Pacific Cup 2024

[Wheeled Warrior]

Opted for surgery Ignore above posts

 

[Matua]

League needs new blood, the inclusion of the Pacific Islands not including NZ has really proved that point and been the biggest quantum leap for the game in a hundred years.

Can't say I agree with you here ehoa. There's been no quantum leap, the Aussies have just set up a system for them. All it's done is weaken NZ by the Aussies having rules that favours splitting NZ apart as much as possible.

In all honesty, playing and beating the Kangaroos/Poms is the real prize in International league and the new system makes that a little more difficult.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Can't say I agree with you here ehoa. There's been no quantum leap, the Aussies have just set up a system for them. All it's done is weaken NZ by the Aussies having rules that favours splitting NZ apart as much as possible.

In all honesty, playing and beating the Kangaroos/Poms is the real prize in International league and the new system makes that a little more difficult.

Do you mean the change allowing Tier 2 aligned players to also play Origin?

If so, it seems the only scenario where the Kiwis have been (additionally) disadvantaged is when a player is:

- eligible for the Kiwis; and
- eligible for a Tier 2 nation; and
- eligible for Origin; but
- commits to Tier 2 instead of the Kiwis, for the sole purpose of playing Origin.

The last part is hard to know for sure unless a player outright admits it.

But unless I’ve missed something, that still feels like a pretty small subset of players? maybe Isaiya Katoa?

Plus if the benchmark is beating the Roos and Poms, both Tonga and Samoa have done that over the last few years since having a bigger pool of players who've committed.

So if the change has made things harder for the Kiwis, its at least helped the broader game.

 

[sup42]

Can't say I agree with you here ehoa. There's been no quantum leap, the Aussies have just set up a system for them. All it's done is weaken NZ by the Aussies having rules that favours splitting NZ apart as much as possible.

In all honesty, playing and beating the Kangaroos/Poms is the real prize in International league and the new system makes that a little more difficult.

`Can't disagree on the set up by the Aussies, of course they dirtied the pool, they always do, in everything they do, Aussie is a synonym for cheating.
The Tongans sell out stadiums in New Zealand and sing hymns during the tests. Them and Samoa drive around Auckland waving flags from vehicles and hosting street parades as far off as the united states. So yes they are the evolution of the sport there is no getting away from that.

Take a visit to Penrose and drive the blocks of streets around Mt Smart and see Tongan flags flying from houses all year around. We have seen nothing like it from a league audience.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Great shot on Collins, he might need a new Spleen.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Tommy Turbo with an intercept to open the scoring. Lolo with the pass.

6-0 13mins

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Enjoying this. Somehow even at international level Olakau’atu looks like the big kid in the Under 10s

 

[Philip_Smith007]

If we had all our best players we should beat this Aussie team.
But they could say something similar.
In saying that Grant would be their 1st choice hooker and Edwards the fullback.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Christchurch officially a sell out for Kiwis v Kangaroos

Now you just need the threat of China setting up a military base in the area and the Aussie government will give you $600million to set up a NRL team!

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Hammer not down!

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Lomax misses the 1 point field goal on halftime.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Australia held up again.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Hammer down now.
7 tackle set and Tonga looked a little tired.

12-0 53mins

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Tonga lose a man to bin for professional foul, never square at marker after making a great last line of defence tackle.

14-0 59mins

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Tonga balls up a try!

 

[Philip_Smith007]

4th time Aussies held up or lose it over the try line

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Tonga's hands, speed and what looks a lack of a plan have let them down in attack.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Dearden scores from dummy half 20m out.

18-0 80mins

 

[Blair]

A bummer for all those Tongan fans. They're a fun bunch and not getting over the line was disappointing.

 

[Beavers Headgear]