International rugby league in 2015 explained

International rugby league in 2015
Last:2014
Next:2016

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

Year:2015
Melanesian Cup
Home:PNG
Away:Fiji
Home Abbr:PNG
Away Abbr:FIJ
Home Half1:0
Home Half2:10
Home Total:10
Away Half1:18
Away Half2:4
Away Total:22
Date:2 May 2015
Stadium:Cbus Super Stadium
Mom Title:Man of the Match
Mom: Marika Koroibete
Referee: Matt Cecchin
Network:Fox Sports Australia
Commentators:Joel Caine
Braith Anasta
Andy Raymond

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.

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

Match details

FB 1Josh Damen
WG 2Nene MacDonald
CE 3Thompson Teteh
CE 4Kato Ottio
WG 5Matt Trnka
FE 6Israel Eliab (c)
HB 7Noel Zeming
PR 8Stanton Albert
HK 9
PR 10Wellington Albert
SR 11Rhyse Martin
SR 12Tyson Martin
LL 13Luke Page
Substitutions:
BE 14Wartovo Puara
BE 15Willie Minoga
BE 16Brandy Peter
BE 17Adam Korave
Coach:
Mal Meninga
FB 1Kevin Naiqama
WG 2Marika Koroibete
CE 3Fabian Goodall
CE 4Brayden Wiliame
WG 5Eto Nabuli
FE 6Daryl Millard
HB 7Ryan Millard
PR 8Eloni Vunakece
HK 9
PR 16Tikiko Noke
SR 11Jayson Bukuya (c)
SR 12Jacob Saifiti
LK 13Korbin Sims
Substitutions:
BE 10Daniel Saifiti
BE 14Tyrone Phillips
BE 15Viliame Kikau
BE 17Osea Sadrau
Coach:
Rick Stone
----

Polynesian Cup

Year:2015
Polynesian Cup
Home:Samoa
Away:Tonga
Home Abbr:SAM
Away Abbr:TON
Home Half1:10
Home Half2:8
Home Total:18
Away Half1:4
Away Half2:12
Away Total:16
Date:2 May 2015
Stadium:Cbus Super Stadium
Mom Title:Man of the Match
Mom: Sam Kasiano
Referee: Ben Cummins
Attendance:12,336
Network:Fox Sports Australia
Commentators:Andrew Voss
Greg Alexander
Andy Raymond

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

FB 1Tautau Moga
WG 2Pat Mata'utia
CE 3Joseph Leilua
CE 4Ricky Leutele
WG 5Daniel Vidot
FE 6Carlos Tuimavave
HB 7Tim Simona
PR 8Sam Kasiano
HK 9
PR 10Sauaso Sue
SR 11
SR 12Frank Pritchard (c)
LK 13Isaac Liu
Substitutions:
BE 15Dunamis Lui
BE 16Sam Lisone
BE 17Dominique Peyroux
BE 18Michael Sio
Coach:
Matt Parish
FB 1Tuimoala Lolohea
WG 2Jorge Taufua
CE 3
CE 5Mahe Fonua
WG 14
FE 6Samisoni Langi
HB 4Solomone Kata
PR 8Richard Fa'aoso
HK 9
PR 10Peni Terepo
SR 11Sika Manu (c)
SR 12Manu Ma'u
LK 13Sio Siua Taukeiaho
Substitutions:
BE 7Joel Luani
BE 15Ben Murdoch-Masila
BE 16Felise Kaufusi
BE 17Albert Vete
Coach:
Kristian Woolf
----

ANZAC Test

See main article: article and 2015 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 3.----

2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification – Asia-Pacific play-off

See main article: article and 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification – Asia-Pacific play-off. 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

Notes and References

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