<p>The fourth edition of the Rugby League Pacific Championships kicks-off later this month, with games set to take place across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.</p> <p>Six nations will compete across two separate competitions housed within the Championships. New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa will do battle in the Pacific Cup, a grouping of tier one sides.</p> <p>Meanwhile, tier two teams the Cook Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea will take part in the Pacific Bowl.</p> <p>With a number of superstars such as Payne Haas forgoing the opportunity to represent Australia, to instead run out for Samoa, international Rugby League has never been stronger.</p> <p>This makes round 1 of the 2025 Pacific Championships an absolute must-watch, particularly the heavyweight clash between defending champions New Zealand and the seriously stacked Samoan side.</p> <p>For all the latest news, analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of the opening round of the Pacific Championships, check out our expert Rugby League Pacific Championships Round 1 tips and predictions below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Fiji Bati vs Cook Islands Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, October 18, 3:00pm AEST – Santos National Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Round 1 of the 2025 Rugby League Pacific Championships opens with Fiji taking on the Cook Islands up in PNG.</p> <p>Fiji Bati are bristling with NRL talent, meaning minnows the Cook Islands will have their work cut out for them to avoid getting steamrolled.</p> <p>Captained by Melbourne enforcer Tui Kamikamica, Fiji have plenty of brains to go along with the expected brawn.</p> <p>Tigers’ tearaways Jahream Bula and Sunia Turuva should bring plenty of attacking flair to the party, as will both Fainu brothers – Sione and Samuela.</p> <p>The likes of Cronulla’s KL Iro, Brisbane’s Brendan Piakura and Warriors hardman Marata Niukore will be tasked with trying to keep them at bay for the Cook Islands.</p> <p>While we are sure they will give a decent account of themselves, the Cook Islands just lack the same quality as Fiji in the killer positions. Without an established spine it is difficult to bring strike weapons such as Iro into play at a high enough frequency to win the match.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong>Fiji Bati.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>SGM - Jahream Bula and Sunia Turuva anytime try scorers.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>New Zealand Kiwis vs Toa Samoa Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, October 19, 3:05pm AEST – Go Media Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Oh my. What a game we have here. The headline fixture of the Pacific Championships Round 1 sees defending champions New Zealand welcome Samoa to Go Media Stadium in Auckland.</p> <p>This is the battle of the big boys in every sense of the word with two of the most ferocious forward packs ever named, set to collide on October 19.</p> <p>As previously mentioned, having confirmed his defection from the Kangaroos, Broncos’ enforcer Haas joins a power-packed Tongan front row with Raiders’ veteran Josh Papalii and Parramatta steam train Junior Paulo.</p> <p>They’ll be running it straight into the waiting arms, shoulders and upper bodies of Kiwi captain James Fisher-Harris, Melbourne man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona and four-time premiership winning Panthers prop Moses Leota.</p> <p>This Pacific Championships will also serve as the swansong for retiring Titans playmaker Kieran Foran, who will step into the halves for the injured Jahrome Hughes.</p> <p>He’ll be joined by Newcastle’s new million-dollar man Dylan Brown as they try and outwit and outmanoeuvre Former Panther lynchpin Jarome Luai and the man who replaced him at the foot of the mountains Blaize Talagi.</p> <p>The attacking flair for both sides doesn’t end there with Brian To’o, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Izack Tago all set to star for Samoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo, Jamayne Isaako and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad out to fight fire with fire for the Kiwis.</p> <p>In terms of picking a winner here, we’re actually going to side with Samoa. Yes New Zealand are the defending champs and have home ground advantage here, but there’s now two ways about it, the Samoan squad is simply stacked.</p> <p>We’re backing them to upset NZ on their own patch here and then make a run at the overall Pacific Cup title.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/international-matches/new-zealand-v-samoa-9699158">Toa Samoa.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Brian To’o first try scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Where Can I Watch the Pacific Championships in Australia?</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>All games of the 2025 Rugby League Pacific Championships will stream in Australia on Kayo, Foxtel and 9Now.</p> <p>The Pacific Championships start on Saturday October 18 and run through to Sunday November 9.&nbsp;</p>