Match Thread - Triple Header at Eden Park

[Burns]

A thread for the three matches today

Who wins?

Im going with Samoa to beat Fiji comfortably. Fiji have really struggled to get their NRL players out for this match which is pretty weird.

New Zealand to edge out GB Lions. I'm not that fussed on this game? Feel like i've seen NZ v England another times the past few years.

The highlight of course is Australia v Tonga. Hopefully it's somewhat close for 60min? I feel good about Tonga?

 

[adamkungl]

Lets do this

Normally I'd say Fiji but the outs for them are a few too many. Samoa look good across the park.
Don't write off Fiji, these games never go quite how you expect, but i'll tip Samoa to win.

NZ to beat GB in a close one. I don't really expect much from either side, I feel like they are both struggling with halves combinations.

Australia will beat Tonga but hopefully Tonga give them a good score.

 

[Burns]

Pretty sure a Tongan victory today would be the most incredible thing in international league history since maybe the Kiwis World Cup win in 2008.

An Oceanic Cup with them, NZ and Samoa next year would be electric.

 

[Burns]

 

[Cold Roses]

Brandon Smith out?

 

[siv]

If Samoa beat Fiji ttoday they win the Oceania Shield

 

[Arucard]

And in typical rugby league fashion, only the Australia Tonga game is being broadcasted for overseas viewers....... lol

 

[thorson1987]

Pretty sure a Tongan victory today would be the most incredible thing in international league history since maybe the Kiwis World Cup win in 2008.

An Oceanic Cup with them, NZ and Samoa next year would be electric.

Australia aren't in it next year anyway are they?

 

[Burns]

Well I was wrong about Samoa

can they sack Parish now?

 

[Jim from Oz]

And in typical rugby league fashion, only the Australia Tonga game is being broadcasted for overseas viewers....... lol

All three games are live on free to air on nine GEM in Australia.

Fiji up 24 to 0 against Samoa after 24 minutes!

 

[Arucard]

All three games are live on free to air on nine GEM in Australia.

Fiji up 24 to 0 against Samoa after 24 minutes!

That’s wonderful. I live in Japan though.

 

[morningstar]

That’s wonderful. I live in Japan though.

 

[The Rosco]

Importantly, we have learned that the Polynesian version of the name Tim is in fact Timoteo.
So both Tim Simona ( wanna buy some signed jumpers?) and Tim Lafai ( how hot am I?) are in fact Timoteo.
I feel privileged to be the first to have shared that info with you. Mind you, I only found out myself when Lafai . . . sorry, Timoteo Lafai was kicking the goal.
I'm still amazed that nobody picked that up before today !!

 

[Jim from Oz]

Is there anywhere we can see the team lists?

 

[Burns]

Big second half here for Samoa, given the likelyhood that the winner will play NZ and Tonga next year in the Oceanic Cup. Would be much better preparation for 2021 RLWC than playing PNG and the Cook Islands.

 

[Cold Roses]

NZ side listed with Hughes starting at hooker and Nikorima on the bench.

 

[Burns]

Fiji got this in the bag now, 38-10 with about 20min to go.

Probably not the result you would want for good crowds/hype for the Oceanic Cup for next year, but they deserve it more than Samoa.

 

[Burns]

 

[MKCS]

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

 

[Burns]

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

Maybe not? Fiji, to their credit, have been very consistent against Tier 2 nations. Don't make 3 consecutive RLWC Semi Finals out of nothing I guess.