2016 Pacific Rugby League Tests

The 2016 Pacific Rugby League International was again split into two games. The first was the Melanesian Cup between Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The second was the Polynesian Cup between Samoa and Tonga.

Results

ANZAC Test

The 2016 Anzac Test was a rugby league test match played between Australia and New Zealand at Hunter Stadium in Newcastle.[1] It was the 17th Anzac Test played between the two nations since the first was played under the Super League banner in 1997.

The game marked the international coaching debut of Mal Meninga for Australia since taking over the position from Tim Sheens in late 2015. Meninga, a 4 time Kangaroo Tourist (the only player ever to do so), a World Cup winning captain and a veteran of 46 tests for Australia between 1982–94, has previously coached Queensland to 9 State of Origin series wins in 10 years (including a record 8 series wins in succession from 2006-2013) in the years prior to taking over as Kangaroos coach.

This was the first of two matches between Australia and New Zealand before the 2016 Rugby League Four Nations in late October and November. The second match will be played at the nib Stadium in Perth, Western Australia on 15 October.

Meninga broke tradition and named the Australian team a few days early, which included 4 debutants; Blake Ferguson, Josh McGuire, Michael Morgan and Fijian-born Semi Radradra.[2]

The New Zealand team was named on 1 May.[3]


Melanesian Cup

2016 (2016) Melanesian Cup  ()
12 Total
PNG 816 24
FIJ 166 22
Date7 May 2016
StadiumPirtek Stadium
LocationParramatta, New South Wales, Australia
Man of the Match David Mead
Referees Robert Hicks
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

The 2016 Melanesian Cup was played between Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

Papua New Guinea created history to win their first Melanesian Cup title.[4] The test looked in a similar situation to last year when Fiji took a comfortable lead into the break but this time around Papua New Guinea scored enough points in the second half to outscore their pacific rivals and win their first major title since the 2009 Pacific Cup. Captain David Mead shone for the Kumuls as he made try-saving tackles, assists and even line breaks in a man-of-the-match performance which was a crucial influence to earning his country's first win on away soil since the year 2000.

Fiji picked 7 débutantes for the test match, while PNG featured five players making their first ever International appearance for their country. Both teams had a fair share of NRL, Queensland or New South Wales Cup, as well as domestic club players. Papua New Guinea's most capped player was Rod Griffin who made his 10th appearance for his country, while Fiji's most experienced player was Akuila Uate who made his 12th appearance for his country.

Gold Coast's David Mead captained Papua New Guinea, and Port Kembla Blacks' James Storer led Fiji.

Match details

7 May 2016
Papua New Guinea  24 – 22  Fiji
Try: W Boas (2) 5' c, 52'
Ottio 42' c
McDonald 71' c
Goal: A Boas (4/5) 6', 8', 44', 72'
Sin Bin: Olam 37' to 47'
Video Try: Vunakece 16' c
Qionimacawa (3) 29', 37', 75' c
Goal: Kennedy (1/1) 17'
Moceidreke (2/4) 22', 76'
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta
Referee: Robert Hicks
Man of the Match: David Mead (Papua New Guinea)
FB1 David Mead (c)
WG2 Justin Olam
CE3 Kato Ottio
CE4 Nene McDonald
WG5 Stargroth Amean
FE6 Ase Boas
HB7 Watson Boas
PR8 Luke Page
HK9 Wartovo Puara
PR10 Henry Wan
SR11 Timothy Lomai
SR12 Rod Griffin
LK13 Adam Korave
Substitutions:
BE14 Adex Wera
BE15 Brandy Peter
BE16 Willie Minoga
BE17 Kurt Baptiste
Coach:
Michael Marum
FB1 Tyrone Phillips
WG2 Akuila Uate
CE3 Sisa Waqa
CE4 Brayden Wiliame
WG5 Etuate Qionimacawa
FE6 Sitiveni Moceidreke
HB7 Maurice Kennedy
PR8 Kane Evans
HK9 James Storer (c)
PR10 Daniel Saifiti
SR11 Junior Roqica
SR12 Fabian Goodall
LK13 Eloni Vunakece
Substitutions:
BE14 Ben Nakubuwai
BE15 Tui Kamikamica
BE16 Tevita Cottrell
BE17 Jokatama Dokonivalu
Coach:
Mick Potter

Polynesian Cup

2016 (2016) Polynesian Cup  ()
12 Total
SAM 810 18
TON 60 6
Date7 May 2016
StadiumPirtek Stadium
LocationParramatta, New South Wales, Australia
Man of the Match Fa'amanu Brown
Referees Ben Cummins
Attendance15,225
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

The 2016 Polynesian Cup was played between Samoa and Tonga.

Samoa defeated Tonga to win their second consecutive Polynesian Cup title.[5] The strong crowd would always show their passion and loud screaming support throughout the game after big hits, strong runs and intense moments were key talking points. However a total of 29 errors and a completion rate of just over 50% from both countries was a headache for everyone to watch. Despite Tonga having 55% possession and more territory, they didn't score and the Samoans made them pay by taking their few second-half opportunities that were given to them resulting in another Samoan victory over their old 'War rivals'.

Samoa picked 7 débutantes for the test match, while Tonga featured three. Both teams' players varied from National Rugby League players to Queensland or New South Wales Cup to Holden Cup and to the Super League. Samoa's most capped player was Leeson Ah Mau who made his 10th appearance for his country, while Tonga's most experienced player was Feleti Mateo who made his 13th appearance for his country.

English Super League club Hull F.C. gave permission for two players to leave England and play in the Polynesian Cup test; coincidentally they were captain of both nations. Frank Pritchard captained Samoa, and Sika Manu led Tonga.[6]

Match details

7 May 2016
Samoa  18 – 6  Tonga
Try: Winterstein 15' c
Leutele 55' c
Wright 75'
Goal: Brown (3/4) 16', 40', 56'
Video Try: Pangai 4' c
Goal: Kata (1/1) 5'
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta
Attendance: 15,225
Referee: Ben Cummins
Man of the Match: Fa'amanu Brown (Samoa)
FB1 Tim Simona
WG2 Antonio Winterstein
CE3 Kirisome Auva'a
CE4 Ricky Leutele
WG5 Matthew Wright
FE6 Fa'amanu Brown
HB7 Pita Godinet
PR8 Sam Kasiano
HK9 Kaysa Pritchard
PR10 Junior Paulo
SR11 Leeson Ah Mau
SR12 Frank Pritchard (c)
LK13 Sauaso Sue
Substitutions:
BE14 Erin Clark
BE15 John Asiata
BE16 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
BE17 Sam Tagataese
Coach:
Matt Parish
FB1 David Fusitua
WG2 Mosese Pangai
CE3 Solomone Kata
CE4 Vai Toutai
WG5 Michael Oldfield
FE6 Feleti Mateo
HB7 Samisoni Langi
PR8 Peni Terepo
HK9 Sione Katoa
PR10 Felise Kaufusi
SR11 Sika Manu (c)
SR12 Tony Williams
LK13 Joe Ofahengaue
Substitutions:
BE14 Nafe Seluini
BE15 David Fifita
BE16 Siosaia Vave
BE17 Patrick Kaufusi
Coach:
Kristian Woolf

Cook Islands vs Lebanon

Another Pacific Island nation that does not compete in these matches, Cook Islands, organised a test match with Lebanon at Belmore Sports Ground on May 8.[7]

8 May 2016
Lebanon  20 30  Cook Islands
Try:
el Zbadieh 2
Barakat 1
Kassis 1
Goals:
Miskie 2/5
Report Try:
Peni 2
Makatoa 1
Glassie 1
Ngaro 1
Goals:
Tangiiti 5/6

October Games

Samoa vs Fiji

A couple of hours before the Pacific test-matches began, discussions were made and confirmed between the RLIF Deputy Chairman, John Grant, alongside Rugby League Samoa Chairman/Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation Chairman, Tagaloa Faafouina Su'a, and the Fiji Rugby League Chairman, Filimoni Vosarogo, that Samoa's city of Apia will host a test-match between Samoa and Fiji on October 8, 2016. This test-match will mark 30 years of Rugby league in Samoa.[8][9]


Australia vs New Zealand

15 October 2016
7:00pm (AWST)
Australia  26-6  New Zealand

Vanuatu vs Solomon Islands

15 October 2016
Vanuatu  24-15  Solomon Islands

References

  1. "Representative Round: Newcastle to host Test". NRL.com. 25 January 2016.
  2. "Kangaroos team named to face NZ". NRL.com. 26 April 2016.
  3. "League: New caps, new Kiwis captain for Anzac test". The New Zealand Herald.
  4. "PNG stuns Fiji in a thriller". nrl.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  5. "Samoa holds on in pulsating Pacific Test". nrl.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  6. "Hull FC: Frank Pritchard and Sika Manu to return to Australia and miss Challenge Cup game". Hull Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  7. "Belmore to host Cook Islands v Lebanon clash". asiapacificrl.com. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  8. "Samoa to host Fiji in historic Test". nrl.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  9. "ARLC chairman John Grant expects NRL clubs to support historic Test in Samoa". smh.com.au. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  10. "Perth to host October Test match". NRL.com. 6 June 2016.
  11. "Vanuatu set to host Solomon Islands in October". ASIA PACIFIC RUGBY LEAGUE CONFEDERATION. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
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