International rugby league in 2015

2015 (2015) Polynesian Cup ()
2015 Polynesian Cup
18	16
Date	2 May 2015
Stadium	Fox Sports Australia
Commentators	Andrew Voss; Greg Alexander; Andy Raymond;

2015 (2015) Melanesian Cup ()
2015 Melanesian Cup
10	22
Date	2 May 2015
Stadium	Fox Sports Australia
Commentators	Joel Caine; Braith Anasta; Andy Raymond;

The 2015

Pacific Rugby League International was split into two games. The first was the Melanesian Cup between Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The second was the Polynesian Cup between Samoa and Tonga

.

Results

Melanesian Cup

On 24 December 2014 it was announced that Papua New Guinea would play Fiji and Samoa would play Tonga as part of a 2015 Pacific test double header. The 2015 Melanesian Cup was played between Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

With a half-time lead of 18 points, Fiji beat Papua New Guinea to win the Melanesian Cup title^[1] by score of 22–10. Fiji's Marika Koroibete won the player of the match award, scoring 2 tries. Papua New Guinea has not won a test-match on away soil since the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.

Fiji picked 6 débutantes for the test match, while Papua New Guinea also featured six players making their first ever International appearance. Both teams had NRL, Queensland or New South Wales Cup, and domestic club players. Papua New Guinea's most experienced players were

Jason Bukuya

making his 10th appearance.

Jason Bukuya

led Fiji.

Match details

2 May 2015

Papua New Guinea	10 – 22	Fiji
Try: Zeming (1/1) 69'	Video	Try: Bukuya 20' c Koroibete (2) 28' c, 34' c Goodall 76' Goal: Koroisau (3/3) 22', 29', 35' Wiliame (0/1)

Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Referee:

Matt Cecchin
Player of the Match: Marika Koroibete (Fiji)


FB	1	Josh Damen
WG	2	Nene MacDonald
CE	3	Thompson Teteh
CE	4	Kato Ottio
WG	5	Matt Trnka
FE	6	Israel Eliab (c)
HB	7	Noel Zeming
PR	8	Stanton Albert
HK	9	Ray Thompson
PR	10	Wellington Albert
SR	11	Rhyse Martin
SR	12	Tyson Martin
LL	13	Luke Page
Substitutions:
BE	14	Wartovo Puara
BE	15	Willie Minoga
BE	16	Brandy Peter
BE	17	Adam Korave
Coach:
Mal Meninga


FB	1	Kevin Naiqama
WG	2	Marika Koroibete
CE	3	Fabian Goodall
CE	4	Brayden Wiliame
WG	5	Eto Nabuli
FE	6	Daryl Millard
HB	7	Ryan Millard
PR	8	Eloni Vunakece
HK	9	Apisai Koroisau
PR	16	Tikio Noke
SR	11	Jayson Bukuya (c)
SR	12	Jacob Saifiti
LK	13	Korbin Sims
Substitutions:
BE	10	Daniel Saifiti
BE	14	Tyrone Phillips
BE	15	Viliame Kikau
BE	17	Osea Sadrau
Coach:
Rick Stone

Polynesian Cup

On 24 December 2014 it was announced that Papua New Guinea would play Fiji and Samoa would play Tonga in the 2015 Pacific test double header. The 2015 Polynesian Cup was played between Samoa and Tonga.

Samoa beat Tonga to win the Polynesian Cup title.^[2] No more than a 6-point margin separated the teams throughout the game. In the 77th minute a try-saving tackle was made on Tonga's Jorge Tafua. He attempted to dive into the corner to score his hat-trick only to be knocked into touch with a hit by Samoan forward Sam Kasiano. The Samoans won the game, 18–16.

Samoa picked two débutantes for the test match, while Tonga featured four. Both teams' players were

Richard Fa'aoso

who also made his 10th appearance.

Match details

2 May 2015

Samoa	18 – 16	Tonga
Try: McGuire 24' c Vidot 37' Pritchard 56' Peyroux 70' Goal: Simona (1/4) 26'	Video	Try: Tafua (2) 28', 48' S Manu 52' c Goal: Langi (0/2) Kata (2/2) 53', 65'

Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Attendance: 12,336
Referee:

Ben Cummins
Player of the Match: Sam Kasiano (Samoa)


FB	1	Tautau Moga
WG	2	Pat Mata'utia
CE	3	Joseph Leilua
CE	4	Ricky Leutele
WG	5	Daniel Vidot
FE	6	Carlos Tuimavave
HB	7	Tim Simona
PR	8	Sam Kasiano
HK	9	Josh McGuire
PR	10	Sauaso Sue
SR	11	Leeson Ah Mau
SR	12	Frank Pritchard (c)
LK	13	Isaac Liu
Substitutions:
BE	15	Dunamis Lui
BE	16	Sam Lisone
BE	17	Dominique Peyroux
BE	18	Michael Sio
Coach:
Matt Parish


FB	1	Tuimoala Lolohea
WG	2	Jorge Taufua
CE	3	Konrad Hurrell
CE	5	Mahe Fonua
WG	14	Sosaia Feki
FE	6	Samisoni Langi
HB	4	Solomone Kata
PR	8	Richard Fa'aoso
HK	9	Pat Politoni
PR	10	Peni Terepo
SR	11	Sika Manu (c)
SR	12	Manu Ma'u
LK	13	Sio Siua Taukeiaho
Substitutions:
BE	7	Joel Luani
BE	15	Ben Murdoch-Masila
BE	16	Felise Kaufusi
BE	17	Albert Vete
Coach:
Kristian Woolf

ANZAC Test

The 2015 Anzac Test was a rugby league test match played between Australia and New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. It was the 16th Anzac Test played between the two nations under the Super League banner since 1997. Both sides were announced on 26 April.^[3]^[4] The game was originally scheduled to take place on 1 May, but it was postponed due to weather^[5] until May 3.

2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification – Asia-Pacific play-off

On October 17, Tonga had a one-off battle with the

Asia-Pacific qualifying playoff for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup

. The Tongans only led by 4 at the break before running away in the second half scoring 3 tries in the last 20 minutes of the game.

Before the game Tongan coach, Kristian Woolf, noted how players eligible for second-tier nations such as Tonga and Samoa were punished if they pursued an opportunity with an Australian or New Zealand Test or Origin squad. He made the complaint after Tongan internationals

end-of-year test series against England. Now, Tonga can't pick these two players until a 2-year period has passed. Woolf said "Some flexibility in those rules would certainly help in terms of helping your tier two nations becoming more competitive with your first-tier nations."^[6]