Tonga vs Papua New Guinea Tips & Preview - PNG tipped to cover in Rugby League World Cup

Gary Emmerson

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Last updated: 17 Oct 2022

Gary Emmerson 17 Oct 2022

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Tonga vs Papua New Guinea tips for Tuesday's Rugby League World Cup match
The game is being played at Totally Wicked Stadium (19:30 BST)
Tonga are strong favourites to make a winning start
Will they get the better of PNG?
Match preview, predictions and latest team news

Expired

Papua New Guinea are backed to cover the line (Getty Images)

Tonga vs Papua New Guinea Predictions

Tonga enjoyed a run to the semi-finals of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and Papua New Guinea reached the last eight of that competition. Who will get off to a winning start here?

Tonga vs Papua New Guinea Predictions
Tonga Form
Tonga Squad & Team News
Papua New Guinea Form
Papua New Guinea Squad & Team News
Tonga vs Papua New Guinea FAQs

Tonga are deserved favourites and should win by a clear margin, but the handicap of +24.5 is underestmating the talent in this PNG side. Back Papua New Guinea to cover.

Tonga reached the semi-finals of the last World Cup.
Tonga have won 3 of their last 4 matches.
Tonga have failed to cover a +24.5 handicap in 10 of their last 11 matches.
Papua New Guinea have won their last 2 matches.

Tonga Form

Tonga warmed up for the World Cup with a comprehensive 48-12 victory over France last weekend.

Kristian Woolf’s side lost their only other game played in 2022 when going down to New Zealand 26-6 in a friendly match in June.

In their previous two matches played in 2019, Tonga took the scalps of both Great Britain 14-6 and Australia 16-12.

Tonga Squad & Team News

Jason Taumalolo is ruled out until at least the end of the group stages.

Tonga do will boast a wealth of NRL talent including Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Addin Fonua-Blake, David Fifita, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tesi Niu, Tui Lolohea, Konrad Hurrell, Moses Suli and Mosese Fotuaika.

Daniel Tupou, Will Penisini, Keaon Koloamatangi, Felise Kaufusi and Will Hopoate have all been named after missing the warm-up win over France.

Squad: 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Siosifa Talakai 4. Will Penisini 5. Sione Katoa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Tui Lolohea 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Siosiua Taukeiaho (c) 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Keaon Koloamatangi 14. Soni Luke 15. Haumole Olakau’atu 16. Tevita Tatola 17. Moeaki Fotuaika 18. David Fifita 19. Mosese Suli 20. Tolutau Koula 21. Ben Murdoch-Masila 24. Isaiya Katoa

Papua New Guinea Form

Quarter-finalists at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, Papua New Guinea have only played five times since losing to England in the last eight.

In 2018, PNG beat Fiji 26-14 before losing to Samoa 24-6 and Fiji 22-20 in 2019.

PNG ended the same year with a 28-10 upset of Great Britain and then got the better of Fiji 24-14 in June in their only game of 2022.

Papua New Guinea Squad & Team News

Alex Johnston, Justin Olam, Xavier Coates, Lachlan Lam and Rhyse Martin bring big game experience to the PNG side.

Squad: 8. Wellington Albert 13. Jacob Alick 18. Keven Apo 23. Watson Boas 5. Xavier Coates 9. Edwin Ipape 1. Alex Johnston 7. Lachlan Lam 6. Kyle Laybutt 3. Nene MacDonald 12. Rhyse Martin (c) 10. Sylvester Namo 4. Justin Olam 11. Nixon Putt 15. Daniel Russell 20. Rodrick Tai 21. Sherwin Tanabi 17. Emmanuel Waine 16. McKenzie Yei

Tonga vs Papua New Guinea FAQs

Where can I watch the Tonga vs Papua New Guinea live stream?

Check our live streaming calendar to see where to watch the Tonga vs Papua New Guinea live stream.

What time does Tonga vs Papua New Guinea start?

The game starts at 19:30 BST on Tuesday, October 18.

Verdict

Tonga v Papua New Guinea

This is a tough opener for both sides and the value is for PNG to cover with a +24.5 start. That might just be beyond red-hot favourites Tonga.

PNG +24.5

Handicap

@10/11 - 3 Units

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