2017 Pacific Rugby League Tests

The 2017 Pacific Rugby League Tests, known commercially as the Mesh & Bar Pacific Tests,[1] are a group of rugby league test matches that were played on 6 May 2017 at Campbelltown Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Papua New Guinea played against the Cook Islands; Fiji against Tonga; and England against Samoa.[2]

The triple header at the 20,000 capacity Campbelltown Stadium attracted an almost capacity crowd of 18,271.[3]

Squads

Cook Islands[4] Name Club Uiti Baker Newcastle Knights Geoff Daniela St Mary's Saints Carne Doyle-Manga Tweed Heads Seagulls Johnathon Ford Toulouse Olympique Alex Glenn Brisbane Broncos Ezra Howe Tweed Heads Seagulls Isaac John Mount Pritchard Mounties Makahesi Makatoa Canberra Raiders Esan Marsters Wests Tigers Sam Mataora Newcastle Knights David Munro Townsville Blackhawks Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad New Zealand Warriors Marata Niukore Parramatta Eels Moses Noovao-McGreal Sunshine Coast Falcons Reuben Porter Sydney Roosters Reubenn Rennie Mount Pritchard Mounties Kobe Tararo Gold Coast Titans Aaron Teroi Newcastle Thunder Coach: Tony Iro	England[5] Name Club Kevin Brown[6] Warrington Wolves Sam Burgess South Sydney Rabbitohs Tom Burgess South Sydney Rabbitohs Luke Gale Castleford Tigers James Graham Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Ryan Hall Leeds Rhinos Zak Hardaker Castleford Tigers Chris Heighington Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Chris Hill Warrington Wolves Josh Hodgson Canberra Raiders Jermaine McGillvary Huddersfield Giants Mike McMeeken Castleford Tigers Chris McQueen Gold Coast Titans Sean O'Loughlin Wigan Warriors Mark Percival St Helens Stefan Ratchford[6] Warrington Wolves Scott Taylor Hull F.C. Alex Walmsley St Helens Kallum Watkins Leeds Rhinos Elliott Whitehead Canberra Raiders Gareth Widdop[6] St. George Illawarra Dragons George Williams[6] Wigan Warriors Coach: Wayne Bennett	Fiji[7] Name Club Waqa Blake Penrith Panthers Kane Evans Sydney Roosters Tui Kamikamica Melbourne Storm Viliame Kikau Penrith Panthers Apisai Koroisau Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Taane Milne St. George Illawarra Dragons Marcelo Montoya Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Sitiveni Moceidreke South Sydney Rabbitohs Kevin Naiqama Wests Tigers Ben Nakubuwai Sunshine Coast Falcons Tyrone Phillips Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Henry Raiwalui Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Daniel Saifiti Newcastle Knights Jacob Saifiti Newcastle Knights Korbin Sims Brisbane Broncos Tariq Sims[8][6] St. George Illawarra Dragons James Storer Illawarra Rugby League Akuila Uate[6] Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Eloni Vunakece Sydney Roosters Suliasi Vunivalu Melbourne Storm Coach: Michael Potter
Papua New Guinea[9] Name Club Stanton Albert PNG Hunters Wellington Albert PNG Hunters Stargroth Amean PNG Hunters Ase Boas PNG Hunters Watson Boas PNG Hunters Tom Butterfield Easts Tigers Israel Eliab[10] PNG Hunters Rod Griffin Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Nene Macdonald[10] St. George Illawarra Dragons Rhyse Martin Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Willie Minoga[10] PNG Hunters Justin Olam Melbourne Storm Luke Page Burleigh Bears Richard Pandia Ipswich Jets Wartovo Puara PNG Hunters Nixon Put PNG Hunters Thompson Teteh Redcliffe Dolphins Henry Wan PNG Hunters Adex Wera PNG Hunters Coach: Michael Marum	Samoa[11] Name Club Bunty Afoa[12] New Zealand Warriors Leeson Ah Mau St. George Illawarra Dragons John Asiata North Queensland Cowboys Fa'amanu Brown Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Herman Ese'ese Brisbane Broncos Sam Kasiano Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Tim Lafai St. George Illawarra Dragons Joseph Leilua Canberra Raiders Isaac Liu[12] Sydney Roosters Josh McGuire Brisbane Broncos Peter Mata'utia Newcastle Knights Sione Mata'utia Newcastle Knights Suaia Matagi Parramatta Eels Ken Maumalo[12] New Zealand Warriors Anthony Milford Brisbane Broncos David Nofoaluma[12] Wests Tigers Junior Paulo[12] Canberra Raiders Kaysa Pritchard Parramatta Eels Sauaso Sue Wests Tigers Antonio Winterstein North Queensland Cowboys Coach: Matt Parish	Tonga[11] Name Club Andrew Fifita[13][6] Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Addin Fonua-Blake Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Siliva Havili St. George Illawarra Dragons Ata Hingano New Zealand Warriors William Hopoate Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Konrad Hurrell[6][14] Gold Coast Titans Michael Jennings[6] Parramatta Eels Sione Katoa Penrith Panthers Felise Kaufusi Melbourne Storm Patrick Kaufusi North Queensland Cowboys Samisoni Langi Penrith Panthers Leilani Latu Penrith Panthers Brenko Lee Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Tuimoala Lolohea New Zealand Warriors Sika Manu[6] Hull F.C. Joe Ofahengaue Brisbane Broncos Leivaha Pulu Gold Coast Titans Moses Suli[6] Wests Tigers Jorge Taufua[6] Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Sio Siua Taukeiaho[6] Sydney Roosters Daniel Tupou Sydney Roosters Manu Vatuvei[14] New Zealand Warriors Siosaia Vave Parramatta Eels Sione Vea Tongan National Rugby League[15][16] Tony Williams[6] Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Coach: Kristian Woolf

ANZAC test

Main article: 2017 Anzac Test

The 2017 Anzac Test was a rugby league test match played between Australia and New Zealand at Canberra Stadium. It was the 18th and last Anzac Test played between the two nations since the first was played under the Super League banner in 1997. The match was played on 5 May 2017.[17]

The Australian team was announced on 26 April,[18] while the New Zealand team was announced on 30 April with the starters and 18th man named on 4 May.[19][20]

Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands

6 May 2017 3:15pm (AEST)

Papua New Guinea	32 – 22	Cook Islands
Tries: Amean (2), Puara, Put, Wera Goals: A. Boas (6/6)	Report	Tries: Daniela (2), Baker, Marsters Goals: John (3/4)

Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney Referee: James Child Man of the Match: Stargroth Amean

FB 1 Stargroth Amean WG 2 Justin Olam CE 3 Thompson Teteh CE 4 Adex Wera WG 5 Richard Pandia FE 6 Ase Boas HB 7 Watson Boas PR 8 Henry Wan HK 9 Wartovo Puara PR 10 Luke Page SR 11 Rhyse Martin SR 12 Rod Griffin (c) LK 13 Stanton Albert Interchange: BE 14 Tom Butterfield BE 15 Wellington Albert BE 16 Nixon Put BE 17 Israel Eliab Coach: Michael Marum

FB 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad WG 2 Geoff Daniela CE 3 Esan Marsters CE 20 Marata Niukore WG 5 Reubenn Rennie FE 14 Johnathon Ford HB 7 Isaac John PR 16 Carne Doyle-Manga HK 9 Aaron Teroi PR 10 Uiti Baker SR 11 Alex Glenn (c) SR 12 Makahesi Makatoa LK 13 David Munro Interchange: BE 8 Reuben Porter BE 15 Moses Noovao-McGreal BE 18 Kobe Tararo BE 19 Sam Mataora Coach: Tony Iro

Tonga vs Fiji

6 May 2017 5:30pm (AEST)

Tonga	26 – 24	Fiji
Tries: Latu (2), Suli, Tupou, Vatuvei Goals: Hingano (2/2), Lolohea (1/3)	Report	Tries: Kikau, Nakubuwai, D. Saifiti, Storer Goals: Koroisau (2/2), Moceidreke (2/2)

Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney Referee: Ben Cummins Man of the Match: William Hopoate

FB 1 William Hopoate (c) WG 2 Manu Vatuvei CE 3 Brenko Lee CE 4 Moses Suli WG 5 Daniel Tupou FE 6 Tuimoala Lolohea HB 7 Ata Hingano PR 8 Leilani Latu HK 9 Siliva Havili PR 10 Addin Fonua-Blake SR 11 Felise Kaufusi SR 12 Tony Williams LK 13 Joe Ofahengaue Interchange: BE 14 Sione Katoa BE 15 Patrick Kaufusi BE 16 Leivaha Pulu BE 17 Siosaia Vave Coach: Kristian Woolf

FB 1 Kevin Naiqama (c) WG 2 Suliasi Vunivalu CE 3 Waqa Blake CE 4 Taane Milne WG 5 Marcelo Montoya FE 6 Sitiveni Moceidreke HB 7 Henry Raiwalui PR 8 Daniel Saifiti HK 9 Apisai Koroisau PR 10 Kane Evans SR 11 Viliame Kikau SR 12 Tui Kamikamica LK 13 Korbin Sims Interchange: BE 14 James Storer BE 15 Jacob Saifiti BE 16 Eloni Vunakece BE 17 Ben Nakubuwai Coach: Michael Potter

England vs Samoa

7 May 2017 7:30pm (AEST)

England	30 – 10	Samoa
Tries: Graham, Hall, Hodgson, McGillvary, Ratchford Goals: Gale (5/6)	Report	Tries: Leilua, Milford Goals: Milford (1/2)

Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney Referee: Gerard Sutton Man of the Match: Elliott Whitehead

FB 1 Stefan Ratchford WG 2 Jermaine McGillvary CE 3 Kallum Watkins CE 4 Zak Hardaker WG 5 Ryan Hall SO 6 Kevin Brown SH 7 Luke Gale PR 8 Sam Burgess (c) HK 9 Josh Hodgson PR 10 James Graham SR 11 Mike McMeeken SR 12 Elliott Whitehead LF 13 Sean O'Loughlin Interchange: BE 14 Chris Hill BE 15 Chris Heighington BE 16 Chris McQueen BE 17 Tom Burgess Coach: Wayne Bennett

FB 1 Peter Mata'utia WG 2 Ken Maumalo CE 3 Joseph Leilua CE 4 Tim Lafai WG 5 Antonio Winterstein (c) FE 6 Anthony Milford HB 7 Fa'amanu Brown PR 8 Sam Kasiano HK 15 Suaia Matagi PR 10 Junior Paulo SR 11 Sione Mata'utia SR 12 Leeson Ah Mau LK 13 Josh McGuire Interchange: BE 14 John Asiata BE 15 Sauaso Sue BE 17 Herman Ese'ese BE 19 Pita Godinet Coach: Matt Parish

References

1. "Mesh & Bar official naming rights partner of Pacific Test". NRL.com. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
2. Elmerhebe, Tarik (16 March 2017). "International rugby league triple header coming to Campbelltown". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
3. England vs Samoa
4. "Cook Islands name squad for PNG Test". Asia Pacific RL. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
5. "Wayne Bennett names three England debutants in squad for Samoa Test match". BBC. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
6. "Updated squads: England, Tonga, Fiji, PNG". NRL.com. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
7. "Fiji Bati squad for Tonga Test Match". Asia Pacific RL. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
8. "2017 Country Origin squad announced". NRL.com. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
9. "PNG Kumuls squad announced for Cook Islands Test". Asia Pacific RL. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
10. "Eliab called into PNG Kumuls squad following suspension". Radio NZ. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
11. "Samoa and Tonga squads announced". NRL.com. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
12. "Samoa call up Bunty Afoa and Ken Maumalo for England Test". Sky Sports. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
13. "Fifita joins Kangaroos squad". NRL.com. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
14. Long, David (2 May 2017). "Manu Vatuvei called into Tongan team to play Fiji". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
15. Gabor, Martin (4 May 2017). "Opportunity of a lifetime for Tonga rookie". NRL.com. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
16. Ryan, Nathan (6 May 2017). "Tongan team welcomes local player Sione Vea into Test squad". Fox Sports. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
17. "NRL 2017: Canberra to host final Anzac Test, Mal Meninga back international changes". Fox Sports. 13 February 2017.
18. "2017 Kangaroos Anzac Test squad". NRL.com. 26 April 2017.
19. "Kiwis team announced to take on Kangaroos". NRL.com. 30 April 2017.
20. "Kiwis starters named for Anzac Test". 4 May 2017 – via New Zealand Herald.