football on the night!

Following the high-profile decisions of Martin Taupau and Jamayne Isaako to represent Samoa instead of New Zealand this weekend, the favourites find themselves suddenly with a stacked side full of NRL talent. Anthony Milford will captain the side from the halves, while Wests Tigers players David Nofoaluma, Michael Chee Kam and Josh Aloiai have all been named for the game.

Samoa players Hymel Hunt and David Nofoaluma
Samoa players Hymel Hunt and David Nofoaluma

While Papua New Guinea only have six players with NRL experience in their side, they do have the advantage of picking players from the PNG Hunters side in the Intrust Super Cup in Queensland, and that familiarity does give them a distinct advantage over Samoa. With the likes of James Segeyaro, Lachlan Lam and Rhyse Martin in the side, there's still plenty of talent in the Kumuls outfit, and they certainly won't back down from the challenge of facing a Samoan side on the rise.

Samoa will be desperate to end a run of three straight Test defeats and begin their climb back up the international ladder with a win over Papua New Guinea, who themselves have won their last three Tests (two of which came against Fiji).

MATCH DETAILS

Date — Saturday, June 22

Time — 7:55pm AEST

Venue — Leichhardt Oval

TV AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION

TV — Live via 9GEM and FOX League (Ch.502)

Live Stream — Foxtel Go, KAYO Sports, 9Now, Watch NRL (exc. Australia)

TEAM LISTS

TOA SAMOA   PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Jamayne Isaako 1 Edene Gebbie
Jorge Taufua 2 Junior Rau
Hymel Hunt 3 Brandon Nima
Marion Seve 4 Xavier Coates
David Nofoaluma 5 Terry Wapi
Chanel Harris-Tavita 6 Eddie Ipape
Anthony Milford 7 Kyle Laybutt
Junior Paulo 8 Enock Maki
Jarome Luai 9 James Segeyaro
James Gavet 10 Luke Page
Raymond Faitala-Mariner 11 Rhyse Martin
Jaydn Su'a 12 Nixon Putt
Martin Taupau 13 Moses Meninga
Mason Lino 14 Kurt Baptiste
Michael Chee Kam 15 Zev John
Herman Ese'ese 16 Radley Brawa
Josh Aloiai 17 Stanton Albert
Fa'amanu Brown 18 Bernard Lewis
Matt Parrish Coach Michael Marum

HISTORY

Historically, the pair have a limited playing history between them with just one clash during the 2013 World Cup, where Samoa comfortably prevailed 38-4. The Kumuls are in form, however, with six wins from their past seven matches while Samoa have not won an international fixture since their win over Tonga back in 2016.

KEY MATCHUP — Jamayne Isaako v Edene Gebbie

Brisbane Broncos winger Jamayne Isaako will line up at fullback for Samoa and will be desperate to make a good impression in his debut outing for the side. Primarily a winger in his club football, the switch to the back should open up the field more for Isaako and his combination with Milford should lead to good things for Samoa — meaning Edene Gebbie could be in for a tough night on his hands.

Gebbie has been in good form this year for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the Intrust Super Cup with eight tries in 13 appearances this season, and he'll need to rely on his combination with Edwin Ipape to get involved in the contest.

NRL.com preview Pacific Test as Samoa face PNG


PREDICTION

Papua New Guinea have played well during the mid-year Tests and showed last year against Fiji that they are more than capable of springing an upset, but this game might be a bridge too far. Samoa are a far stronger side than they have been in recent years and when coupled with their determination to bounce back from a disappointing World Cup campaign and defeat to Tonga last year, it's hard to see them not running out winners here. The Kumuls' spine is far better than what many are giving it credit for and they should keep the underdogs in the contest, but Samoa simply have too much firepower up front and could run away with this one.

Samoa by 8.

Acknowledgement of Country

Wests Tigers respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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