2009 Pacific Cup
The 2009 Pacific Cup, known as the 2009 SP Brewery Pacific Cup due to sponsorship,[1] was a rugby league competition held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.[2] The competing teams were the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga.[2]
| 2009 Pacific Cup | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Number of teams | 5 |
| Host country |  Papua New Guinea |
| Winner | Papua New Guinea |
| Matches played | 5 |
| Attendance | 29,494 (5,899 per match) |
| Points scored | 156 (31.2 per match) |
| Tries scored | 28 (5.6 per match) |
| Top scorer | John Wilshere (22) |
| Top try scorer | David Mead (5) |
Tonga, Fiji and PNG had their places in the draw confirmed initially,[2] with the Cook Islands defeating Samoa in a Pacific Cup qualifier in Cairns on 17 October 2009 to decide which team took the final place in the tournament.[2]
The four Pacific Cup matches were played at Lloyd Robson Oval on 24–25 October and 31 October.[2] The Pacific Cup final was played on 1 November 2009 between Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands.[2] By winning the 2009 Pacific Cup, Papua New Guinea won the right to compete in the 2010 Four Nations tournament.
Brian Canavan was appointed as tournament director by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).[2]
Matches
Qualifying
17 October 2009 19:30 |
Cook Islands  |
22 – 20 |  Samoa |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Makimare (2), Fepuleai, Ngaro Goal: Takairangi (3) |
Report | Try: Ah Van (2), Hansen, Taulapapa Goal: Mata'utia (2) |
Semifinals
24 October 2009 |
| Cook Islands |
24 – 22 |  Fiji |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Fepuleai (2), Peyroux (2), Ngaro Goal: Fepuleai (2) |
Report | Try: Uate (2), Ratu, Waqa Goal: W. Naiqama (3) |
Third place Playoff
31 October 2009 |
| Fiji |
26 – 16 |  Tonga |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Ravueta (2), Uate (2), Divavesi Goal: W. Naiqama (3) |
Report | Try: Faʻaoso (2), Taufaʻao Goal: Maile, Paea |
Final
1 November 2009 |
| Papua New Guinea |
42 – 14 | Cook Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Mead (3), Kambo, Yere, Kui Goal: Wilshere (5) |
Report | Try: Fepuleai, Lulia, Peyroux Goal: Taia |
Telecast Details
The Pacific Cup was shown in the UK, Australia, and throughout the Pacific.[3]
- In Australia all matches were broadcast by NRL.com while the Nine Network showed a one-hour highlight package each weekend.
- In Britain matches were broadcast on BSkyB.
- FM100 radio broadcast to Papua New Guinea and the Pacific.
- In Papua New Guinea EM TV broadcast terrestrially to more than half of the population.
- Fiji TV broadcast the games in Fiji on its free to air service Fiji One and on its Sky Pacific platform to the rest of the Pacific Region.
Squads
Mate Ma'a Tonga
Tonga played a Pacific Cup warm up match against New Zealand. New Zealand defeated Tonga 40-24 in what was a strong performance by the Tongans as they prepared for their Pacific Cup opener against Papua New Guinea.[4]
- Coach: Rohan Smith[5][6]
Cook Islands
Coach: David Fairleigh (Parramatta Eels)[7]
- Alex Glenn was originally named but withdrew after a groin injury required surgery.[8]
Toa Samoa
Coach: Willie Poching (Leeds Rhinos)[9]
Papua New Guinea Kumuls
Coach: Adrian Lam (Sydney Roosters)[10][11]
Fiji Bati
| Club Team | Players |
|---|---|
| Police Sharks | Osea Sadrau, Jone Wesele |
| Lautoka Crushers | Iowane Divavesi |
| Southern Districts Rebels | Puna Rasaubale |
| Cabramatta Two Blues | Donas Gock |
| Moore Park Brumbies | Hamilton Hughes |
| Wentworthville Magpies | Lepani Waqa |
| Nadera Panthers | Sevanaia Koroi, Sitiveni Ralogaivau, Asaeli Saravaki |
| Newtown Jets | Ryan Millard |
| Newcastle Knights | Wes Naiqama, Kevin Naiqama, Akuila Uate |
| New Zealand Warriors | Meli Koliavu |
| Leeds Rhinos | Mike Ratu |
| Coral Coast Cowboys | Jone Macilai, Joe Ravueta, Alipate Tani, Kaliova Tani |
References
- SP Brewery to sponsor Pacific Cup Archived 27 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine, NRL.com
- ARL (Press Release) (28 July 2009). "Pacific Cup announced". Australian Rugby League. Archived from the original on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- Catch the Pacific Cup live on NRL.com Archived 17 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine NRL.com, 14 October 2009
- Kiwis withstand Tongan onslaught TVNZ, 14 October 2009
- Mateo to headline Tonga's act in Test Archived 11 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine NRL.com, 8 October 2009
- Mateo to lead Tonga into Pacific Cup Archived 1 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine NRL.com, 13 October 2009
- Roosters gain international stripes Archived 17 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine sydneyroosters.com.au, 7 October 2009
- Glenn out of Cook Islands squad Archived 27 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine NRL.com, 15 October 2009
- Poching names strong Samoan squad Archived 10 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine therhinos.co.uk, 6 October 2009
- Kumuls named The National, 12 October 2009
- PNG and Fiji finalise squads for Pacific Cup Archived 27 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine NRL.com, 19 October 2009
- 2009 Pacific Cup: Squads Archived 27 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine NRL.com, 10 October 2009