Pacific Invitational Match Thread (Fiji v lebanese; PNG v Samoa)

[Burns]

Fiji v Lebanon game just started.

There is a few thousand at Leichardt. Lebanon look like an amateur team, Fiji should win this very easily.

Going from NZ v Tonga to this is whiplash haha

 

[Jim from Oz]

First game result : Fiji 58 Lebanon 14

Fiji were all over them in the first half but Lebanon fought back in a second,

Samoa up 6-0 early against Papua New Guinea.

About 7000 people at Leichardt, pretty disappointing crowd but it is a cold and damp night

 

[Jim from Oz]

Samoa 12 PNG 6 at half time

 

[deluded pom?]

Any protests by the Lebanon players?

 

[welshmagpie]

Any protests by the Lebanon players?

No, except for Robbie Farah taking Fiji’s last conversion.

Lebanon looked unfit and like they hadn’t trained much. The domestic fella who came on for the last 3 minutes was so out of his depth - the one attempt he had of a tackle was something you see in under 12s rugby union.

 

[firechild]

Can anyone explain why the match between Lebanon and Fiji was called the Pacific test? Last time I had a look at a map, Lebanon wasn't anywhere near the Pacific.

 

[Jim from Oz]

Can anyone explain why the match between Lebanon and Fiji was called the Pacific test? Last time I had a look at a map, Lebanon wasn't anywhere near the Pacific.

Cos this is international rugby league lol !

Final attendance was apparently 8048

 

[Stallion]

Cos this is international rugby league lol !

Final attendance was apparently 8048

8408 was the official attendance number. Wet inclement weather did not help either.

 

[deluded pom?]

Can anyone explain why the match between Lebanon and Fiji was called the Pacific test? Last time I had a look at a map, Lebanon wasn't anywhere near the Pacific.

It’s a bit like Japan playing in the Copa America in soccer.

 

[adamkungl]

Lebanon's dramas all week no doubt effected ticket sales and their preparation.

I honestly thought the game wouldn't go ahead. They need to sort themselves out before getting any more games of this standing.


The Samoa v PNG game was hugely entertaining. Love watching PNG play, even when they don't quite click in attack they way the play the game is just so physical and enthusiastic.

 

[Jim from Oz]

Lebanon's dramas all week no doubt effected ticket sales and their preparation.

I honestly thought the game wouldn't go ahead. They need to sort themselves out before getting any more games of this standing.


The Samoa v PNG game was hugely entertaining. Love watching PNG play, even when they don't quite click in attack they way the play the game is just so physical and enthusiastic.

Yep, totally agree

thought it was by far the most entertaining of the 3 tests on Saturday

 

[miguel de cervantes]

agree, PNG v Samoa best test. Better that SOO even.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

How they can not make money off a test like that is beyond me, considering the millions in PNG that would pay, what, a $1 to see the game?

 

[adamkungl]

How they can not make money off a test like that is beyond me, considering the millions in PNG that would pay, what, a $1 to see the game?

Lack of vision and ambition

 

[adamkungl]

Yep, totally agree

thought it was by far the most entertaining of the 3 tests on Saturday

I enjoyed the Kiwis bounce back.
Smith, Marshall and Johnson combined for some great attack.
Since the 2017 WC they are 2/2 at home which should help bring the fans confidence back, despite the 1/4 against England in the Northern hemisphere last year.
A win or 2 in November would be great for them.

And despite the blowout score, watching Fiji play is very entertaining. If you built a Rugby League player from scratch with the ideal build, you'd build a Fijian. Made for the game.

 

[latingringo101]

What we learnt from the tests;

Lebanon : Need to improve greatly and get both domestic and national team sorted out.

Fiji: Great to see a mix of young and experienced team with a lot of Fiji born players in the team. Great to see.

Samoa: seem solid and a lot better than last year. Few key players missing but looked like a strong team. Would have loved to seem them play Fiji.

PNG: Were better than Lebanon but key players missing and apart from Segeyaro they don't have solid NRL playmakers to call on.

Location: maybe if this is on next year in Sydney do it at Paramatta stadium or an all seater stadium with easier public transport. Leichhardt is ok on a Sunday afternoon but on a wet and cold Saturday where parking is atrocious doesn't help

 

[adamkungl]

What we learnt from the tests;

Lebanon : Need to improve greatly and get both domestic and national team sorted out.

Fiji: Great to see a mix of young and experienced team with a lot of Fiji born players in the team. Great to see.

Samoa: seem solid and a lot better than last year. Few key players missing but looked like a strong team. Would have loved to seem them play Fiji.

PNG: Were better than Lebanon but key players missing and apart from Segeyaro they don't have solid NRL playmakers to call on.

Location: maybe if this is on next year in Sydney do it at Paramatta stadium or an all seater stadium.

Samoa v Fiji is being played in November as the undercard to Aus v Tonga and NZ v GB in the Eden Park triple header

 

[latingringo101]

Samoa v Fiji is being played in November as the undercard to Aus v Tonga and NZ v GB in the Eden Park triple header

True, just meant if they played with those exact teams on Saturday

 

[Burns]

If the Oceanic Cup first round game isn’t played at BankWest Stadium someone should get fired.