New Zealand vs Australia tips & preview | Pacific Championships

New Zealand v Australia best bets

Kiwis v Kangaroos rugby league match preview

The Australian Kangaroos will take on the New Zealand Kiwis at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch in week two of the 2024 Pacific Championships in search of revenge after losing the 2023 final at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

These two rugby league nations have a strong history dating back to 1908, with the Australians winning almost 75% of their clashes with New Zealand, including 35 wins away from home. The visitor’s strong record saw them open in betting markets as -217.39 favourites to win with the top NRL bookmakers.

Mal Meninga has named an unchanged Kangaroos line-up following his side’s 18-nil win over Tonga at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane last weekend.

Meanwhile, Michael Maguire has made several changes to his Kiwis side since they ran out in November last year. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will start in the halves with Keano Kini named to make his international debut at fullback, as will Will Warbrick in place of Ronaldo Mulitalo. Peta Hiku will also start in the centres to replace Joseph Manu and Shaun Johnson has answered the SOS call to replace Jahrome Hughes at halfback.

In the forwards, Phoenix Crossland will start at hooker, with Griffin Neame promoted to the starting side and Scott Sorenson named in the second row. Kodi Nikorima, Marata Niukore and Jordan Riki will come off the bench alongside Naufahu Whyte.

New Zealand v Australia team lists

New Zealand

1. Keano Kini
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Matthew Timoko
4. Peta Hiku
5. Will Warbrick
6. Charles Nicoll-Klokstad
7. Shaun Johnson
8. James Fisher-Harris
9. Phoenix Crossland
10. Griffin Neame
11. Isaiah Papali’i
12. Scott Sorensen
13. Joesph Tapine
14. Kodi Nikorima
15. Naufahu Whyte
16. Marata Niukore
17. Jordan Riki

Australia

1. Dylan Edwards
2. Xavier Coates
3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
4. Tom Trbojevic
5. Zac Lomax
6. Tom Dearden
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Patrick Carrigan
9. Harry Grant
10. Lindsay Collins
11. Angus Crichton
12. Cameron Murray
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Matt Burton
15. Mitchell Barnett
16. Reuben Cotter
17. Hudson Young

Australia v Tonga betting predictions

The Kangaroos have been well supported into -357.14 bookmaker favourites following several key changes to the Kiwis side for this match.

Australia has won eight of their last ten matches against New Zealand, and six of those victories have come by 13 points or more. With several new and old faces in this Kiwis side taking on a Kangaroos outfit that won their last match by a convincing scoreline, there is great value at Neds in the +105 price for the Kangaroos to record another victory by 13 points or more.

Angus Crichton will play his seventh match in the second row for the Kangaroos, having already scored two tries for his nation in the position. On Sunday he will take on Kiwi Sorenson who struggled through the back end of the Penrith Panthers NRL season with injuries. Should he play 80 minutes on the edge again with three tackle breaks, as he did last weekend, Crichton will be a great chance of scoring a try at +215 with PlayUp.

Kiwi winger Jamayne Isaako has also been a prolific try-scorer for his nation, crossing the try line on five occasions in eight matches, including two matches against Australia in New Zealand’s 30-nil win last time out. With Johnson at halfback kicking to the right corner, Isaako is the safest bet for a Kiwi try-scorer paying +145 with picklebet.

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