Pacific Tri-Nations

[Druzik]

So an update on the Pacific Tri nations comp.
Game 1 - Samoa (26) def. PNG (18) - Apia Samoa, 08 March 2009.
Game 2 - PNG vs. Fiji - Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, 27 June 2009.
Game 3 - Fiji vs. Samoa - Apia/Suva Samoa/Fiji, 01 July 2009

Table
Team P W D L PF PA PD PT
Samoa 1 1 0 0 26 18 +8 2
Fiji 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PNG 1 0 0 1 18 26 -8 0

[Ryan N]

May 5, 2009 18:40:11 GMT 10 Druzik said:

So an update on the Pacific Tri nations comp.
Game 1 - Samoa (26) def. PNG (18) - Apia Samoa, 08 March 2009.
Game 2 - PNG vs. Fiji - Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, 27 June 2009.
Game 3 - Fiji vs. Samoa - Apia/Suva Samoa/Fiji, 01 July 2009

Table
Team P W D L PF PA PD PT
Samoa 1 1 0 0 26 18 +8 2
Fiji 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PNG 1 0 0 1 18 26 -8 0

What sort of teams are these? I mean Samoa beat PNG, so they'd have to have NRL quality players there?

[Druzik]

May 5, 2009 19:12:54 GMT 10 Ryan N said:

May 5, 2009 18:40:11 GMT 10 Druzik said:

So an update on the Pacific Tri nations comp.
Game 1 - Samoa (26) def. PNG (18) - Apia Samoa, 08 March 2009.
Game 2 - PNG vs. Fiji - Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, 27 June 2009.
Game 3 - Fiji vs. Samoa - Apia/Suva Samoa/Fiji, 01 July 2009

Table
Team P W D L PF PA PD PT
Samoa 1 1 0 0 26 18 +8 2
Fiji 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PNG 1 0 0 1 18 26 -8 0

What sort of teams are these? I mean Samoa beat PNG, so they'd have to have NRL quality players there?

No the players are all selected from the domestic comps... no NRL or ESL players. This was announced just after the WC last year and the idea is to give the domestic players as much international exposure as possible in preparatio for the Pacific cup.

[Ryan N]

May 5, 2009 19:17:02 GMT 10 Druzik said:

May 5, 2009 19:12:54 GMT 10 Ryan N said:

What sort of teams are these? I mean Samoa beat PNG, so they'd have to have NRL quality players there?

No the players are all selected from the domestic comps... no NRL or ESL players. This was announced just after the WC last year and the idea is to give the domestic players as much international exposure as possible in preparatio for the Pacific cup.

That's a bit of a shock then. The SP Cup should be of higher quality than the Samoan comp?

[Druzik]

May 5, 2009 19:19:57 GMT 10 Ryan N said:

May 5, 2009 19:17:02 GMT 10 Druzik said:

No the players are all selected from the domestic comps... no NRL or ESL players. This was announced just after the WC last year and the idea is to give the domestic players as much international exposure as possible in preparatio for the Pacific cup.

That's a bit of a shock then. The SP Cup should be of higher quality than the Samoan comp?

Maybe, the Samoan domestic comp is a bit of an unknown quantity these days... so am not sure what the deal is, wait and see how they fo against Fiji. It depends also what AL was trying to do, start to use combos or try different tactics... I would hazzard a guess the PNGns would be using these games to iron out tactics and stuff, so yes score wise its a shock score... but its only points and I think PNG were trying out new stuff.

[supersteve]

What about the Pacific Cup?,

WIll they be able to use NRL and ESL players in that tournament?, I bloody hope so.

[Druzik]

May 5, 2009 21:19:04 GMT 10 supersteve said:

What about the Pacific Cup?,

WIll they be able to use NRL and ESL players in that tournament?, I bloody hope so.

Yes the pacific cup, like the Euro cup and 4 Nations, will be held after the ESL and NRL seasons and teams will have full access to all eligible players.

This tri nations is to give the promising locals a chance to show what they can do and try and steak a claim for the end of year places.

[sportsmad]

anyone know the result of yesterdays game?

[Druzik]

www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=

League lesson
By Josefa Makaba
Thursday, July 23, 2009

THE Fiji Bati was thrashed 64-10 in the opening Test against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls in Mount Hagen yesterday afternoon.

The Bati had no answer for the powerful display by the Kumuls who scored 10 tries in the match.

Bati manager Mesake Navugona said the Bati lost the plot even before the start of the game.

He said the Bati were unsettled by the situation they faced from the first day they arrived in PNG.

"From the time we arrived at the airport, we have been escorted by armed security guards and that is something new for our boys and it affected their game," Navugona said.

"For most our players this was the first time for them to play in front of more than 5000 fans all cheering for the opposition. And to top it off while we were getting ready to play we could hear gunshots fired and I believe this was just too much for our boys to handle."

Navugona said he felt sorry for the players as they were unsettled by the whole scenario that they didn't play according to their game-plan.

"For some of our players this is their first trip out of the country and to face that kind of situation ... I just can't blame them for the way they played," Navugona said.

He said he was worried about the players' safety while they were on the field.

Navugona said another factor for the big loss was playing at high altitude.

"For most of our players this was the first time for them to be playing at such an altitude and their performance really dropped as the game progressed." But the dual international said they will not dwell on the result of yesterday's match.

The important thing, he said, is for the team to regroup and focus on their second Test.

"We told the players after the match that we have to regroup and concentrate on our next match," Navugona said.

"We told them that we need to look at the brighter side of things and take on board what good we have learnt from that game."

Navugona said he was happy his men tasted the best of PNG rugby league and they now can set out their plan as they know what to expect in the second Test.

"While it was a baptism of fire for these guys, it was also a good experience for them to play in PNG as it will help them build their confidence," Navugona said from Mount Hagen yesterday.

Seven new players made their debut in yesterday's Test.

The seven were Seruvi Ralulu, Esira Dokoni, Lasaro Turagadrau, Viliame Tukana, Timoci Yauvoli, Jovilisi Tawake and Etuate Tagicakibau.

Captain Iowane Divavesi led by example from the frontrow but even with eight players from the team that went to the Rugby League Cup last year in the team, they found the Kumuls hard to stop.

The Kumuls led 30-4 at the break.

Tries for the Bati were scored by Jo Ravueta and Nemani Suguturaga.

BLOODY HELL!

[sportsmad]

never a dull moment in rugby league. guns shots, police escorts. now theress something union cant offer the boys from fiji! invaluable experience for them though. theyll only become a stronger team after these two tests

[Druzik]

sportsmad said:

never a dull moment in rugby league. guns shots, police escorts. now theress something union cant offer the boys from fiji! invaluable experience for them though. theyll only become a stronger team after these two tests

Mate this is tame by PNG standards... if you read some of the GB tour storied from the 90's, during matches they had to start ducking for cover as tear gas was shot over the field to quell the crowds... its ferking nuts up there... makes me want to go up there all the more now... just experience one of the things my self! Film it and stick it up on You Tube.... if I survive.

Hey a new reality TV show. Survivor: PNG Rugby League ;D

[sportsmad]

haha nice. michael sameare has plans to commision/ already ahs a new stadium. do you know if this is on the proviso that PNG are granted an NRL team? they definately need one

[England 3 Lions]

The Papua New Guinean rugby league fans are far more passionate than their rugby union counterparts.

[Druzik]

sportsmad said:

haha nice. michael sameare has plans to commision/ already ahs a new stadium. do you know if this is on the proviso that PNG are granted an NRL team? they definately need one

I disagree, I think PNG doesnt need a NRL team, they need to bring the money and standards of their local comp up, give something back to the community... its bloody expensive for them to travel and there is no way they would be able to make the money from the locals... it would have to be heavily subsidised by the NRL or the governments and we all know what a shouting match that has been about the storm being propped up.

Other talk about it being based in Darwin... well that is hardly a PNG team then is it.

No a PNG NRL team would be disastrous for the local SP cup, it would do what the NRL did to the NSWRL and BRL comps in the 90's cause a whole sale collapse in the local comp... and you'll see australia would just start to poach all the best tallent.

I hope they do get the stadium no matter what, they deserve a big shinny stadium... how long it stays that way will remain to be seen. I just hope they retain the firing points for the tear gas. ;D

[sportsmad]

sorry i meant they need a new stadium. a 15,000 seater would be nice. i agree with u about the NRL team not being viable. the gaps in the countries socio economics are too large. a way of justifying the building of a new stadium (although i dont think justification is needed) would be the scheduling of more regular international competition. if PNG make the four nations and a game is transfered there then it will truly be a game that stops a nation. this, along with regular games against their pacific rivals would be a great thing and the RLIF has no excuse not to fund this (although they would find one somehow)