Match Thread - Triple Header at Eden Park

[jim_57]

Suprising but glad to see Fiji get such a big win here, so much potential for them not only compete with the big 3 but to do so with a mostly Fijian born team.

A game against Tonga would be really interesting because Fiji still have a decent claim of being the best Pacific team although they've been given a lot less oppurtunities compared to the Tongan "Golden Boys".

 

[jim_57]

With the teams and results these teams are putting out we aren't far off a pretty credible Oceania/Pacific Cup with 2 pools instead if 2 tiers.

Pool A - Aus, PNG & Fiji
Pool B (Polynesia Cup) - NZ, Tonga, Samoa & Cooks.

Something annually involving NZ, Tonga & Samoa has huge potential.

 

[Arucard]

Embarrassing for Samoa. Should have been 44-10 their way.

A team that isn’t as good as it looks on paper every time, versus a team that has made the last 3 World Cup semi finals and knocked NZ out at the last edition. In what way was that embarrassing for Samoa?
Fiji don’t get the respect they deserve.

 

[Burns]

With the teams and results these teams are putting out we aren't far off a pretty credible Oceania/Pacific Cup with 2 pools instead if 2 tiers.

Pool A - Aus, PNG & Fiji
Pool B (Polynesia Cup) - NZ, Tonga, Samoa & Cooks.

Something annually involving NZ, Tonga & Samoa has huge potential.

I think that is one shame out of today. We won't see Samoa v Tonga until possibly in the 2021 RLWC now.

 

[stormbati]

Wow, that was unexpected. 85% completion rate is an excellent performance especially with the way the ball was being thrown around.

Kikau was sensational and Wakeham delivered again. Wakeham doesn’t really look likely but makes some very good decisions.

Anyway good win Bati hopefully more of the same next week.

 

[jim_57]

A team that isn’t as good as it looks on paper every time, versus a team that has made the last 3 World Cup semi finals and knocked NZ out at the last edition. In what way was that embarrassing for Samoa?
Fiji don’t get the respect they deserve.

Definitely, on paper Fiji's best team is up there with Tonga in my opinion. Let's not forget some players that weren't there today like Sivo, Blake, Koroisau, Sims², Safiti², RCG and probably a few more.

 

[Burns]

Definitely, on paper Fiji's best team is up there with Tonga in my opinion. Let's not forget some players that weren't there today like Sivo, Blake, Koroisau, Sims², Safiti², RCG and probably a few more.

How many of those players will be around for 2021?

 

[jim_57]

I think that is one shame out of today. We won't see Samoa v Tonga until possibly in the 2021 RLWC now.

I agree NZ, Tonga & Samoa could have been huge but Fiji deserve it.

One of the perks of using 2 pools instead of 2 tiers would be having that tri-series (plus maybe the Cooks)every year as well as a tier 1 game for every Pacific nation every year.

 

[jim_57]

How many of those players will be around for 2021?

Not sure, I'd be interested to see why they weren't playing today I'm not sure how many are injured or if there's a few "World Cup Year only Fijians".

 

[Arucard]

I think that is one shame out of today. We won't see Samoa v Tonga until possibly in the 2021 RLWC now.

Builds great anticipation for when they do though.

 

[Burns]

Crowd thoughts?

 

[Front-Rower]

Why does the home team get the middle game and not the traditional last main game?

 

[Front-Rower]

These poms are going to melt in the heat

 

[Jim from Oz]

Crowd thoughts?

Andrew Moore on ABC radio just said he thought they were around 15,000 there at kickoff.

 

[Burns]

Why does the home team get the middle game and not the traditional last main game?

Because it was going to clash with RUWC Final which everyone thought the All Blacks would make

 

[Burns]

 

[Springs09]

With the teams and results these teams are putting out we aren't far off a pretty credible Oceania/Pacific Cup with 2 pools instead if 2 tiers.

Pool A - Aus, PNG & Fiji
Pool B (Polynesia Cup) - NZ, Tonga, Samoa & Cooks.

Something annually involving NZ, Tonga & Samoa has huge potential.

We shouldn’t be far off at all. We could easily do it now.

I don’t see why we can’t have a one pool Pacific Six Nations next year with NZ, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, PNG and Cooks all playing each other once and a final.
Could try something ambitious for once.

 

[Springs09]

I think that is one shame out of today. We won't see Samoa v Tonga until possibly in the 2021 RLWC now.

Yeah we’re smart out here in rugby league.

 

[Front-Rower]

Seen better state cup games than this.

Good luck Tigers next year if Benji is in the starting line up

 

[Front-Rower]

Because it was going to clash with RUWC Final which everyone thought the All Blacks would make

Fair call