SP Brewery Pacific Cup

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Cairns fans ready for Samoa - Cook Islands clashNRL.COMUndoubtedly the most anticipated match of this carnival is the curtain-raiser clash (5.50pm) between the Dhaarrbah Bulls and Bingil Sharks, with the Bulls ...and more »

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Cairns fans ready for Samoa - Cook Islands clash
RLIF
17 Oct 2009 12:32:00

Four different cultures will come together for one important cause tonight in Cairns when the SP Brewery Pacific Cup kicks off with a qualifying match between Samoa and Cook Islands.

A crowd of up to 8,000 is expected at Barlow Park with organisers set to conduct a blanket appeal to aid the crisis response in Samoa.

Samoan High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Lemalu Tate Simi, is a guest of honour at the event and will launch the Samoa Tsunami Relief Fund prior to kickoff.

The two teams will then perform their traditional war dances before a minute of silence is held.

Tonight’s match will be preceded by a feast of international Rugby League, with more than 30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island teams contesting the “Jack Ahmat Shield” at Barlow Park throughout the day.

Undoubtedly the most anticipated match of this carnival is the curtain-raiser clash (5.50pm) between the Dhaarrbah Bulls and Bingil Sharks, with the Bulls being coached by North Queensland Cowboys star Matt Bowen.

Tonight is the first time four cultures – Samoan, Cook Islands, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander – have come together for a major Rugby League event since the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

Cook Islands and Samoan local community groups will add to the atmosphere when they showcase traditional drum and dance performances on-field prior to kickoff.

Cairns District Rugby League Chairman, Nigel Tillet, said tonight’s match would cap a huge week for Rugby League in the region.

“The Samoan and Cook Islands teams have been terrific for us up here,” Tillet said.

“They’ve visited schools in between training and really engaged with the community and in return there’s been this wonderful vibe around town about this game.”

The winner of tonight’s match will progress to the inaugural SP Brewery Pacific Cup tournament which kicks off on October 24 in Port Moresby.

The eventual winner of the SP Brewery Pacific Cup will gain entry to the 2010 Four Nations tournament alongside league heavyweights Australia, New Zealand and England.

SP Brewery Pacific Cup Qualifying Match
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Barlow Park, Cairns
Kickoff 7.30pm

 

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Cairns fans ready for Samoa - Cook Islands clash

Cairns fans ready for Samoa - Cook Islands clashNRL.COMUndoubtedly the most anticipated match of this carnival is the curtain-raiser clash (5.50pm) between the Dhaarrbah Bulls and Bingil Sharks, with the Bulls ...and more »

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://www.nrl.com/newsviews/latestnews/newsarticle/tabid/10874/newsid/57128/cairns-fans-ready-for-samoa---cook-islands-clash/default.aspx&usg=AFQjCNEZb7sRLWNi26NpOsTuozkb9wmvQg

Cairns fans ready for Samoa - Cook Islands clash
RLIF
17 Oct 2009 12:32:00

Four different cultures will come together for one important cause tonight in Cairns when the SP Brewery Pacific Cup kicks off with a qualifying match between Samoa and Cook Islands.

A crowd of up to 8,000 is expected at Barlow Park with organisers set to conduct a blanket appeal to aid the crisis response in Samoa.

Samoan High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Lemalu Tate Simi, is a guest of honour at the event and will launch the Samoa Tsunami Relief Fund prior to kickoff.

The two teams will then perform their traditional war dances before a minute of silence is held.

Tonight’s match will be preceded by a feast of international Rugby League, with more than 30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island teams contesting the “Jack Ahmat Shield” at Barlow Park throughout the day.

Undoubtedly the most anticipated match of this carnival is the curtain-raiser clash (5.50pm) between the Dhaarrbah Bulls and Bingil Sharks, with the Bulls being coached by North Queensland Cowboys star Matt Bowen.

Tonight is the first time four cultures – Samoan, Cook Islands, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander – have come together for a major Rugby League event since the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

Cook Islands and Samoan local community groups will add to the atmosphere when they showcase traditional drum and dance performances on-field prior to kickoff.

Cairns District Rugby League Chairman, Nigel Tillet, said tonight’s match would cap a huge week for Rugby League in the region.

“The Samoan and Cook Islands teams have been terrific for us up here,” Tillet said.

“They’ve visited schools in between training and really engaged with the community and in return there’s been this wonderful vibe around town about this game.”

The winner of tonight’s match will progress to the inaugural SP Brewery Pacific Cup tournament which kicks off on October 24 in Port Moresby.

The eventual winner of the SP Brewery Pacific Cup will gain entry to the 2010 Four Nations tournament alongside league heavyweights Australia, New Zealand and England.

SP Brewery Pacific Cup Qualifying Match
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Barlow Park, Cairns
Kickoff 7.30pm

 

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Cairns fans ready for Samoa - Cook Islands clash

Stage set for league battleFiji TimesBoasting the services of National Rugby League (NRL) stars Newcastle Knights centre Wes Naiqama and his teammate Akuila Uate, the Fiji Batis will be looking ...and more »

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=132017&usg=AFQjCNEWIxRJTH1v2UeVSBxqh8fQPvuznQ

Stage set for league battle
October 21, 2009

THREE visiting teams from neighbouring Pacific Islands countries -- Cook Islands, Fiji and Tonga -- arrived yesterday afternoon for the SP Brewery Pacific Cup which will kick off on Saturday in Port Moresby.

Boasting the services of National Rugby League (NRL) stars Newcastle Knights centre Wes Naiqama and his teammate Akuila Uate, the Fiji Batis will be looking forward to the big challenge in the inaugural Pacific Cup.

Tonga has been boasted with the services of Feleti Mateo from the Parramatta Eels who is captaining the side with Knights prop forward Richard Fa'oso. They arrived in Port Moresby with their respective teams yesterday. Naiqama, who will captain the Fijians, said yesterday that the challenge would be tough with all four countries battling it out to secure the right to join Australia, world champions New Zealand and England in the four nations challenge next year.

He said Cook Islands were the outsiders but they may cause an upset like they did in Cairns last weekend, shocking the favorites, Samoa, 22-20 in the qualifiers.

Naiqama, who celebrated his birthday yesterday, warned Fiji, PNG and Tonga not to take the Cooks lightly because it could cost them their chances of making it into the next stage.

The Fiji Bati 2009 Pacific Cup squad: Iowane Divavesi (Lautoka Crushers), Donas Gock (Cabramatta Two Blues), Hamilton Hughes (Moore Park Brumbies), Meli Koliniavu (Auckland Warriors), Sevania Koroi (Nadera Panthers), Jone Macilai (Coral Coast Cowboys), Ryan Millard (Newtown Jets), Kevin Naiqama (Newcastle Knights), Wes Naiqama (Newcastle Knights), Sitiveni Ralogaivau (Nadera Panthers), Puna Rasaubale (Southern District Rebels), Mike Ratu (Leeds Rhinos), Joe Ravueta (Coral Coast Cowboys), Osea Sadrau (Police Sharks), Asael Saravaki (Nadera Panthers), Alipate Tani (Coral Coast Cowboys), Kaliova Tani (Coral Coast Cowboys), Akuila Uate (Newcastle Knights), Lepani Waqa (Wentworthville Magpies), Jone Wesele (Police Sharks). Coach Terry Gilogely.

Tonga's assistant coach and former player Mark Tookey said the Tongans had huge respect for PNG, Fiji and Cook Islands and would be carefully assessing their opponents' style of football.

He said Mateo would definitely be leading his boys from the front as he was a professional footballer and well-respected by his colleagues in the side.

Tookey said Mateo would be given great support by Fa'oso.

 

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PNG thrash Tonga to reach Pacific Cup finalCourier MailTonga managed a late rally as Tongia grabbed another try and Cronulla's Atelea Vea crossed in the dying stages, but they were left ruing their first-half ...and more »

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,26257667-5003409,00.html&usg=AFQjCNGULXvPRVIxWnISkA9OqaLZ8wn2Vw

PNG thrash Tonga to reach Pacific Cup final
By Joanna Lester
October 25, 2009 05:52pm

PAPUA New Guinea swept aside tournament favourites Tonga to move through to the final of rugby league's Pacific Cup with a comprehensive 44-14 victory in front of over 9,000 passionate supporters in Port Moresby.

Tonga, captained by Parramatta Eels star Feleti Mateo, were expected to mount a serious challenge to the home team's cup campaign, but they were outplayed and out-enthused by the Kumuls.

Led superbly by Gold Coast Titans youngster David Mead and UK-based local favourite Menzie Yere, Papua New Guinea raced to a 20-4 halftime lead.

Yere started it when his smart footwork found a gap in the Tongan defence and his try was converted by John Wilshere, whose impressive kicking landed six from eight goals in windy conditions at Lloyd Robson Oval.

Further tries from Jason Chan, Anton Kui and Mead meant the Tongans were all but out of the contest by the break.

Tonga's playmakers failed to penetrate the PNG line, apart from an early effort by Sione Tongia, and they struggled to control the Kumuls' enterprising attack when forced to defend back-to-back sets in the hot conditions.

Papua New Guinea continued the rout after the break, as Jessie Joe Parker, Mead and Yere crossed for tries, and crowd favourite Charlie Wabo powered over to take the Kumuls past the 40-point mark.

Their six local players combined well with a host of Australia-based youngsters, and the Kumuls were boosted by an excited home crowd.

Tonga managed a late rally as Tongia grabbed another try and Cronulla's Atelea Vea crossed in the dying stages, but they were left ruing their first-half handling and defensive errors.

"All the boys are really happy,'' said Papua New Guinea captain Wilshere. ''(Coach) Adrian Lam has put a great team together and the World Cup last year was a good experience for us. But we know that the job's not over yet, there's still one game to go.''

Papua New Guinea face the Cook Islands in next Sunday's Pacific Cup final for a place in the 2010 Four Nations against Australia, New Zealand and England.



Fulltime
PAPUA NEW GUINEA 44 (Jessie Joe Parker, Charlie Wabo, Jason Chan, Anton Kui, Menzie Yere 2 David Mead 2 tries John Wilshere 6 goals) bt TONGA 14 (Sione Tongia 2 Atelea Vea tries Eddy Paea goal)