Wikipedia

2019 Oceania Cup (rugby league)

For the field hockey tournament of the same name, see 2019 Oceania Cup (field hockey).

The 2019 Oceania Cup was the inaugural edition of the Oceania Cup. Contested by six teams, the competition began in June and concluded in November.

2019 (2019) Oceania Cup  ()
2019 Oceania Cup logo
Number of teams6
Host countries Australia
 New Zealand
Winner Australia (Cup)
 Fiji (Shield)
Matches played6
Attendance84,268 (14,045 per match)
Points scored240 (40 per match)
Tries scored43 (7.17 per match)
Top scorerFiji Brandon Wakeham (16)
Top try scorerFiji Viliame Kikau (3)
2020 > 

The competition was announced at the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) congress in November 2018.[1] The draw was released in March and breaks the six teams into two separate pools with promotion and relegation to exist in what is to become an annual tournament. Group A will comprise the top three ranked Pacific nations in Australia, New Zealand and Tonga while Group B will comprise Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.[2][3]

The winner of Pool A will win the Oceania Cup while the winner of Pool B will win the Oceania Shield and be promoted to Pool A in the next edition in place of Australia, who were due to travel to Europe for their first Kangaroos tour since 2003.[4]

Venues edit

The games were played at the following venues in New Zealand and Australia.

Auckland Auckland Wollongong
Eden Park Mt Smart Stadium WIN Stadium
Capacity: 50,000 Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 23,000
     
Sydney Christchurch
Leichhardt Oval Rugby League Park
Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 18,000
   

Results edit

Group A - Cup edit

Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts
  Australia 2 1 0 1 38 20 +18 2
  New Zealand 2 1 0 1 38 40 −2 2
  Tonga 2 1 0 1 30 46 −16 2


22 June 2019
17:40 NZST (UTC+12)
New Zealand   34–14   Tonga
Tries: Johnson (2), Hughes, Manu, Smith, Tuivasa-Sheck
Goals: Marsters (5/6)
 report
 Tries: Kata, Taukeiaho, Tupou
Goals: Taukeiaho (1/2), Staggs (0/1)

Notes:

25 October 2019
20:10 AEDT (UTC+11)
Australia   26–4   New Zealand
Tries: Addo-Carr, Cook, Frizell, Tedesco
Goals: Mitchell (4/5), Cherry-Evans (1/1)
 Report
 Tries: Nicoll-Klokstad
Goals: Johnson (0/1)

Notes:

2 November 2019
19:40 NZDT (UTC+13)
Tonga Invitational   16–12   Australia
Tries: Hopoate, Jennings, Pangai Junior
Goals: Staggs (2/4)
 Report
 Tries: Wighton, Vaughan
Goals: Mitchell (2/2)
Eden Park, Auckland[5]
Attendance: 25,257
Referee: Gerard Sutton (Australia)

Notes:

  • Cameron Murray (Australia) made his Test debut.
  • Though with an invitational side, this is Tonga's first win over Australia.

Group B - Shield edit

Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts
  Fiji 2 2 0 0 66 38 +28 4
  Samoa 2 1 0 1 42 50 −8 2
  Papua New Guinea 2 0 0 2 26 46 −20 0


22 June 2019
19:55 AEST (UTC+10)
Papua New Guinea   6–24   Samoa
Tries: Wapi
Goals: Martin (1/1)
 report
 Tries: Aloiai, Harris-Tavita, Luai, Paulo
Goals: Isaako (4/4)

Notes:

2 November 2019
14:20 NZDT (UTC+13)
Samoa   18–44   Fiji
Tries: Taufua (2), Lafai, Mulitalo
Goals: Lafai (1/4)
 Report
 Tries: Kikau (2), Miller, Lovodua, Lumelume, Naiqama, Ratuvakacereivalu, Wiliame
Goals: Wakeham (5/6), Moceidreke (1/2)
Eden Park, Auckland[5]
Attendance: 25,257
Referee: Grant Atkins (Australia)

Notes:

9 November 2019
17:20 NZDT (UTC+13)
Fiji   22–20   Papua New Guinea
Tries: Kamikamica, Kikau, Nakubuwai, Wiliame
Goals: Wakeham (3/4)
 Tries: Boas, Gebbie, Martin
Goals: Martin (4/4)

Notes:

  • Daniel Russell (Papua New Guinea) made his Test debut, while Alex Johnston made his debut for Papua New Guinea having previously represented Australia.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Kiwis will contest Oceania Cup in 2019 with Lions tour set for southern hemisphere". Stuff.co.nz. 11 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  2. ^ "Great Britain lions tour & Oceania Cup". Rugby League International Federation. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Oceania cup confirmed". Rugby League International Federation. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Wayne Bennett to coach Great Britain in lions tour of southern hemisphere". National Rugby League. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Walter, Brad (5 March 2019). "Kangaroos to play Tonga in triple-header as Oceania Cup launched". NRL.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Kiwi Ferns to face Fetu Samoa in Women's Test as part of double-header". NZRL. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Match officials for RLWC2021 Qualifier and RLIF Oceania Cup fixtures". RLIF. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Trans Tasman Test Match announced for Woolongong". RLIF. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  9. ^ "2019 Ox & Palm Pacific Test Invitational venue and teams confirmed". NRL.com. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
External videos
  New Zealand v Tonga 2019 Oceania Cup on YouTube
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