Pacific Championships 2024

[BristolDevonCharlie]

On 31/08/2024 at 15:32, fenster said:

Even better.

when was the last time England toured Australia. Late 90’s?

England have only ever toured Australia for World Cups and Four Nations. 

Great Britain were last in Australia for the Tri Nations in 2006. For the Ashes their last tour was 1992. 

[fenster]

6 hours ago, BristolDevonCharlie said:

England have only ever toured Australia for World Cups and Four Nations. 

Great Britain were last in Australia for the Tri Nations in 2006. For the Ashes their last tour was 1992. 

I’m sure there was a super league tour to Australia, New Zealand and the pacific in 96/97 that was a disaster both on and off the pitch and then a one-off test against Australia in 2002/2003 at the SFS in which we got absolutely slaughtered by 60 points.

[BristolDevonCharlie]

1 hour ago, fenster said:

I’m sure there was a super league tour to Australia, New Zealand and the pacific in 96/97 that was a disaster both on and off the pitch and then a one-off test against Australia in 2002/2003 at the SFS in which we got absolutely slaughtered by 60 points.

The 1996 GB tour was to NZ, PNG & Fiji and they didn't play Australia. 

2002 was a one off Great Britain Test, nothing you could call a tour. 

With the 1996 & 2019 GB tours of NZ and the Pacific, I get why financially they weren't great, however on the field I don't see why losing makes it the end of the world. 

Since 2000 the Kiwis have toured the UK for three-Test series in 2002, 2007, 2015 & 2018. They lost all of those series and only won two Tests in 12. I have never heard any of those tours called a disaster!

 

[Mathius Hellwege]

11 minutes ago, BristolDevonCharlie said:

The 1996 GB tour was to NZ, PNG & Fiji and they didn't play Australia. 

2002 was a one off Great Britain Test, nothing you could call a tour. 

With the 1996 & 2019 GB tours of NZ and the Pacific, I get why financially they weren't great, however on the field I don't see why losing makes it the end of the world. 

Since 2000 the Kiwis have toured the UK for three-Test series in 2002, 2007, 2015 & 2018. They lost all of those series and only won two Tests in 12. I have never heard any of those tours called a disaster!

 

then we did the Denver test and New Zealand decided that the NRL is a more cempetent partner than RFL even though the NRL scrapped the ANZAC test....

 

but now with the new tournaments we have to admit, NZ decided correctly

[BristolDevonCharlie]

42 minutes ago, Mathius Hellwege said:

then we did the Denver test and New Zealand decided that the NRL is a more cempetent partner than RFL even though the NRL scrapped the ANZAC test....

 

but now with the new tournaments we have to admit, NZ decided correctly

Although they are coming the UK in 2027.

Balancing regional tournaments and the historic tours is how it should be outside of RLWC's. 

[fenster]

1 hour ago, BristolDevonCharlie said:

The 1996 GB tour was to NZ, PNG & Fiji and they didn't play Australia. 

2002 was a one off Great Britain Test, nothing you could call a tour. 

With the 1996 & 2019 GB tours of NZ and the Pacific, I get why financially they weren't great, however on the field I don't see why losing makes it the end of the world. 

Since 2000 the Kiwis have toured the UK for three-Test series in 2002, 2007, 2015 & 2018. They lost all of those series and only won two Tests in 12. I have never heard any of those tours called a disaster!

 

You’re quite right in that GB never played Australia in 96’ and a good job we didn’t.

as for it being a disaster we lost all 3 tests in New Zealand and sent some players home early to save money and the tour still ended up losing nearly 300k. 
 

that’s a disaster in my eyes.

[Mathius Hellwege]

13 hours ago, BristolDevonCharlie said:

Although they are coming the UK in 2027.

Balancing regional tournaments and the historic tours is how it should be outside of RLWC's. 

but now in accordance with the NRL position to loan us one team every Non-RLWC-year ) 

Australia (home and away switching which means every eight years in NH/SH)

NZ (the same)

one PI (always in GB, or if the RFL stas stupid in the oversaturated M62-market)

[fenster]

Huge blow for the kiwis.

 

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/dylan-brown-injury-latest-news-acl-parramatta-eels/7dd81db9c74aeed7759b5ae0

 

that’s both key pivots brown and smith out for the kiwis.

[fenster]

Do the kiwis make a play for ponga?

[The Rocket]

1 hour ago, fenster said:

Huge blow for the kiwis.

 

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/dylan-brown-injury-latest-news-acl-parramatta-eels/7dd81db9c74aeed7759b5ae0

 

that’s both key pivots brown and smith out for the kiwis.

Not at all, Foran would be fine outside Hughes, alternatively Nikorima has had a great year at the Dolphins.

Jeremy Marshall-King will be fine at number nine as well, especially given the forward pack the Kiwis` will have.

Edited September 8, 2024 by The Rocket

[fenster]

1 hour ago, The Rocket said:

Not at all, Foran would be fine outside Hughes, alternatively Nikorima has had a great year at the Dolphins.

Jeremy Marshall-King will be fine at number nine as well, especially given the forward pack the Kiwis` will have.

Sure Not the end of the world but at the same time you’d love to have your 1st choice standoff and hooker available.

maybe a call up for phoenix crossland?

[Damien]

Looking forward to watching these:

 

[Sports Prophet]

On 08/09/2024 at 14:48, fenster said:

Do the kiwis make a play for ponga?

Huge decision, as it will mean no more Origin. Would love to see him do it though if only just to see the media and public go berserk for him making himself available for NZ having begrudgingly making himself available for Kangaroos after declaring he wasn’t interested.

[LeytherRob]

On 02/09/2024 at 17:44, BristolDevonCharlie said:

The 1996 GB tour was to NZ, PNG & Fiji and they didn't play Australia. 

2002 was a one off Great Britain Test, nothing you could call a tour. 

With the 1996 & 2019 GB tours of NZ and the Pacific, I get why financially they weren't great, however on the field I don't see why losing makes it the end of the world. 

Since 2000 the Kiwis have toured the UK for three-Test series in 2002, 2007, 2015 & 2018. They lost all of those series and only won two Tests in 12. I have never heard any of those tours called a disaster!

 

I think in the case of the 2019 tour it was the absolute shambolic selection policy which threw the tour, we took a ridiculous number of halfbacks and barely any outside backs which mean we had the farce of Blake Austin playing wing. It’s easier to accept a loss if you have the best team out there but Bennet used it purely as a chance to experiment like an extended training camp.

[RugbyLeagueGeek]

3 minutes ago, LeytherRob said:

I think in the case of the 2019 tour it was the absolute shambolic selection policy which threw the tour, we took a ridiculous number of halfbacks and barely any outside backs which mean we had the farce of Blake Austin playing wing. It’s easier to accept a loss if you have the best team out there but Bennet used it purely as a chance to experiment like an extended training camp.

That was particularly infuriating given that Regan Grace - a Welshman - arguably deserved to fill that wing spot on merit.

[Dave T]

3 hours ago, LeytherRob said:

I think in the case of the 2019 tour it was the absolute shambolic selection policy which threw the tour, we took a ridiculous number of halfbacks and barely any outside backs which mean we had the farce of Blake Austin playing wing. It’s easier to accept a loss if you have the best team out there but Bennet used it purely as a chance to experiment like an extended training camp.

 

3 hours ago, RugbyLeagueGeek said:

That was particularly infuriating given that Regan Grace - a Welshman - arguably deserved to fill that wing spot on merit.

Wayne Bennett went down massively in my estimations with that tour. I think he handled it horribly. 

Not that I'm sure he's bothered!

[sam4731]

13 minutes ago, Dave T said:

 

Wayne Bennett went down massively in my estimations with that tour. I think he handled it horribly. 

Not that I'm sure he's bothered!

He had the mentality of playing a first 13 player out of position rather than someone that actually plays in that position.

i.e. Blake Austin on the wing

 

[LeytherRob]

54 minutes ago, Dave T said:

 

Wayne Bennett went down massively in my estimations with that tour. I think he handled it horribly. 

Not that I'm sure he's bothered!

Yes he seemed pretty openly apathetic to the whole concept and basically just used the whole thing as a training camp to try new players. 6 halfbacks in a 24 man squad on an overseas tour remains and absolutely shambolic decision, laid bare with Jack Hughes ending up playing twice in the centres and Blake Austin on the wing, despite flying Ash Handley round the world on short notice.

[NRLandSL]

Australia Squad

Isaah Yeo (c) (Penrith Panthers)
Harry Grant (vc) (Melbourne Storm)
Mitch Barnett (New Zealand Warriors)*
Matt Burton (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Bradman Best (Newcastle Knights)*
Pat Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos)
Xavier Coates (Melbourne Storm)*
Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters)
Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys)
Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)
Tom Dearden (North Queensland Cowboys)*
Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers)
Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers)
Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)*
Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Reece Robson (North Queensland Cowboys)*
Lindsay Smith (Penrith Panthers)*
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (The Dolphins)
Tom Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles)

[NRLandSL]

New Zealand Squad

Erin Clark (Gold Coast Titans)
Phoenix Crossland (Newcastle Knights)*
James Fisher-Harris (Penrith Panthers)
Peta Hiku (Hull Kingston Rovers)
Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne Storm)
Jamayne Isaako (The Dolphins)
Keano Kini (Gold Coast Titans)*
Casey McLean (Penrith Panthers)*
Griffin Neame (North Queensland Cowboys)
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (New Zealand Warriors)
Kodi Nikorima (The Dolphins)
Marata Niukore (New Zealand Warriors)
Isaiah Papali'i (Penrith Panthers)
Jordan Riki (Brisbane Broncos)*
Scott Sorensen (Penrith Panthers)
Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders)
Leo Thompson (Newcastle Knights)
Matthew Timoko (Canberra Raiders)
Trent Toelau (Penrith Panthers)*
Will Warbrick (Melbourne Storm)*
Naufahu Whyte (Sydney Roosters)*

[NRLandSL]

Tonga Squad

Paul Alamoti (Penrith Panthers)*
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (The Dolphins)*
Addin Fonua-Blake (Cronulla Sharks)
Siliva Havili (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Lehi Hopoate (Manly Sea Eagles)*
Isaiah Iongi (Parramatta Eels)*
Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks)
Eliesa Katoa (Melbourne Storm)
Isaiya Katoa (The Dolphins)
Felise Kaufusi (The Dolphins)
Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Tolutau Koula (Manly Sea Eagles)
Tuimoala Lolohea (Huddersfield Giants)
Soni Luke (Penrith Panthers)
Haumole Olakau'atu (Manly Sea Eagles)
Taniela Paseka (Manly Sea Eagles)*
Moses Suli (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
Sitili Tupouniua (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Siua Wong (Sydney Roosters)

 

Edited October 8, 2024 by NRLandSL

[NRLandSL]

Fiji Squad 

Sunia Turuva (Wests Tigers)
Semi Valemei (North Queensland Cowboys)
Maika Sivo (Parramatta Eels)
Taane Milne (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Jethro Rinakama (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Michael Jennings (Retired)
Kevin Naiqama (Retired)
Waqa Blake (St Helens RLFC)
Kurt Donoghoe (The Dolphins)
Caleb Navale (Manly Sea Eagles)
Kitione Kautoga (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Viliame Kikau (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Tui Kamikamica (Melbourne Storm)
Jordan Miller (Wests Tigers)
Nathan Kegg-Smith (Brisbane Tigers)
Kylan Mafoa (Manly Sea Eagles)
Ben Nakubuwai (Leigh Leopards)
Penioni Tagituimua (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Joe Lovodua (Doncaster)
James Valevatu (Wests Tigers)
Bayleigh Bentley-Hape (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

[StandOffHalf]

Good to see Jennings and Naiqama going out with some international footy. I think it should be 'Retiring' in brackets, not 'Retired', heehee.

[Wellsy4HullFC]

43 minutes ago, StandOffHalf said:

Good to see Jennings and Naiqama going out with some international footy. I think it should be 'Retiring' in brackets, not 'Retired', heehee.

Yeah makes it look like they've come out of retirement to play international rugby! 

 

[sam4731]

Surprising to see a SL player in a NZ squad. Has that happened recently for NZ or Australia?