2006 Pacific Cup

The 2006 Pacific Cup was the 10th Pacific Cup, a rugby league tournament held between Pacific teams. The tournament was hosted in Auckland and eventually won by Tonga, who defeated Fiji in the final. Fiji's Asaeli Saravaki was the Player of the Tournament.

2006 (2006) Pacific Cup  ()
Number of teams	6
Host country	New Zealand
Winner	Tonga (2nd title)
Matches played	9
Tournaments  < 2004 2009 >

Squads

Tonga, Cook Islands, New Zealand Māori and Tokelau squads comprised players mainly involved in New Zealand’s domestic Bartercard Cup and lower grades.[1]

The New Zealand Māori side was coached by Dean Clark and included Paul Atkins, Willie Heta, Darren Kingi, Jared Trott, Matt Wanoa and Steve Skinnon.[2]

Tongan squad included Taniela Moa, Joel Taufa'ao, Enele Taufa, Kosilio Tonga'uiha, Makasini Richter, Ukuma Ta’ai, Willie Wolfgramm and Kimi Uasi.[3]

The Cook Islands included Sam Mataora.

Tokelau replaced New Caledonia who pulled out a week before the tournament.[1]

The Fijian squad was a mix of local and overseas based players . While the majority of players were converts from rugby union the team also included Alipate Tani and Semisi Tora.[1]

Toa Samoa was the only team at the tournament to comprise entirely of indigenous local players. The intention of the Samoan Rugby League was to develop and expose local players with an eye to the 2008 World Cup qualifiers later in the year.[1]

Results

Pool A

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Tonga	2	2	0	0	106	14	92	4
2	Māori	2	1	0	1	78	46	32	2
3	Tokelau	2	0	0	2	4	128	-124	0

23 February 2006 1800 NZDT

Tonga	64 - 0	Tokelau
Try: M. Richter, S. Fotu, T. Moa, U. Uasi, P. Filimoehala (2), L. Faamara (2), L. Moala (3) Goal: J. Taufaao (9)

Ericsson Stadium No.2, Auckland Attendance: 2000 Man of the Match: Leimoni Moala (Tonga)

26 February 2006 1430 NZDT

Tonga	42 - 14	Māori
Try: U. Uasi, M Richter (2), T. Moa (5) Goal: J. Taufa'ao (5)		Try: M. Wanoa, J. Limmer, D. Were Goal: J. Trott (1)

Waitemata Stadium, Henderson Attendance: 2000 Man of the Match: Aloisio Malangi (Tonga)

2 March 2006 1800 NZDT

Māori	64 - 4	Tokelau
Try: D. Laulu, W. Heta, J. Trott, S. Skinnon, H. Raihe, S. Kuru, P. Atkins (2) S. Hunter (2), J. Paikea (2) Goal: W. Heta (1), J. Trott (3), C. Motu (5)		Try: S. Manu

Ericsson Stadium No.2, Auckland Attendance: 2000 Man of the Match: Paul Atkins (Māori)

Pool B

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Fiji	2	2	0	0	66	20	46	4
2	Cook Islands	2	1	0	1	60	40	20	2
3	Samoa	2	0	0	2	4	70	-66	0

23 February 2006 1930 NZDT

Fiji	26 - 4	Samoa
Try: M. Bainivalu, A. Saravaki, E. Naioko, A. Masikerei (2) Goal: A. Tani (3)		Try: S. Iosefo

Ericsson Stadium No.2, Auckland Attendance: 2000 Man of the Match: Apisai Masikerei (Fiji)

26 February 2006 1300 NZDT

Fiji	40 - 16	Cook Islands
Try: M Koronui, S. Tora, S. Koronamara, A. Tani, A. Saravaki, C. Clarke, V. Baleilomaloma Goal: A. Tani (6)		Try: J. Burgess, W. Vaeau, R. Enoka, T. Taia Goal: W. Vaeau

Waitemata Stadium, Henderson Attendance: 2000 Man of the Match: Asaeli Saravaki (Fiji)

2 March 2006 1930 NZDT

Cook Islands	44 - 0	Samoa
Try: N. Nga'a, J. Burgess, J. Tou, T. Raela, P. Russell (2), J. Taurarii (2), S. Mataora (2) Goal: S. Mataora (1), W. Vaeau (1)

Ericsson Stadium No.2, Auckland Attendance: 2000 Man of the Match: Terry Taia (Cook Is)

Play offs

Fifth place play-off

5 March 2006 1200 NZDT

Tokelau	34 - 28	Samoa
Try:P. Siaosi, J. Siaosi, A. Siagigi (2), J. Mataafa (2) Goal: A. Faafoi (5)		Try: I. Ioapo, F. Tavesi, G. Stowers, U. Saifoloi (2)Goal: T. Mataafa (3)

Waitemata Stadium, Henderson Attendance: 2000 Man of the Match: Aukuso Faafoi (Tokelau)

Third place play-off

5 March 2006 1330 NZDT

Māori	40 - 14	Cook Islands
Try: P. Atkins, D. Trott, D. Laulu, M. Wanoa (2), J. Limmer (2) Goal: J. Trott (3), C. Motu (3)		Try: W. Vaeau, R. Enoka, J Burgess Goal: S. Mataora (1)

Waitemata Stadium, Henderson Attendance: 2000 Man of the Match: Steve Skinnon (Māori)

Final

5 March 2006 1500 NZDT

Tonga	22 - 4	Fiji
Try: T. Moa, E. Uasi, K. Fifita, W. Wolfgram Goal: J. Taufaao (3)	[4][5]	Try: A. Masikerei

Waitemata Stadium, Henderson Attendance: 2000 Man of the Match: Willie Wolfgramm (Tonga)

References

1. Pacific Cup 2006 - Rugby League Alive And Well eventpolynesia.com
2. John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. p. 334. ISBN 978-1-86969-331-2.
3. Pacific Cup Tongan National Rugby League
4. 2006 International Rugby League Results & Tables Rugby League International Scores
5. Rugby League International Federation - New Zealand Rugby League 2006 Pacific Cup nzrl.co.nz. Archived version accessed on 14 January 2010.