2 Nov: Oceania Cup: Samoa v Fiji KO 1.20am (UK Time)

[John Drake]

Discuss Samoa v Fiji here. KO 1.20am (UK Time)
at Eden Park, Auckland.
 

[Bleep1673]

Could be a good one this, Fiji by less than 6

[welshmagpie]

I see Mulitalo lasted long as an American international.

[DoubleD]

Is this not on TV?

[welshmagpie]

33 minutes ago, DoubleD said:

Is this not on TV?

OurLeague app but payment is required. 

[Lowdesert]

3 hours ago, Bleep1673 said:

Could be a good one this, Fiji by less than 6

Yes, I’ve gone that way.  Interesting game.

[Eddie]

Does anyone know how many of the players from either side are actually from Samoa or Fiji, rather than Aus or NZ?

I do think it’s great that these teams are getting proper exposure and expanding the international game, but it does seem like most international sides competing for a world cup place (France and NZ being notable exceptions) are largely made up of Aussies and English Northerners with parents / grandparents from elsewhere and it would be good to see that change. 

[Abicus]

14 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Does anyone know how many of the players from either side are actually from Samoa or Fiji, rather than Aus or NZ?

I do think it’s great that these teams are getting proper exposure and expanding the international game, but it does seem like most international sides competing for a world cup place (France and NZ being notable exceptions) are largely made up of Aussies and English Northerners with parents / grandparents from elsewhere and it would be good to see that change. 

More Samoans and Tongans live outside Tonga and Samoa. It really doesn’t matter, and misses the point about how the Pacific view these sorts of things.

[Eddie]

9 minutes ago, Abicus said:

More Samoans and Tongans live outside Tonga and Samoa. It really doesn’t matter, and misses the point about how the Pacific view these sorts of things.

Can you expand, how do they view them and what point have I missed?

[B rad]

7 hours ago, Eddie said:

Can you expand, how do they view them and what point have I missed?

There are about 3 Tongan born players maybe even 2 in the Tongan national team, since 2017 when the star's made themselves availble for selection. Most Tongan games have sold out, players have been greeted at airports by thousands of fans, there has been street parades to the games and the crowds at the stadiums are visibly a sea of red. Its safe to say that pacific islanders not only accept people of heritage as Tongans/Samoans/Fijians but are excited to support them. 

 

Been born on the actual islands doesnt seem to make much if any difference to the communities. 

[Eddie]

51 minutes ago, B rad said:

There are about 3 Tongan born players maybe even 2 in the Tongan national team, since 2017 when the star's made themselves availble for selection. Most Tongan games have sold out, players have been greeted at airports by thousands of fans, there has been street parades to the games and the crowds at the stadiums are visibly a sea of red. Its safe to say that pacific islanders not only accept people of heritage as Tongans/Samoans/Fijians but are excited to support them. 

 

Been born on the actual islands doesnt seem to make much if any difference to the communities. 

Fair enough but do you know if there’s been a shift from playing Union to League on the actual island though? If not then Tonga’s success isn’t actually doing anything to grow the game. If it has though then superb. 

[DoubleD]

1 minute ago, Eddie said:

Fair enough but do you know if there’s been a shift from playing Union to League on the actual island though? If not then Tonga’s success isn’t actually doing anything to grow the game. If it has though then superb. 

Yes there has

[B rad]

7 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Fair enough but do you know if there’s been a shift from playing Union to League on the actual island though? If not then Tonga’s success isn’t actually doing anything to grow the game. If it has though then superb. 

There was a Tongan kids rugby league clinique in 2018 where they had to turn away 2 thirds of the kids that showed up because they did not have the rescoures to deal with such a large number on the day. I think as of 2019 its safe to say Tonga is more a Rugby League nation then a Rugby Union one. Not so for Samoa or Fiji. Although a few stars have committed (Marty Taupau) no where near as many and thus they have had no where near the support. 

 

If you look at these teams there is a huge amount of eligible players who are injured, their clubs say they are injured or more likely have just not made themselves available. Unlike Tonga the players for some reason have chose not to make a similar commitment and as a result the national teams have not had anywhere near the public support or media interest. Each Fiji and Samoa could put a team out of Tonga's strength. 

[thirteenthman]

Teams for Saturday -

Samoa: 1. Ronaldo Mulitalo 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Timoteo Lafai 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Brian To’o 6. Marion Seve 7. Jarome Luai 8. Junior Paulo 9. Danny Levi 10. Martin Taupau 11. Tino Faasuamaleaui 12. Michael Chee-Kam 13. Bunty Afoa 14. Dunamis Lui 15. Moses Leota 16. Luciano Leilua 17. James Gavet 18. Ligi Sao 19. Lalotoa Mata’afa

Fiji: 1. Sitiveni Moceidreke 2. Isaac Lumelume 3. Taane Milne 4. Brayden Wiliame 5. Suliasi Vunivalu 6. Kevin Naiqama 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Kane Evans 9. Joe Lovodua 10. Tui Kamikamica 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Ben Nakubuwai 13. D’Rhys Miller 14. Lamar Liolevave 15. Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu 16. King Vuniyayawa 17. Penioni Tagituimua 18. Junior Roqica

[DoubleD]

Samoa’s team looks much stronger, they should win this

[jim_57]

Strange that Sivo has been in the build up and is in NZ with the squad but hasn't been selected.

[B rad]

1 hour ago, jim_57 said:

Strange that Sivo has been in the build up and is in NZ with the squad but hasn't been selected.

I think he is suspended for a shoulder charge. 

[jim_57]

Just now, B rad said:

I think he is suspended for a shoulder charge. 

Oh yeh I remember that from the Storm game but when I saw him in the 9s I assumed he missed any suspension.

[Boomer Bang Wool]

Looking forward to this one! Should be a cracking game 

[westside]

7 hours ago, B rad said:

There was a Tongan kids rugby league clinique in 2018 where they had to turn away 2 thirds of the kids that showed up because they did not have the rescoures to deal with such a large number on the day. I think as of 2019 its safe to say Tonga is more a Rugby League nation then a Rugby Union one. Not so for Samoa or Fiji. Although a few stars have committed (Marty Taupau) no where near as many and thus they have had no where near the support. 

 

If you look at these teams there is a huge amount of eligible players who are injured, their clubs say they are injured or more likely have just not made themselves available. Unlike Tonga the players for some reason have chose not to make a similar commitment and as a result the national teams have not had anywhere near the public support or media interest. Each Fiji and Samoa could put a team out of Tonga's strength. 

Good info - does anyone know the actual stats on player growth in Tonga? Like player numbers a few years ago vs now? Thanks.

[nadera78]

2 hours ago, jim_57 said:

Oh yeh I remember that from the Storm game but when I saw him in the 9s I assumed he missed any suspension.

You know how people say the NRL makes things up as it goes along....well they decided to move his 1 match ban to this game so that he could play in the 9s. Nothing to do with that being an NRL event, of course.

[MatthewWoody]

16 hours ago, Eddie said:

Does anyone know how many of the players from either side are actually from Samoa or Fiji, rather than Aus or NZ?

I do think it’s great that these teams are getting proper exposure and expanding the international game, but it does seem like most international sides competing for a world cup place (France and NZ being notable exceptions) are largely made up of Aussies and English Northerners with parents / grandparents from elsewhere and it would be good to see that change. 

It would mean having amateurs playing, or something close to that.

[Farmduck]

22 minutes ago, nadera78 said:

You know how people say the NRL makes things up as it goes along....well they decided to move his 1 match ban to this game so that he could play in the 9s. Nothing to do with that being an NRL event, of course.

What is the equivalent of a one-match ban in 9s games? They only played 18 minutes on day one so it would have to be both days. Isn't it much simpler to ban him from his next eligible 80-minute game? How does the RFL do it when they hold the World 9s in England?

[Farmduck]

17 hours ago, Eddie said:

Does anyone know how many of the players from either side are actually from Samoa or Fiji, rather than Aus or NZ?

 

This week Fiji will have 7 Fiji-born and Samoa will have zero Samoa-born.

[welshmagpie]

On 29/10/2019 at 14:11, welshmagpie said:

I see Mulitalo lasted long as an American international.

@MatthewWoody he played for USA in the 9s