The 1986 Pacific Cup was the 3rd Pacific Cup, a rugby league tournament held between Pacific teams. The tournament was hosted in the Cook Islands and eventually won by the New Zealand Māori side, who defeated Western Samoa in the final.

1986 (1986) Pacific Cup  ()
Number of teams6
Host country Cook Islands
Winner Māori (3rd title)
Matches played10
 < 1977
1988

Background

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The 1986 Pacific Cup was the first to be held after the cancellation of the planned 1979 version. Only the New Zealand Māori side returned from the first two editions, as this Pacific Cup had a more Pacific Island focus than the first two which included Papua New Guinea (who now had Test status) and Australian lower grade sides.[1]

Squads

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Team of the Tournament

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The 1986 Pacific Cup Tournament team was named at the end of the tournament and included: George Huriwai (Māori), Gary Mercer (Māori), Anitelea Aiolupotea (Samoa), Robert Fonua (Tonga), Alamoni Liavaʻa (Tonga), Paddy Tuimavave (Samoa), Sam Panapa (Tokelau), Neville Ramsay (Māori), Dave Sefuiva (Samoa), Adrian Shelford (Māori), Simona Foua (Tokelau), Mick Curran (Tonga), Simona Foua (Samoa), Sam Stewart (Māori), John Fifita (Tonga), Lorne Greene (Māori) and Dick Uluave (Tonga).[1]

Results

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Pool A

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1   Māori 2 2 0 0 64 26 38 4
2   Cook Islands 2 1 0 1 32 40 -8 2
3   Niue 2 0 0 2 24 54 -30 0
1986
Cook Islands   22 - 8   Niue
1986
Niue   16 - 32   Māori
1986
Māori   32 - 10   Cook Islands

Pool B

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1   Tonga 2 2 0 0 60 38 22 4
2   Western Samoa 2 1 0 1 50 46 4 2
3   Tokelau 2 0 0 2 34 60 -26 0
1986
Western Samoa   34 - 12   Tokelau
1986
Tonga   34 - 16   Western Samoa
1986
Tokelau   22 - 26   Tonga

Playoffs

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QuarterfinalsSemifinalFinal
  Māori27  Māori23
  Tonga18  Western Samoa6
  Tonga4
  Western Samoa46
  Western Samoa48
  Cook Islands0
1986
Māori   27 - 18   Tonga
1986
Cook Islands   0 - 48   Western Samoa
1986
Tonga   4 - 46   Western Samoa

Final

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1986
Māori   23 - 6   Western Samoa
Tries: Kuiti, Haggie, Ramsey, Huriwai
Goals: Mercer (3)
Drop goals: Ramsey
[5]
Tries: Taogaga
Goals: Ropati

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. pp. 224–226. ISBN 978-1-86969-331-2.
  2. ^ "Rugby League Samoa". Rugby League Samoa. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  3. ^ Polu, Lance (2022-12-27). "THE MAKING OF TOA SAMOA: PART 5 – Making it Happen at the Grassroots Level". Talamua Online. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  4. ^ Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987.
  5. ^ "Maoris retain league cup". The Press. Christchurch. 8 November 1986. p. 8 – via Papers Past.