In the red corner are Addin Fonua-Blake, Jason Taumalolo and Stefano Utoikamanu. Over in the blue corner are Payne Haas, Josh Papalii and Junior Paulo.
No, this isn’t fantasy football. This is international rugby league where the best forwards in the world take centre-stage in the battle for global supremacy.
Suncorp Stadium will be the arena this weekend, when Tonga take on Samoa in front of 50,000 screaming fans.
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Eliesa Katoa Try
While Fonua-Blake is the Tongan leading man, he will be backed up by a star-studded supporting cast. Taumalolo, Utoikamanu, Leka Halasima and Eli Katoa will all bring physicality and skill to the fore.
Samoa will not take a backwards step. Just seven days after a bruising encounter with New Zealand, Haas will again set the tone up front.
The prop finished with 194 run metres and 52 tackles in 79 lung-busting minutes and will be looking to recreate those heroics on Sunday at a ground he knows well.
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Kiwis v Toa Samoa – Round 1, 2025
But Samoa are not a one-man band. Papalii and Paulo are two of the most experienced forwards in the game. Jeremiah Nanai, Simi Sasagi and Francis Molo provide youthful experience to beef out a loaded pack.
On the other side of the globe, 60,000 fans are set to pile into Wembley Stadium to watch the Kangaroos take on England in the opening match of the Ashes series.
The English have built their team around a group of hard-nosed forwards who will never take a backwards step.
Australian fans have spent the past six months watching Morgan Smithies, Kai Pearce-Paul and John Bateman dominate the NRL. Morgan Knowles may not yet be a household name but he’s out to make a statement before he joins the Dolphins next year.
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Still the pinnacle: Yeo keen to start Ashes assault
On Saturday, the England forwards will look to take down a star-studded Kangaroos pack led by Isaah Yeo and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui. Angus Crichton, Hudson Young and Lindsay Collins will provide additional muscle for a match set to be decided by the battle up front.
Waiting in the wings are the Kiwis, fresh off a tense victory over Samoa last weekend.
Joe Tapine and James Fisher-Harris set the tone up front, supported by Isaiah Papali’i, Moses Leota and Briton Nikora.
Just a reminder, this isn’t fantasy football. This is international rugby league.
Having toppled the Samoans, New Zealand will get the chance to assert their status as the world’s best forward pack when they take on Tonga at a heaving Eden Park next weekend.
Pack mentality
Tonga
Addin Fonua-Blake
Siliva Havili
Stefano Utoikamanu
Siua Wong
Eliesa Katoa
Jason Taumalolo
Samoa
Josh Papalii
Jazz Tevaga
Payne Haas
Jeremiah Nanai
Simi Sasagi
Junior Paulo
Kangaroos
Pat Carrigan
Harry Grant
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Angus Crichton
Hudson Young
Isaah Yeo
Kiwis
James Fisher-Harris
Jeremy Marshall-King
Moses Leota
Briton Nikora
Isaiah Papali’i
Joe Tapine
England
Ethan Havard
Daryl Clark
Matty Lees
John Bateman
Morgan Smithies
Kai Pearce-Paul
(likely pack for Wembley)
So who has the best forward pack in the world? It’s time to have your say.