2009 Pacific Cup
# 2009 Pacific Cup

The 2009 Pacific Cup, known as the 2009 SP Brewery Pacific Cup due to sponsorship, was a rugby league competition held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The competing teams were the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga.

Tonga, Fiji and PNG had their places in the draw confirmed initially, with the Cook Islands defeating Samoa in a Pacific Cup qualifier in Cairns on 17 October 2009 to decide which team took the final place in the tournament.

The four Pacific Cup matches were played at Lloyd Robson Oval on 24–25 October and 31 October. The Pacific Cup final was played on 1 November 2009 between Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands. By winning the 2009 Pacific Cup, Papua New Guinea won the right to compete in the 2010 Four Nations tournament.

Brian Canavan was appointed as tournament director by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).

## Matches

### Qualifying

* 17 October 2009 19:30

| Cook Islands | 22–20 | Samoa |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Makimare (2), Fepuleai, Ngaro Goals: Takairangi (3) | Report | Tries: Ah Van (2), Hansen, Taulapapa Goals: Mata'utia (2) |

* Barlow Park, Cairns Attendance: 4,261

### Semifinals

* 24 October 2009

| Cook Islands | 24–22 | Fiji |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Fepuleai (2), Peyroux (2), Ngaro Goals: Fepuleai (2) | Report | Tries: Uate (2), Ratu, Waqa Goals: W. Naiqama (3) |

* Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 3,269 Referee: Phil Haines (Australia)
* 25 October 2009

| Papua New Guinea | 44–14 | Tonga |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Mead (2), Yere (2), Chan, Kui, Parker, Wabo Goals: Wilshere (6) | Report | Tries: Tongia (2), Vea Goals: Paea |

* Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 9,813 Referee: Chris James (Australia)

### Third place Playoff

* 31 October 2009

| Fiji | 26–16 | Tonga |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Ravueta (2), Uate (2), Divavesi Goals: W. Naiqama (3) | Report | Tries: Faʻaoso (2), Taufaʻao Goals: Maile, Paea |

* Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Shane Rehm (New Zealand)

### Final

* 1 November 2009

| Papua New Guinea | 42–14 | Cook Islands |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Mead (3), Kambo, Yere, Kui Goals: Wilshere (5) | Report | Tries: Fepuleai, Lulia, Peyroux Goals: Taia |

* Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 10,151 Referee: Chris James (Australia)

## Telecast Details

The Pacific Cup was shown in the UK, Australia, and throughout the Pacific.

* In Australia all matches were broadcast by NRL.com while the Nine Network showed a one-hour highlight package each weekend.
* In Britain matches were broadcast on BSkyB.
* FM100 radio broadcast to Papua New Guinea and the Pacific.
* In Papua New Guinea EM TV broadcast terrestrially to more than half of the population.
* Fiji TV broadcast the games in Fiji on its free to air service Fiji One and on its Sky Pacific platform to the rest of the Pacific Region.

## Squads

### Mate Ma'a Tonga

Tonga played a Pacific Cup warm up match against New Zealand. New Zealand defeated Tonga 40–24 in what was a strong performance by the Tongans as they prepared for their Pacific Cup opener against Papua New Guinea.

* Coach: Rohan Smith

| Club Team | Players |
| - | - |
| Bulldogs | Paki Afu |
| Penrith Panthers | Andrew Emelio |
| Newcastle Knights | Richard Fa'aoso, Sione Tovo |
| Canberra Raiders | Sam Huihahau |
| Papakura Sea Eagles | Toshio Laiseni |
| Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | Tevita Leo-Latu |
| Hull | Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Moa, Willie Manu |
| New Zealand Warriors | Siuatonga Likiliki, Ukuma Ta'ai |
| Melbourne Storm | Pita Maile |
| Parramatta Eels | Feleti Mateo, Etuate Uaisele, Eliakim Uasi |
| Cronulla Sharks | Eddie Paea, Atelea Vea, Siosia Vave, Inoke Tapa'atoutai |
| South Australian Rugby | Joel Taufa'ao |
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Tony Williams, Junior Palau |

### Cook Islands

Coach: David Fairleigh (Parramatta Eels)

| Club Team | Players |
| - | - |
| Sydney Roosters | Anthony Gelling, Sam Brunton |
| Penrith Panthers | Tinirau Arona, Geoff Daniela |
| Shellharbour Dragons | Daniel Fepuleai |
| Newcastle Knights | Johnathon Ford, Keith Lulia, Zane Tetevano |
| Newtown Jets | Tere Glassie |
| Brisbane Broncos | Alex Glenn |
| Melbourne Storm | Fred Makimare |
| Bulldogs | Joe Matapuku |
| North Sydney Bears | Vinnie Ngaro |
| Gold Coast Titans | Dominique Peyroux |
| Wests Tigers | Manikura Tikinau |
| Eastern Suburbs Tigers | Ben Vaeau |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | Brad Takairangi |
| Wynnum Manly Seagulls | Leon Panapa |
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | John Viiga |

* Alex Glenn was originally named but withdrew after a groin injury required surgery.

### Toa Samoa

Coach: Willie Poching (Leeds Rhinos)

| Club Team | Players |
| - | - |
| New Zealand Warriors | Patrick Ah Van |
| Cronulla Sharks | Jack Afamasaga, Terrence Seu Seu, Misi Taulapapa |
| Samoa Domestic | Paul Chan Tung, Tanielu Pasene, Lepupa Taulagi |
| Wigan Warriors | Harrison Hansen |
| Penrith Panthers | Masada Iosefa, Joseph Paulo |
| Leeds Rhinos | Kylie Leuluai |
| Salford City Reds | Phillip Leuluai |
| Newcastle Knights | Peter Mata'utia, Mark Taufua |
| St Helens R.F.C. | Francis Meli, Tony Puletua |
| St George Illawarra Dragons | Kyle Stanley |
| Eastern Suburbs Tigers | Albert Talipeau |
| Gold Coast Titans | Sam Tagataese |
| Sheffield Eagles | Tangi Ropati |

### Papua New Guinea Kumuls

Coach: Adrian Lam (Sydney Roosters)

| Club Team | Players |
| - | - |
| Gold Coast Titans | David Mead |
| Wentworthville Magpies | Richard Kambo |
| Newtown Jets/Sydney Roosters | Tu’u Maori |
| Penrith Panthers | Keith Peters |
| Redcliffe Dolphins | James Nightingale |
| Northern Pride | Jay Aston, Rod Griffin |
| Crusaders | Jason Chan |
| Salford City Reds | John Wilshere |
| North Queensland Cowboys | Tyson Martin |
| Melbourne Storm | Joe Bond |
| Agmark Gurias | Dion Aiye, Rodney Pora, George Moni |
| SBS Muruks | Jessie Joe Parker, Anton Kui |
| Bintangor Lahanis | Sigfred Gande, Glen Nami |
| Hunslet Hawks | Charlie Wabo |
| Sheffield Eagles | Menzie Yere |

### Fiji Bati

Coach: Terry Gilogely

| Club Team | Players |
| - | - |
| Police Sharks | Osea Sadrau, Jone Wesele |
| Lautoka Crushers | Iowane Divavesi |
| Southern Districts Rebels | Puna Rasaubale |
| Cabramatta Two Blues | Donas Gock |
| Moore Park Brumbies | Hamilton Hughes |
| Wentworthville Magpies | Lepani Waqa |
| Nadera Panthers | Sevanaia Koroi, Sitiveni Ralogaivau, Asaeli Saravaki |
| Newtown Jets | Ryan Millard |
| Newcastle Knights | Wes Naiqama, Kevin Naiqama, Akuila Uate |
| New Zealand Warriors | Meli Koliavu |
| Leeds Rhinos | Mike Ratu |
| Coral Coast Cowboys | Jone Macilai, Joe Ravueta, Alipate Tani, Kaliova Tani |
