2015 Pacific Rugby League Tests

The 2015 Pacific Rugby League International was 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

Melanesian Cup

2015 (2015) Melanesian Cup  ()
12 Total
PNG 010 10
FIJ 184 22
Date2 May 2015
StadiumCbus Super Stadium
LocationRobina, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Man of the Match Marika Koroibete
Referees Matt Cecchin
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

On 24 December 2014 it was announced that Papua New Guinea would play Fiji and Samoa would play Tonga as part of a 2015 Pacific test double header. The 2015 Melanesian Cup was played between Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

With a half-time lead of 18 points, Fiji beat Papua New Guinea to win the Melanesian Cup title[1] by score of 22-10. Fiji's Marika Koroibete won the player of the match award, scoring 2 tries. Papua New Guinea has not won a test-match on away soil since the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.

Fiji picked 6 débutantes for the test match, while Papua New Guinea also featured six players making their first ever International appearance. Both teams had NRL, Queensland or New South Wales Cup, and domestic club players. Papua New Guinea's most experienced players were Nene MacDonald, Ray Thompson, and Tyson Martin making their 4th appearance, while Fiji's most experienced player was captain Jason Bukuya making his 10th appearance.

Papau New Guinea Hunters' Israel Eliab captained his team, and Cronulla's Jason Bukuya led Fiji.

Match details

2 May 2015
Papua New Guinea  10 – 22  Fiji
Try: Trnka 52'
S Albert 68' c
Goal: Damen (0/1)
Zeming (1/1) 69'
Video Try: Bukuya 20' c
Koroibete (2) 28' c, 34' c
Goodall 76'
Goal: Koroisau (3/3) 22', 29', 35'
Wiliame (0/1)
FB1 Josh Damen
WG2 Nene MacDonald
CE3 Thompson Teteh
CE4 Kato Ottio
WG5 Matt Trnka
FE6 Israel Eliab (c)
HB7 Noel Zeming
PR8 Stanton Albert
HK9 Ray Thompson
PR10 Wellington Albert
SR11Rhyse Martin
SR12 Tyson Martin
LL13 Luke Page
Substitutions:
BE14 Wartovo Puara
BE15 Willie Minoga
BE16 Brandy Peter
BE17 Adam Korave
Coach:
Mal Meninga
FB1 Kevin Naiqama
WG2 Marika Koroibete
CE3 Fabian Goodall
CE4 Brayden Wiliame
WG5 Eto Nabuli
FE6 Daryl Millard
HB7Ryan Millard
PR8Eloni Vunakece
HK9 Apisai Koroisau
PR16 Tikio Noke
SR11 Jayson Bukuya (c)
SR12 Jacob Saifiti
LK13 Korbin Sims
Substitutions:
BE10 Daniel Saifiti
BE14 Tyrone Phillips
BE15 Viliame Kikau
BE17 Osea Sadrau
Coach:
Rick Stone

Polynesian Cup

2015 (2015) Polynesian Cup  ()
12 Total
SAM 108 18
TON 412 16
Date2 May 2015
StadiumCbus Super Stadium
LocationRobina, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Man of the Match Sam Kasiano
Referees Ben Cummins
Attendance12,336
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

On 24 December 2014 it was announced that Papua New Guinea would play Fiji and Samoa would play Tonga in the 2015 Pacific test double header. The 2015 Polynesian Cup was played between Samoa and Tonga.

Samoa beat Tonga to win the Polynesian Cup title.[2] No more than a 6-point margin separated the teams throughout the game. In the 77th minute a try-saving tackle was made on Tonga's Jorge Tafua. He attempted to dive into the corner to score his hat-trick only to be knocked into touch with a hit by Samoan forward Sam Kasiano. The Samoans won the game, 18–16.

Samoa picked two débutantes for the test match, while Tonga featured four. Both teams' players were National Rugby League-based players except for Samoa's Michael Sio, who plays for Queensland Cup team Mackay Cutters. Samoa's most capped player was Daniel Vidot who made his 10th appearance, while Tonga's most experienced player was Richard Fa'aoso who also made his 10th appearance.

Match details

2 May 2015
Samoa  18 – 16  Tonga
Try: McGuire 24' c
Vidot 37'
Pritchard 56'
Peyroux 70'
Goal: Simona (1/4) 26'
Video Try: Tafua (2) 28', 48'
S Manu 52' c
Goal: Langi (0/2)
Kata (2/2) 53', 65'
Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Attendance: 12,336
Referee: Ben Cummins
Man of the Match: Sam Kasiano (Samoa)
FB1 Tautau Moga
WG2 Pat Mata'utia
CE3 Joseph Leilua
CE4 Ricky Leutele
WG5 Daniel Vidot
FE6 Carlos Tuimavave
HB7 Tim Simona
PR8 Sam Kasiano
HK9 Josh McGuire
PR10 Sauaso Sue
SR11 Leeson Ah Mau
SR12 Frank Pritchard (c)
LK13 Isaac Liu
Substitutions:
BE15 Dunamis Lui
BE16 Sam Lisone
BE17 Dominique Peyroux
BE18 Michael Sio
Coach:
Matt Parish
FB1 Tuimoala Lolohea
WG2 Jorge Taufua
CE3 Konrad Hurrell
CE5 Mahe Fonua
WG14 Sosaia Feki
FE6 Samisoni Langi
HB4 Solomone Kata
PR8 Richard Fa'aoso
HK9 Pat Politoni
PR10 Peni Terepo
SR11 Sika Manu (c)
SR12 Manu Ma'u
LK13 Sio Siua Taukeiaho
Substitutions:
BE7 Joel Luani
BE15 Ben Murdoch-Masila
BE16 Felise Kaufusi
BE17 Albert Vete
Coach:
Kristian Woolf

ANZAC Test

The 2015 Anzac Test was a rugby league test match played between Australia and New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. It was the 16th Anzac Test played between the two nations under the Super League banner since 1997. Both sides were announced on 26 April.[3][4] The game was originally scheduled to take place on 1 May, but it was postponed due to weather[5] until May 3rd.


Aftermath

On October 17, Tonga had a one-off battle with the Cook Islands in the Asia-Pacific qualifying playoff for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. The Tongans only led by 4 at the break before running away in the second half scoring 3 tries in the last 20 minutes of the game.

Before the game Tongan coach, Kristian Woolf, noted how players eligible for second-tier nations such as Tonga and Samoa were punished if they pursued an opportunity with an Australian or New Zealand Test or Origin squad. He made the complaint after Tongan internationals Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Tuimoala Lolohea played for the Kiwis in their end-of-year test series against England. Now, Tonga can't pick these two players until a 2-year period has passed. Woolf said "Some flexibility in those rules would certainly help in terms of helping your tier two nations becoming more competitive with your first-tier nations."[6]

Other matches

3 October 2015
Niue  44 22  Cook Islands
Report
17 October 2015
20:00
Tonga  28–8  Cook Islands
Report
Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 4,813

References

  1. "Koroibete delights in Fiji win over PNG". Nrl.com. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  2. "Tonga torpedoed by flying Kasiano". Nrl.com. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  3. "Kangaroos side to face Kiwis named". NRL.com. 26 April 2015.
  4. "Kiwis name Test squads". NRL.com. 26 April 2015.
  5. "Anzac Test postponed". NRL.com. 1 May 2015.
  6. "Pacific rising: Call to loosen eligibility". nrl.com. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
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