2019 Oceania Cup (rugby league)

The 2019 Oceania Cup was the inaugural edition of the Oceania Cup. Contested by six teams, the competition began in June and concluded in November.

For the field hockey tournament of the same name, see 2019 Oceania Cup (field hockey).
2019 (2019) Oceania Cup  ()
Number of teams6
Host countries Australia
 New Zealand
Winner Australia (Cup)
 Fiji (Shield)
Matches played6
Attendance84,268 (14,045 per match)
Points scored240 (40 per match)
Tries scored43 (7.17 per match)
Top scorer Brandon Wakeham (16)
Top try scorer Viliame Kikau (3)
2020 > 

The competition was announced at the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) congress in November 2018.[1] The draw was released in March and breaks the six teams into two separate pools with promotion and relegation to exist in what is to become an annual tournament. Group A will comprise the top three ranked Pacific nations in Australia, New Zealand and Tonga while Group B will comprise Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.[2][3]

The winner of Pool A will win the Oceania Cup while the winner of Pool B will win the Oceania Shield and be promoted to Pool A in the next edition in place of Australia, who were due to travel to Europe for their first Kangaroos tour since 2003.[4]

Venues

The games were played at the following venues in New Zealand and Australia.

Auckland Auckland Wollongong
Eden Park Mt Smart Stadium WIN Stadium
Capacity: 50,000 Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 23,000
Sydney Christchurch
Leichhardt Oval Rugby League Park
Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 18,000

Results

Group A - Cup
Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts
 Australia 21013820+182
 New Zealand 21013840−22
 Tonga 21013046−162
22 June 2019
17:40 NZST (UTC+12)
New Zealand  34 – 14  Tonga
Try: Johnson (2), Hughes, Manu, Smith, Tuivasa-Sheck
Goal: Marsters (5/6)
 report Try: Kata, Taukeiaho, Tupou
Goal: Taukeiaho (1/2), Staggs (0/1)

Notes:

25 October 2019
20:10 AEDT (UTC+11)
Australia  26 – 4  New Zealand
Try: Addo-Carr, Cook, Frizell, Tedesco
Goal: Mitchell (4/5), Cherry-Evans (1/1)
 Report Try: Nicoll-Klokstad
Goal: Johnson (0/1)

Notes:

2 November 2019
19:40 NZDT (UTC+13)
Tonga Invitational  16 – 12  Australia
Try: Hopoate, Jennings, Pangai Junior
Goal: Staggs (2/4)
 Report Try: Wighton, Vaughan
Goal: Mitchell (2/2)
Eden Park, Auckland[5]
Attendance: 25,257
Referee: Gerard Sutton (Australia)

Notes:

  • Cameron Murray (Australia) made his Test debut.
  • Though with an invitational side, this is Tonga’s first win over Australia.

Group B - Shield
Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts
 Fiji 22006638+284
 Samoa 21014250−82
 Papua New Guinea 20022646−200
22 June 2019
19:55 AEST (UTC+10)
Papua New Guinea  6 – 24  Samoa
Try: Wapi
Goal: Martin (1/1)
 report Try: Aloiai, Harris-Tavita, Luai, Paulo
Goal: Isaako (4/4)

Notes:

2 November 2019
14:20 NZDT (UTC+13)
Samoa  18 – 44  Fiji
Try: Taufua (2), Lafai, Mulitalo
Goal: Lafai (1/4)
 Report Try: Kikau (2), Miller, Lovodua, Lumelume, Naiqama, Ratuvakacereivalu, Wiliame
Goal: Wakeham (5/6), Moceidreke (1/2)
Eden Park, Auckland[11]
Attendance: 25,257
Referee: Grant Atkins (Australia)

Notes:

9 November 2019
17:20 NZDT (UTC+13)
Fiji  22 – 20  Papua New Guinea
Try: Kamikamica, Kikau, Nakubuwai, Wiliame
Goal: Wakeham (3/4)
 Try: Boas, Gebbie, Martin
Goal: Martin (4/4)
Rugby League Park, Christchurch[12]
Attendance: 8,875
Referee: Chris Kendall (England)

Notes:

  • Daniel Russell (Papua New Guinea) made his Test debut, while Alex Johnston made his debut for Papua New Guinea having previously represented Australia.

See also

References
  1. "Kiwis will contest Oceania Cup in 2019 with Lions tour set for southern hemisphere". Stuff.co.nz. 11 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  2. "Great Britain lions tour & Oceania Cup". Rugby League International Federation. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  3. "Oceania cup confirmed". Rugby League International Federation. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  4. "Wayne Bennett to coach Great Britain in lions tour of southern hemisphere". National Rugby League. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  5. Walter, Brad (5 March 2019). "Kangaroos to play Tonga in triple-header as Oceania Cup launched". NRL.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  6. "Kiwi Ferns to face Fetu Samoa in Women's Test as part of double-header". NZRL. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  7. "Match officials for RLWC2021 Qualifier and RLIF Oceania Cup fixtures". RLIF. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  8. "Trans Tasman Test Match announced for Woolongong". RLIF. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  9. Walter, Brad (5 March 2019). "Kangaroos to play Tonga in triple-header as Oceania Cup launched". NRL.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  10. "2019 Ox & Palm Pacific Test Invitational venue and teams confirmed". NRL.com. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  11. Walter, Brad (5 March 2019). "Kangaroos to play Tonga in triple-header as Oceania Cup launched". NRL.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  12. Walter, Brad (5 March 2019). "Kangaroos to play Tonga in triple-header as Oceania Cup launched". NRL.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
External video
New Zealand v Tonga 2019 Oceania Cup on YouTube
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