The 2016 Samoa vs. Fiji rugby league test match was played between Samoa and Fiji at Apia Park.
| 2016 Samoa vs. Fiji rugby league test match | |||||||||||||
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| Date | 8 October 2016 | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | Apia Park | ||||||||||||
| Location | Apia, Samoa | ||||||||||||
| Referee |  Gerard Sutton | ||||||||||||
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Background edit
On 7 May 2016, it was confirmed that Apia would host a test-match between Samoa and Fiji on 8 October 2016, marking the 30th anniversary of rugby league in Samoa.[1] John Grant, the Chief Executive of the Australian Rugby League Commission, shared his support for the test by confirming that an Australian registered referee would be provided along with senior staff and management to help with the organisation of the match.[2]
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.[3][4]
Squads edit
Samoa picked 6 débutantes for the test match, while Fiji selected four. All of the Samoan team had players based in the NRL except for Denny Solomona, who plays for Super League club Castleford Tigers. Fiji on the other hand had a fair share of National Rugby League, and New South Wales Cup players along with one domestic player, Pio Seci. Samoa's most capped player was Leeson Ah Mau, who made his 11th appearance for his country, while Fiji's most experienced player was James Storer, who also made his 11th appearance for his country.
St. George Illawarra's Leeson Ah Mau captained Samoa, and Wests Tigers' Kevin Naiqama led Fiji.
| Samoa | Position | Fiji |
|---|---|---|
 David Nofoaluma
|
Fullback | Sitiveni Moceidreke 
|
 Ken Maumalo
|
Wing | Tyrone Phillips 
|
 Matthew Wright
|
Centre | Kevin Naiqama (c)
|
 Tim Lafai
|
Centre | Brayden Williame
|
 Denny Solomona
|
Wing | Marcello Montoya
|
| Pita Godinet
|
Five-Eighth | Henry Raiwalui 
|
| Mason Lino
|
Halfback | Maurice Kennedy 
|
| Sam Kasiano
|
Prop | Kane Evans 
|
 Kaysa Pritchard
|
Hooker | Apisai Koroisau
|
 Junior Paulo
|
Prop | Junior Roqica 
|
| Leeson Ah Mau (c)
|
2nd Row | Viliame Kikau 
|
| Raymond Faitala-Mariner
|
2nd Row | Eloni Vunakece
|
| Sauaso Sue
|
Lock | Korbin Sims 
|
| Erin Clark
|
Interchange | James Storer 
|
| Sam Lisone
|
Interchange | Tui Kamikamica 
|
| Bunty Afoa
|
Interchange | Ben Nakubuwai
|
| James Gavet
|
Interchange | Pio Seci 
|
 Matt Parish
|
Coach | Mick Potter
|
Match summary edit
8 October 2016
4:40pm (UTC+13) |
Samoa 
|
18 – 20 |  Fiji
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Maumalo (16', 20') 2 Kasiano (4') 1 Goals: Wright 3/3 (5', 18', 21') |
Report |
Tries: 1 (24') Montoya 1 (30') Storer 1 (38') Williame 1 (60') Phillips Goals: Moceidreke 2/4 (32', 40') |
Fiji won the match after trailing 18-0 at the 20 minute mark.[5] Samoa were dominating proceedings in the opening quarter as they controlled most of the possession and territory but Fiji hit back in the back-end of the game with Samoa's errors ruining the home team's chances.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Samoa to host Fiji in historic Test". NRL.com. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ Walter, Brad (7 May 2016). "ARLC chairman John Grant expects NRL clubs to support historic Test in Samoa". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Samoa to host Fiji in historic Test". nrl.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "ARLC chairman John Grant expects NRL clubs to support historic Test in Samoa". smh.com.au. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ Kennedy, Chris (8 October 2016). "Brilliant Bati comeback steals Pacific Test win". NRL.com. Retrieved 9 October 2016.