2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification (Asia-Pacific play-off)

The 2017 Rugby League World Cup Asia-Pacific qualification play-off was a rugby league match that was played on 17 October 2015 at Campbelltown Stadium in Australia. Tonga defeated the Cook Islands 28-8 to qualify for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

2017 (2017) RLWC qualification
(Asia-Pacific play-off)  ()
Tonga
 Cook Islands
28 8
12 Total
TON 1216 28
COK 80 8
Date17 October 2015
StadiumCampbelltown Stadium
LocationCampbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
Man of the Match Solomone Kata
Referees Gerard Sutton
Attendance4,813
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
  • NRL.com & asiapacificrl.com (Livestream)
Commentators

Overview

On 3 October 2014, the 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying competition was announced. Seven of the eight teams who made the knockout-stages of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup were announced as automatic qualifiers, which included New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and Fiji.[1]

In October 2015, Papua New Guinea was announced a co-host of the 2017 World Cup and granted automatic qualification.[2] It was confirmed that Tonga would take on the Cook Islands in a one-off game for the 2017 World Cup with the playing date later being confirmed as 17 October 2015.[3] The game was held at Campbelltown Stadium in Campbelltown, Australia.

Squads

Both teams picked preliminary train-on squads that had NRL and Super League experience.[4][5]

Tonga

The Tongan squad as of 24 September 2015 is as follows:

Club TeamPlayers
Burleigh Bears Nafe Seluini
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Danny Fualalo, Antonio Kaufusi
Catalans Dragons Michael Oldfield
Cronulla Sharks David Fifita, Malakai Houma, Saulala Houma, Pat Politoni, Anthony Tupou
Gold Coast Titans Leva Li
Huddersfield Giants Ukuma Ta'ai
Hull F.C. Mickey Paea
Leigh Centurions Fuifui Moimoi
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Tony Satini, Jorge Taufua, Siosaia Vave
New Zealand Warriors David Fusitu'a, Siliva Havili, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Sione Lousi, John Palavi, Albert Vete
Parramatta Eels John Folau, Peni Terepo, Vai Toutai
Penrith Panthers Daniel Foster, Leilani Latu, Sika Manu, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak
Redcliffe Dolphins Charlie Faingaa
St. Helens Atelea Vea
Sydney Roosters Willie Manu, Vaha Pulu
Wests Tigers Sitaleki Akauola, Asipeli Fine, Salesi Funaki, Delouise Hoeter, Joel Luani

Cook Islands

The Cook Islands squad as of 24 September 2015 is as follows:

Club TeamPlayers
Brisbane Broncos Francis Molo
Canberra Raiders Ezra Howe, Jordan Rapana
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Makahesi Makatoa
Cronulla Sharks Tinirau Arona
Halifax Adam Tangata
Melbourne Storm Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Aaron Teroi
Narellan Jets Drury Low
Parramatta Eels Eric Newbigging
Penrith Panthers Tupou Sopoaga
South Sydney Rabbitohs Wallace Tangiiti
Sydney Roosters Reuben Porter
Wentworthville Magpies Fred Pakutoa
West Belconnen Warriors John Papalii
Wests Tigers Esan Marsters, Chance Peni
Wigan Warriors Anthony Gelling

Qualifier

Tonga picked 4 débutantes, while the Cook Islands featured eleven. The Tongan team consisted of National Rugby League based players except for Mosese Pangai and Ukuma Ta’ai, who play in the Queensland Cup for the Townsville Blackhawks and the Super League for the Huddersfield Giants respectively.[6] The Cook Islands team consisted mainly of players who play at reserve grade or youth levels for their respective NRL clubs, only 4 players in the lineup have played first grade this season either in the NRL or in the Super League.[7] Tonga's most capped player is Ukuma Ta’ai who made his 8th appearance for his country, while the Cook Islands' most experienced players are Drury Low, Anthony Gelling and Johnathon Ford who all made their 6th appearance for their nation.

Penrith's Sika Manu captained Tonga, and Canberra's Jordan Rapana led the Cook Islands.

Match details
17 October 2015
Tonga  28 – 8  Cook Islands
Try: Tafua 13' c
Fonua 34' c
Kata (2) 63', 68' c
Terepo 74' c
Goal: Kata (4/5) 14', 35', 69', 75'		 Report Try: Nicoll-Klokstad 4'
Gelling 23'


Goal: Rapana (0/2)
Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown
Attendance: 4,813
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Man of the Match: Solomone Kata (Tonga)
FB1 Solomone Kata
RW2 Jorge Taufua
RC3 Mahe Fonua
LC4 Mosese Pangai
LW5 Delouise Hoeter
SO6 Pat Politoni
SH7 Daniel Foster
PR8 Albert Vete
HK9 Joel Luani
PR10 Peni Terepo
SR11 Sika Manu (c)
SR12 Manu Ma'u
LF13 Joe Ofahengaue
Substitutions:
IC14 Nafe Seluini
IC15 Ukuma Ta’ai
IC16 Ben Murdoch-Masila
IC18 David Fifita (came in as a late replacement for Leilani Latu)
Coach:
Kristian Woolf
FB1 Jordan Rapana
RW2 Drury Low
RC3 Anthony Gelling
LC4 Chance Peni
LW5 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
FE6 Johnathon Ford (c)
HB7 Wallace Tangiiti
PR8 Uiti Baker
HK9 Aaron Teroi
PR10 Sam Mataora
SR11 Esan Marsters
SR12 Makahesi Makatoa
LK13 Francis Molo
Substitutions:
IC14 Carne Doyle-Manga
IC15 Vincent Rennie
IC16 Vinny Ngaro
IC17 Fred Pakutoa
Coach:
Alex Chan

With the win, Tonga qualified for the 2017 World Cup.[8]

References
  1. QUALIFICATION DETAILS FOR 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP ANNOUNCED Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine, rlef.eu.com, 3 August 2014
  2. Papua New Guinea to co-host Rugby League World Cup, dailytelegraph.com.au, 8 October 2015
  3. Date set for Cook Islands-Tonga play-off for Rugby League World Cup spot, abc.net.au, 13 August 2015
  4. Tonga name preliminary train-on squad, nrl.com, 25 September 2015
  5. Cook Islands train-on squad named, nrl.com, 25 September 2015
  6. Tonga finalise squad for World Cup Qualifier, asiapacificrl.com, 9 October 2015
  7. Cook Islands finalise squad for World Cup Qualifier, asiapacificrl.com, 10 October 2015
  8. "Tonga qualify for 2017 World Cup". NRL.com. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
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