2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification (Asia-Pacific play-off)

2017 (2017) RLWC qualification (Asia-Pacific play-off)  ()
Tonga Cook Islands 28 8
1 2 Total TON 12 16 28 COK 8 0 8
Date	17 October 2015
Stadium	Campbelltown Stadium
Location	Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
Man of the Match	Solomone Kata
Referee	Gerard Sutton
Attendance	4,813
Broadcast partner
Broadcaster	NRL.com & asiapacificrl.com (Livestream)
Commentators	Tony Dowson, Peter Mulholland

The 2017 Rugby League World Cup Asia-Pacific qualification play-off was a rugby league match that was played on 17 October 2015 at Campbelltown Stadium in Australia. Tonga defeated the Cook Islands 28-8 to qualify for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

Overview

On 3 October 2014, the 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying competition was announced. Seven of the eight teams who made the knockout-stages of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup were announced as automatic qualifiers, which included New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and Fiji.^[1]

In October 2015, Papua New Guinea was announced a co-host of the 2017 World Cup and granted automatic qualification.^[2] It was confirmed that Tonga would take on the Cook Islands in a one-off game for the 2017 World Cup with the playing date later being confirmed as 17 October 2015.^[3] The game was held at Campbelltown Stadium in Campbelltown, Australia.

Squads

Both teams picked preliminary train-on squads that had NRL and Super League experience.^[4][5]

Tonga

The Tongan squad as of 24 September 2015 is as follows:

• Coach: Kristian Woolf

Club Team	Players
Burleigh Bears	Nafe Seluini
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Danny Fualalo, Antonio Kaufusi
Catalans Dragons	Michael Oldfield
Cronulla Sharks	David Fifita, Malakai Houma, Saulala Houma, Pat Politoni, Anthony Tupou
Gold Coast Titans	Leva Li
Huddersfield Giants	Ukuma Ta'ai
Hull F.C.	Mickey Paea
Leigh Centurions	Fuifui Moimoi
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Tony Satini, Jorge Taufua, Siosaia Vave
New Zealand Warriors	David Fusitu'a, Siliva Havili, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Sione Lousi, John Palavi, Albert Vete
Parramatta Eels	John Folau, Peni Terepo, Vai Toutai
Penrith Panthers	Daniel Foster, Leilani Latu, Sika Manu, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak
Redcliffe Dolphins	Charlie Faingaa
St Helens	Atelea Vea
Sydney Roosters	Willie Manu, Vaha Pulu
Wests Tigers	Sitaleki Akauola, Asipeli Fine, Salesi Funaki, Delouise Hoeter, Joel Luani

Cook Islands

The Cook Islands squad as of 24 September 2015 is as follows:

• Coach: Alex Chan

Club Team	Players
Brisbane Broncos	Francis Molo
Canberra Raiders	Ezra Howe, Jordan Rapana
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Makahesi Makatoa
Cronulla Sharks	Tinirau Arona
Halifax	Adam Tangata
Melbourne Storm	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Aaron Teroi
Narellan Jets	Drury Low
Parramatta Eels	Eric Newbigging
Penrith Panthers	Tupou Sopoaga
South Sydney Rabbitohs	Wallace Tangiiti
Sydney Roosters	Reuben Porter
Wentworthville Magpies	Fred Pakutoa
West Belconnen Warriors	John Papalii
Wests Tigers	Esan Marsters, Chance Peni
Wigan Warriors	Anthony Gelling

Qualifier

Tonga picked 4 débutantes, while the Cook Islands featured eleven. The Tongan team consisted of National Rugby League based players except for Mosese Pangai and Ukuma Ta’ai, who play in the Queensland Cup for the Townsville Blackhawks and the Super League for the Huddersfield Giants respectively.^[6] The Cook Islands team consisted mainly of players who play at reserve grade or youth levels for their respective NRL clubs, only 4 players in the lineup have played first grade this season either in the NRL or in the Super League.^[7] Tonga's most capped player is Ukuma Ta’ai who made his 8th appearance for his country, while the Cook Islands' most experienced players are Drury Low, Anthony Gelling and Johnathon Ford who all made their 6th appearance for their nation.

Penrith's Sika Manu captained Tonga, and Canberra's Jordan Rapana led the Cook Islands.

Match details

17 October 2015

Tonga	28 – 8	Cook Islands
Try: Tafua 13' c Fonua 34' c Kata (2) 63', 68' c Terepo 74' c Goal: Kata (4/5) 14', 35', 69', 75'	Report	Try: Nicoll-Klokstad 4' Gelling 23' Goal: Rapana (0/2)

Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown Attendance: 4,813 Referee/s: Gerard Sutton Man of the Match: Solomone Kata (Tonga)

FB 1 Solomone Kata RW 2 Jorge Taufua RC 3 Mahe Fonua LC 4 Mosese Pangai LW 5 Delouise Hoeter SO 6 Pat Politoni SH 7 Daniel Foster PR 8 Albert Vete HK 9 Joel Luani PR 10 Peni Terepo SR 11 Sika Manu (c) SR 12 Manu Ma'u LF 13 Joe Ofahengaue Substitutions: IC 14 Nafe Seluini IC 15 Ukuma Ta’ai IC 16 Ben Murdoch-Masila IC 18 David Fifita (came in as a late replacement for Leilani Latu) Coach: Kristian Woolf

FB 1 Jordan Rapana RW 2 Drury Low RC 3 Anthony Gelling LC 4 Chance Peni LW 5 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad FE 6 Johnathon Ford (c) HB 7 Wallace Tangiiti PR 8 Uiti Baker HK 9 Aaron Teroi PR 10 Sam Mataora SR 11 Esan Marsters SR 12 Makahesi Makatoa LK 13 Francis Molo Substitutions: IC 14 Carne Doyle-Manga IC 15 Vincent Rennie IC 16 Vinny Ngaro IC 17 Fred Pakutoa Coach: Alex Chan

With the win, Tonga qualified for the 2017 World Cup.^[8]

References