Pacific Championship five quick hits: Tonga go the distance and Test rookies stand tall as Parramatta turns red
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1 month, 1 week ago

Pacific Championship five quick hits: Tonga go the distance and Test rookies stand tall as Parramatta turns red

ABC  

The rugby league season has officially come to a close and Australia will reign as kings of the Pacific after downing Tonga 20-14 to cap off a bumper quadruple header at Western Sydney Stadium. With Samoa and Australia claiming the honours in the women's matches and New Zealand running out big winners over Papua New Guinea in the final match of the day, here's five quick hits from the action. The Kangaroos and Jillaroos win their Pacific Championships finals at Western Sydney Stadium, avenging last year's losses to New Zealand. 2: Parramatta turns red amid Tonga takeover Australia were put in a curious position because for one afternoon, Western Sydney Stadium was transformed into the 172nd Tongan island. The veteran halfback was playing his final game of rugby league in a career where he's achieved so much and he dazzled to the last, cutting Papua New Guinea to pieces with a master's touch.

Australia Game New Zealand Match Red Pacific Final Samoa Tonga Mclean Nrl Kangaroos Jillaroos Papua New Guinea Pacific Championships Pacific Championship Tongans Western Sydney Stadium  game  quick  test  pacific  stand  rookies  parramatta  australia  final  try  match  nrl  tonga  turns  tall  jillaroos  red  sydney

History of this topic

Tonga's Pacific Championships success raises questions about International Rugby League's tier system
1 month, 1 week ago

Tonga's Pacific Championships success raises questions about International Rugby League's tier system

ABC  

For decades, there was an understood hierarchy in men's rugby league that went something like: Australia, New Zealand, England, a bit of daylight, then everyone else. Australia, England and New Zealand are currently the only federations in International Rugby League's Tier 1. 2023/24 Origin players eligible for Tonga or Samoa Samoa: Stephen Crichton, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Payne Haas, Spencer Leniu *, …

Tonga's rugby league rise
1 month, 1 week ago

Tonga's rugby league rise

ABC  

Sally Sara: Australia's men's and women's rugby league teams have both claimed victory in the Pacific Championships. Kathleen Ferguson: Tonga supporter Hahano Namoa was there with his family, including some who travelled from as far as the US to attend the game. Kathleen Ferguson: This level of love and passion for Tonga seems to have helped fuel the side, which …

Kangaroos beat Tonga in thrilling men's Pacific Championships final, Jillaroos get revenge against Kiwi Ferns in women's final
1 month, 1 week ago

Kangaroos beat Tonga in thrilling men's Pacific Championships final, Jillaroos get revenge against Kiwi Ferns in women's final

ABC  

The Kangaroos have won the men's Pacific Championships in front of an electric Western Sydney Stadium crowd as they survived a spirited last-ditch comeback attempt from Tonga in the final. In the day's final game, New Zealand stayed in the top tier of the Pacific Championships with a 54-12 win over Papua New Guinea, with 18-year-old debutant Casey McLean scoring …

Why the Pacific Championship final is Tonga's arrival at Test football's final frontier
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Why the Pacific Championship final is Tonga's arrival at Test football's final frontier

ABC  

Tonga making their first major international final is cause for celebration, so it's a good thing Tonga do that better than just about anyone else. The only one bigger than this is the World Cup which, for all their talent and passion, might never make it Tonga — England and New Zealand both have close to a century's head start …

Kangaroos and Jillaroos beat New Zealand in Pacific Championships rugby league Tests
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Kangaroos and Jillaroos beat New Zealand in Pacific Championships rugby league Tests

ABC  

The Kangaroos and Jillaroos have exorcised some Pacific Championships demons with victories over New Zealand in Christchurch. Sun 27 Oct Show all key events Australia vs New Zealand in the Pacific Championships J By Jon Healy FULL-TIME: Kangaroos 22 def Kiwis 10 Kangaroos 22 def Kiwis 10 FULL-TIME: Jillaroos 14 def Kiwi Ferns 0 We'll sign off there J By …

For Australia, Tonga and the Pacific Championships, the best is still yet to come
2 months ago

For Australia, Tonga and the Pacific Championships, the best is still yet to come

ABC  

If international rugby league is to become what it promises to be, the best must still be yet to come for both Australia, Tonga and the game itself. Australia's men's side takes down Tonga 18-0 after Jillaroos winger Julia Robinson scores a record six tries as Australia runs 17 past Papua New Guinea to kick off the Pacific Championships. Putting …

Australia captain Isaah Yeo confident new-look Kangaroos can rebound in Pacific Championships
2 months ago

Australia captain Isaah Yeo confident new-look Kangaroos can rebound in Pacific Championships

ABC  

Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo says Friday night's Test against Tonga is a chance to create a fresh Australian rugby league legacy. Yeo said the Kangaroos had moved on from last year's convincing loss to the Kiwis. "There'll be a response but it's also a different group," Yeo said. Mahalia Murphy will play her second rugby league Test for Australia when …

Fiji tops US to reach Pacific Nations Cup final
3 months, 1 week ago

Fiji tops US to reach Pacific Nations Cup final

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Fiji stretched its Pacific Nations Cup rugby defense to the final after topping the United States by a hard-fought 22-3 on Saturday. The U.S. started and finished well but wasn’t clinical, while Fiji dominated the second and third quarters to put their first meeting in 10 years beyond doubt in a humid Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium. Japan and …

Fijian Drua face crucial home match against Queensland Reds in Super Rugby Pacific
7 months, 1 week ago

Fijian Drua face crucial home match against Queensland Reds in Super Rugby Pacific

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The Fijian Drua may have their last chance of sealing a playoff spot in Super Rugby Pacific when they meet the Queensland Reds in Suva on Saturday with three rounds remaining in the regular season. Last week’s 48-10 loss to the Force in Perth was perhaps the low point of the season for the Fijians, and …

Kiwis hammer Kangaroos 30-0 to claim Pacific Championships title in major upset
1 year, 1 month ago

Kiwis hammer Kangaroos 30-0 to claim Pacific Championships title in major upset

ABC  

New Zealand has handed Australia its heaviest defeat in its proud history with a record-breaking 30-0 win in the Pacific Championships final in Hamilton. Key points: The Kiwis had not beaten the Kangaroos since 2018 New Zealand scored five tries to nil, with Jamayne Isaako crossing for a double The Kangaroos had defeated the Kiwis 36-18 last weekend It was …

Fiji beats Australia for the first time in 69 years at Rugby World Cup
1 year, 3 months ago

Fiji beats Australia for the first time in 69 years at Rugby World Cup

Associated Press  

SAINT-ETIENNE, France — Tears of despair one week. Fiji defeated Australia 22-15 for the first time in 69 years and sent a jolt of euphoria through the Rugby World Cup on Sunday. Fiji came to the Rugby World Cup ranked higher than pool rivals Australia and Wales, and would have beaten Wales last weekend with even an ounce of luck. …

Kangaroos beat Samoa 30-10 in men's Rugby League World Cup final
2 years, 1 month ago

Kangaroos beat Samoa 30-10 in men's Rugby League World Cup final

ABC  

The Kangaroos are world champions for the 12th time, taking down Samoa 30-10 in the Rugby League World Cup final at Old Trafford. The Pacific Islander stars never truly threatened to cause an upset in their first World Cup final, with the Australians boasting too much firepower across the park, as fullback and captain James Tedesco won player-of-the-match honours for …

After sneaking past Papua New Guinea, Tonga can't afford another misstep if they're to shake the Rugby League World Cup
2 years, 2 months ago

After sneaking past Papua New Guinea, Tonga can't afford another misstep if they're to shake the Rugby League World Cup

ABC  

In the last World Cup, Tonga was a giant-slayer. Only a fool would take Papua New Guinea lightly – the Kumuls players like to say their jersey is their second skin, and they play with a passion and intensity to make you believe it – but Tonga wasn't supposed to need a miracle try to win. Tonga on the board …

Tokyo Olympics 2020: Fiji defends rugby sevens title with 27-12 win over New Zealand
3 years, 4 months ago

Tokyo Olympics 2020: Fiji defends rugby sevens title with 27-12 win over New Zealand

Firstpost  

The elated Fijians burst into a cappella hymns that boomed around the stadium to celebrate just the second ever Olympic medal for the nation of 890,000 people scattered around more than 330 Pacific islands. Tokyo: Fiji defended their Olympic rugby sevens title with an entertaining 27-12 victory over New Zealand at the Tokyo Stadium on Wednesday. “They won’t be thinking …

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