2016 Pacific Rugby League Tests

This article includes a list of general references, but it remains largely unverified because it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

The 2016 Pacific Rugby League International was again 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[]

ANZAC Test[]

The 2016 Anzac Test was a rugby league test match played between Australia and New Zealand at Hunter Stadium in Newcastle.^[1] It was the 17th Anzac Test played between the two nations since the first was played under the Super League banner in 1997.

The game marked the international coaching debut of Mal Meninga for Australia since taking over the position from Tim Sheens in late 2015. Meninga, a 4 time Kangaroo Tourist (the only player ever to do so), a World Cup winning captain and a veteran of 46 tests for Australia between 1982–94, has previously coached Queensland to 9 State of Origin series wins in 10 years (including a record 8 series wins in succession from 2006-2013) in the years prior to taking over as Kangaroos coach.

This was the first of two matches between Australia and New Zealand before the 2016 Rugby League Four Nations in late October and November. The second match will be played at the nib Stadium in Perth, Western Australia on 15 October.

Meninga broke tradition and named the Australian team a few days early, which included 4 debutants; Blake Ferguson, Josh McGuire, Michael Morgan and Fijian-born Semi Radradra.^[2]

The New Zealand team was named on 1 May.^[3]

Melanesian Cup[]

2016 (2016) Melanesian Cup  ()
PNG Fiji 24 22
1 2 Total PNG 8 16 24 FIJ 16 6 22
Date	7 May 2016
Stadium	Pirtek Stadium
Location	Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
Man of the Match	David Mead
Referees	Robert Hicks
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	Fox Sports Australia
Commentators	Braith Anasta Andy Raymond

The 2016 Melanesian Cup was played between Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

Papua New Guinea created history to win their first Melanesian Cup title.^[4] The test looked in a similar situation to last year when Fiji took a comfortable lead into the break but this time around Papua New Guinea scored enough points in the second half to outscore their pacific rivals and win their first major title since the 2009 Pacific Cup. Captain David Mead shone for the Kumuls as he made try-saving tackles, assists and even line breaks in a man-of-the-match performance which was a crucial influence to earning his country's first win on away soil since the year 2000.

Fiji picked 7 débutantes for the test match, while PNG featured five players making their first ever International appearance for their country. Both teams had a fair share of NRL, Queensland or New South Wales Cup, as well as domestic club players. Papua New Guinea's most capped player was Rod Griffin who made his 10th appearance for his country, while Fiji's most experienced player was Akuila Uate who made his 12th appearance for his country.

Gold Coast's David Mead captained Papua New Guinea, and Port Kembla Blacks' James Storer led Fiji.

Match details[]

7 May 2016

Papua New Guinea	24 – 22	Fiji
Try: W Boas (2) 5' c, 52' Ottio 42' c McDonald 71' c Goal: A Boas (4/5) 6', 8', 44', 72' Sin Bin: Olam 37' to 47'	Video	Try: Vunakece 16' c Qionimacawa (3) 29', 37', 75' c Goal: Kennedy (1/1) 17' Moceidreke (2/4) 22', 76'

Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta Referee: Man of the Match: David Mead (Papua New Guinea)

FB 1 David Mead (c) WG 2 Justin Olam CE 3 Kato Ottio CE 4 Nene McDonald WG 5 Stargroth Amean FE 6 Ase Boas HB 7 Watson Boas PR 8 Luke Page HK 9 Wartovo Puara PR 10 Henry Wan SR 11 Timothy Lomai SR 12 Rod Griffin LK 13 Adam Korave Substitutions: BE 14 Adex Wera BE 15 Brandy Peter BE 16 Willie Minoga BE 17 Kurt Baptiste Coach: Michael Marum

FB 1 Tyrone Phillips WG 2 Akuila Uate CE 3 Sisa Waqa CE 4 Brayden Wiliame WG 5 Etuate Qionimacawa FE 6 Sitiveni Moceidreke HB 7 Maurice Kennedy PR 8 Kane Evans HK 9 James Storer (c) PR 10 Daniel Saifiti SR 11 Junior Roqica SR 12 Fabian Goodall LK 13 Eloni Vunakece Substitutions: BE 14 Ben Nakubuwai BE 15 Tui Kamikamica BE 16 BE 17 Coach: Mick Potter

Polynesian Cup[]

2016 (2016) Polynesian Cup  ()
Samoa Tonga 18 6
1 2 Total SAM 8 10 18 TON 6 0 6
Date	7 May 2016
Stadium	Pirtek Stadium
Location	Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
Man of the Match	Fa'amanu Brown
Referees	Ben Cummins
Attendance	15,225
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	Fox Sports Australia
Commentators	Andrew Voss Jimmy Smith Andy Raymond

The 2016 Polynesian Cup was played between Samoa and Tonga.

Samoa defeated Tonga to win their second consecutive Polynesian Cup title.^[5] The strong crowd would always show their passion and loud screaming support throughout the game after big hits, strong runs and intense moments were key talking points.^{[citation needed]} However a total of 29 errors and a completion rate of just over 50% from both countries was a headache for everyone to watch.^{[citation needed]} Despite Tonga having 55% possession and more territory, they didn't score and the Samoans made them pay by taking their few second-half opportunities that were given to them resulting in another Samoan victory over their old 'War rivals'.

Samoa picked 7 débutantes for the test match, while Tonga featured three. Both teams' players varied from National Rugby League players to Queensland or New South Wales Cup to Holden Cup and to the Super League. Samoa's most capped player was Leeson Ah Mau who made his 10th appearance for his country, while Tonga's most experienced player was Feleti Mateo who made his 13th appearance for his country.

English Super League club Hull F.C. gave permission for two players to leave England and play in the Polynesian Cup test; coincidentally they were captain of both nations. Frank Pritchard captained Samoa, and Sika Manu led Tonga.^[6]

Match details[]

7 May 2016

Samoa	18 – 6	Tonga
Try: Winterstein 15' c Leutele 55' c Wright 75' Goal: Brown (3/4) 16', 40', 56'	Video	Try: Pangai 4' c Goal: Kata (1/1) 5'

Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta Attendance: 15,225 Referee: Ben Cummins Man of the Match: Fa'amanu Brown (Samoa)

FB 1 Tim Simona WG 2 Antonio Winterstein CE 3 Kirisome Auva'a CE 4 Ricky Leutele WG 5 Matthew Wright FE 6 Fa'amanu Brown HB 7 Pita Godinet PR 8 Sam Kasiano HK 9 Kaysa Pritchard PR 10 Junior Paulo SR 11 Leeson Ah Mau SR 12 Frank Pritchard (c) LK 13 Sauaso Sue Substitutions: BE 14 Erin Clark BE 15 John Asiata BE 16 Raymond Faitala-Mariner BE 17 Sam Tagataese Coach: Matt Parish

FB 1 David Fusitua WG 2 Mosese Pangai CE 3 Solomone Kata CE 4 Vai Toutai WG 5 Michael Oldfield FE 6 Feleti Mateo HB 7 Samisoni Langi PR 8 Peni Terepo HK 9 Sione Katoa PR 10 Felise Kaufusi SR 11 Sika Manu (c) SR 12 Tony Williams LK 13 Joe Ofahengaue Substitutions: BE 14 Nafe Seluini BE 15 David Fifita BE 16 Siosaia Vave BE 17 Patrick Kaufusi Coach: Kristian Woolf

Cook Islands vs Lebanon[]

Another Pacific Island nation that does not compete in these matches, Cook Islands, organised a test match with Lebanon at Belmore Sports Ground on May 8.^[7]

8 May 2016

Lebanon	20 – 30	Cook Islands
Try: 2 Barakat 1 Kassis 1 Goals: Miskie 2/5	Report	Try: Peni 2 Makatoa 1 Glassie 1 1 Goals: 5/6

Belmore Sports Ground, Belmore

October Games[]

Samoa vs Fiji[]

A couple of hours before the Pacific test-matches began, discussions were made and confirmed between the RLIF Deputy Chairman, John Grant, alongside Rugby League Samoa Chairman/Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation Chairman, Tagaloa Faafouina Su'a, and the Fiji Rugby League Chairman, Filimoni Vosarogo, that Samoa's city of Apia will host a test-match between Samoa and Fiji on October 8, 2016. This test-match will mark 30 years of Rugby league in Samoa.^[8][9]

Australia vs New Zealand[]

15 October 2016 7:00pm (AWST)

Australia	26-6	New Zealand

nib Stadium, Perth[10]

Vanuatu vs Solomon Islands[]

15 October 2016

Vanuatu	24-15	Solomon Islands

Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila[11]

References[]