Sharks star ahead of Pacific Championship

Sharks new signing Addin Fonua-Blake inspired Tonga to a memorable 25-24 win over New Zealand on Saturday night and set up a Pacific Cup final showdown with Australia this weekend.

Tongan co-captain Fonua-Blake, who officially became a Shark on November 1, produced a superb performance of 224m and a stunning try.

Cronulla man Sione Katoa also made his mark in a thrilling match at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium, with the winger scoring the opening four-pointer in the second minute, registering two line breaks and running 166 metres.

After a stunning 24-0 lead, Tonga withstood a furious comeback from the Kiwis, who leveled the scores at 24-all in the 67th minute. Young Dolphins playmaker Isaiah Katoa scored the decisive field goal in the 75th minute.

Tonga will be looking to avenge their 18-0 defeat to the Kangaroos in week one of the Pacific Championship when they meet in Sunday’s decider at CommBank Stadium.

In other tests involving Sharks players over the weekend, Fiji Bulikula, coached by Talei Holmes, lost to Fetu Samoa 16-12 in the women’s Pacific Bowl final.

Samoa fought back from a 12-4 half-time deficit in Auckland to book a place at the 2026 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Fijian second-rower Holmes was generally at her best and led the way with 43 tackles, while her Sharks NRLW teammate Cassie Staples produced a game-high 208 meters and 24 runs at fullback.

Louise Yaranamua, who played for Cronulla’s Harvey Norman NSW women’s premiership team in 2024, played five-eighth for Fiji and made four tackles.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Kiwi Ferns booked their place in the Pacific Cup final against the Jillaroos with a thumping 36-0 win over PNG Orchids in Port Moresby.

Sharks forward Brook Anderson played hooker for New Zealand, recording 31 tackles, two break balls and an assist in 70 minutes. Cronulla star Annessa Biddle has been rested but is set to return against an Australian side that includes Sharks duo Tiana Penitani and Quincy Dodd.

The Jillaroos beat the Kiwi Ferns 14-0 two weekends ago.