Samoa vs Cook Islands Tips, Predictions & Preview

Andrew Hendrie: Jun 25, 2022

Samoa are strong favourites to emerge victorious when they come up against a young Cook Islands team on Saturday in Campbelltown.

Samoa vs Cook Islands Tips, Prediction & Preview

Samoa vs Cook Islands free expert Rugby League tips, predictions and preview – One team has scored 44+ points in two of the three previous meetings between the nations…

Samoa vs Cook Islands H2H Prediction

Samoa vs Cook Islands Tips

Best May & Nofoaluma anytime tryscorer odds $1.75 with bet365

One team has scored 44+ points in two of the three previous meetings
The winning team has covered the -36.5 line in two of the three previous encounters
Taylan May has scored 14 tries in 13 games for the Panthers
David Nofoaluma has scored five tries in his last five games for the Tigers
Izack Tago has scored nine tries in 15 games for the Panthers
Under 58.5 points has landed in all three previous meetings

Samoa vs Cook Islands Same Game Multi Tips

Samoa vs Cook Islands Match Details

🌏 Competition: Rugby League International
🗓 Date: Saturday June 27
⏰ Time: 5.40pm AEST
🏟 Stadium: Campbelltown Stadium

Samoa vs Cook Islands Head to Head (last five matches)

17/10/09: Samoa 20-22 Cook Islands
4/10/06: Samoa 46-6 Cook Islands
2/3/06: Samoa 0-44 Cook Islands

Samoa vs Cook Islands Preview & Prediction

Samoa and Cook Islands will square off for the first time since the 2009 Pacific Cup qualifiers on Saturday night in Campbelltown, kicking off a double header of Test footy, with Papua New Guinea vs Fiji to follow.

Cook Islands produced a stunning 22-20 upset in that last meeting, but their chances of repeating that triumph here are slim to none.

Former Sharks and Roosters forward Tinirau Arona returns from England to lead an inexperienced and young Cook Islands side, while Esan Marsters at five-eighth might also be a recognisable name to NRL fans. However, apart from those two, there isn’t much NRL experience in the line-up.

By contrast, Samoa are fielding an extremely strong side bursting at the seams with NRL star power, including Panthers duo Taylan May and Izack Tago out wide, while Manly forwards Martin Taupau, Josh Schuster and Josh Aloiai lead the pack.

Anthony Milford and Chanel Harris-Tavita are the Samoan halves, while Tigers winger David Nofoaluma will be chasing tries out wide in the familiar surroundings of Campbelltown Stadium.

VERDICT:

Cook Islands may have won the last encounter between the nations, but it will be one of the biggest upsets in Test history if they do it again on Saturday night.

Samoa have the far superior team with every player competing consistently in the NRL. Expect Taylan May and David Nofoaluma to have a field day out wide as the Samoan side rack up a big score on their way to victory (Best May & Nofoaluma anytime tryscorer odds $1.75 with bet365.)

Samoa vs Cook Islands Teams

Samoa team: 1. Charlie Staines 2. Taylan May 3. Izack Tago 4. Jaxson Paulo 5. David Nofoaluma 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Anthony Milford 8. Martin Taupau 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Francis Molo 11. Josh Schuster 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Josh Aloiai 14. Fa’amanu Brown 15. Keenan Palasia 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Bunty Afoa 18. Mathew Feagai 19. Ronald Volkman 20. Toafofoa Sipley

Cook Islands team: 1. Kayal Iro 2. Steven Marsters 3. Anthony Gelling 4. Reubenn Rennie 5. Malachi Morgan 6. Esan Marsters 7. TBC 8. Vincent Rennie 9. Aaron Teroi 10. Xavier Willison 12. Pride Petterson-Robati 13. Tinirau Arona 14. Brody Tamarua 15. Moses Noovoa-McGreal 16. Makahesi Makatoa 17. Davvy Moale 18. Reuben Porter 19. Geoff Daniela 20. Andre Iro 21. Lucky Pokipoki

Samoa vs Cook Islands Stats

One team has scored 44+ points in two of the three previous meetings
The winning team has covered the -36.5 line in two of the three previous encounters
Taylan May has scored 14 tries in 13 games for the Panthers
David Nofoaluma has scored five tries in his last five games for the Tigers
Izack Tago has scored nine tries in 15 games for the Panthers
Under 58.5 points has landed in all three previous meetings