International rugby league is just around the corner, with all Pacific teams involved in one way or another.
Tonga will travel to England for a three-Test series in the crown jewel of this year's rugby league calendar, while two sets of tri-series will be played in the Southern Hemisphere.
The first features Australia, New Zealand and Samoa, while the other is to feature Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands.
On the women's side, all of those teams will be involved in matches.
Noting that the English men's squad for their series against Tonga is yet to be named, here is who has been picked across the teams from each team.
Newcastle Knights
The Knights have only four representatives across the seven men's team, but have seven players across the Australian and New Zealand women's sides.
Men's
Australia: Nil
New Zealand: Fa'amanu Brown
Samoa: Greg Marzhew
Papua New Guinea: Nil
Fiji: Noah Nailagoliva
Cook Islands: Nil
Tonga: Tyson Frizell
Women's
Australia: Yasmin Clydsdale, Caitlan Johnston, Tamika Upton
New Zealand: Abigail Roache, Laishon Albert-Jones, Shanice Parker, Tiana Davison
Samoa: Tamerah Leati
Papua New Guinea: Nil
Fiji: Nil
Cook Islands: Nil
Tonga: Nil
I’m really surprised at the Warriors’ figures.
I suppose I had the impression that Auckland was the natural home of Pacifica players, and that most started there before moving to other NRL clubs. It seems that is not the case.