Tonga’s Tala is preparing for a tough challenge at the upcoming PacificAUS Netball Series in Brisbane, despite having won four consecutive titles.
The competition, set for February 17-22 at Nissan Arena, will see Tonga face strong opposition from Pacific teams, including Australia’s First Nations side, Fiji, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea.
Head coach Jaqua Pori Makea-Simpson said the team expects fierce competition as their rivals continue to improve.
“The Australian First Nation side are back for their second year. They’re our first match-up, and they were really tough for us to play against last year,” Makea-Simpson said.
“Fiji have been getting closer and closer every single time we’ve played. And Samoa have recruited really well. The last time we faced Papua New Guinea was at the Pacific Games in 2023, and the gap between us and other nations is starting to close.”
She emphasized the challenge of playing matches back-to-back but said the team is ready for the test.
“We want to play the best netball we can and reclaim our title,” she said. “The ultimate goal is that fifth title, but we have a lot of work to do before we get to that grand final day.”