2013 Pacific Rugby League Test

The 2013 Pacific Rugby League International was created in advance of the international 2013 Rugby League World Cup campaigns played between Samoa and Tonga. Tonga won the test match 36–4. Tonga's Samisoni Langi won the player of the match award, scoring 16 points from two attempts and four conversions.

Controversy occurred late in the match, as the game was ended before Langi had the chance to convert the final try because fans invaded the pitch.[1][2]

Both teams selected new players, with the most experienced players appearing between 3-8 times. The most experienced players in the test match were Tonga's Richard Fa'aoso and Etu Uaisele who both made 8 previous appearances. Samoa's most experienced player was Ben Roberts who made 3 previous appearances. All players were contracted to NRL clubs (though some were still playing in the NYC, except for Tongan winger Etu Uaisele who played for the Wyong Roos in the New South Wales Cup.

Also that weekend was the ANZAC test.

Match details

ANZAC test

Main article: 2013 Anzac Test

The 2013 ANZAC test (also known as the VB Test due to sponsorship by Victoria Bitter) was the 14th annual Anzac test, and was the first time the Australian Kangaroos played at Canberra Stadium and in the Australia's capital city. They defeated New Zealand 32-12 in the test match played on 19 April 2013 before a crowd of 25,628.[3]

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Polynesian Cup

2013 (2013) Pacific Rugby League test  ()
Samoa Tonga 4 36
1 2 Total SAM 4 0 4 TON 10 26 36
Date	20 April 2013
Stadium	Centrebet Stadium
Location	Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
Man of the Match	Samisoni Langi
Referees	Matt Cecchin
Attendance	10,143
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	Fox Sports Australia
Commentators	Matt Russell Greg Alexander Mark Gasnier

20 April 2013 19:30 (AEST)

Samoa	4 – 36	Tonga
Try: Vidot 27' m Goal: Roberts (0/1)	Video	Try: Langi (2) 4' c, 73' c Likiliki (2) 11' m, 42' m Fonua (2) 63' c, 79' (not attempted) Uaisele 59' c Goal: Langi (4/6) 4', 59', 63', 73'

FB 1 Matthew Wright WG 2 Kalifa Faifai Loa CE 3 Antonio Winterstein CE 4 Junior Sa'u WG 5 Daniel Vidot FE 6 Carlos Tuimavave HB 7 Ben Roberts PR 8 Jeff Lima HK 9 Masada Iosefa PR 10 Roy Asotasi (c) SR 11 Eddy Pettybourne SR 12 Sam Tagataese LK 13 Lama Tasi Substitutions: BE 14 Leeson Ah Mau BE 15 Martin Taupau BE 16 Mark Taufua BE 17 Alex Elisala Coach: Steve Price

FB 1 Glen Fisiiahi WG 2 Mahe Fonua CE 3 Michael Oldfield CE 4 Siuatonga Likiliki WG 5 Etu Uaisele FE 6 Samisoni Langi HB 7 Daniel Foster PR 8 Brent Kite (c) HK 14 Siliva Havili PR 18 Fuifui Moimoi SR 11 Sika Manu SR 12 Jason Taumalolo LK 13 Anthony Tupou Substitutions: BE 9 Nafe Seluini BE 10 Sam Moa BE 16 Richard Faʻaoso BE 17 Ben Murdoch-Masila Coach: Charlie Tonga

October matches

7 October 2013	Solomon Islands	30 – 48	Vanuatu	Stadium Mackay, Mackay

12 October 2013	Vanuatu	22 – 20	Niue	Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila

Pacific nations participated in four matches before the 2013 Rugby League World Cup in Europe. Scotland played Papua New Guinea at Featherstone,[4] New Zealand played the Cook Islands in Doncaster[5] and England A played Samoa at Salford.[6]

19 October 2013	Rochdale Hornets	0 – 78	Fiji	Spotland Stadium, Rochdale

19 October 2013	England A	52 – 16	Samoa	AJ Bell Stadium, Eccles[7]

19 October 2013	Scotland	20 – 38	Papua New Guinea	Post Office Road, Featherstone[8]

20 October 2013	New Zealand	50 – 0	Cook Islands	Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster[9]

References

1. "Tonga smashes Samoa in a chaotic league Test shutout at Penrith's Centrebet Stadium". foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
2. Warren, Adrian (20 April 2013). "Tonga smash Samoa 36-4". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
3. nzrl.co.nz. "2013 Anzac Test (VB Test)". Past Tests. New Zealand Rugby League. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
4. Harber, Tony (18 October 2013). "Scotland ready for physical test at Featherstone". Pontefract and Castleford Express. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
5. David Long (14 July 2013). "Kiwis Warm Up with the Cooks – league – sport". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
6. Dave Sparks (18 October 2013). "Samoa squad for England Knights clash". Loverugbyleague.com. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
7. "Rugby League World Cup: England Knights thrash Samoa 52-16 at the Salford City Stadium". skysports.com.
8. "Rugby League News – Super League Live Scores – Betting Tips – Sporting Life". sportinglife.com.
9. "Rugby League World Cup: New Zealand brush aside Cook Islands in warm-up". skysports.com.

See also

• 2013 Anzac Test