Pacific derby compared to Origin - Tonga V Samoa now annual

[Kimlo]

RUGBY league officials immediately announced they would make Samoa-Tonga an annual event after last night's World Cup epic at CUA Stadium was compared to the birth of State of Origin.

In their first game together, the Nigel Vagana-inspired Samoans eliminated Tonga from pool three and set up a possible semi-final clash with Australia when tries either side of halftime gave them a bruising, thrill-a-minute 20-12 victory.

But enduring image from the night was the large chunk of a vocal 11,787 crowd invading the field at fulltime, with Fox Sports sideline eye Scott Sattler bowled over live on air and Samoa's local hero Tony Puletua chaired from the field in his final game at Penrith.

Despite the fear of violence, there was no evidence of crowd trouble.

"We're going to make it an annual fixture," Rugby League International Federation development officer Tas Baitieri, who warned a Samoan for stepping over halfway during the pre-match wardances, said.

The idea is that next year Samoa and Tonga play off to be added to the following season's Tri-Nations, making it a Quad-Nations."

The Daily Telegraph can reveal there is a push for the annual tournament to become a Five Nations from 2010, with France and a Pacific qualifier to take part every year.

Every year this match will be played with the winner playing in the tri nations.

I think it's a awesome move and it will sway less Polynesians to go for Australia because of origin, as they can play every year not once every 4 years.

Good move gallop icon_thumbs_u

 

[NPK]

If Tonga or Samoa were in the 4/5 Nations tournament, wouldn't that screw NZ a bit? A lot of their players are actually Tongan or Samoan.

 

[Major JW Hochstetter]

The only way we're going to get Pacific players playing for their real nations (ie. not NZ) is to actually give them internationals to play. Those blokes will bust their balls to play for their island countries if they knew they could actually get a game. And given they're all full of NRL and ESL talent, they'll have a great platform to build off and won't be mere pushovers for the big 3.

This is one of the things I hoped would come out of this World Cup - that an increasing number of both officials and fans finally realising that we can have and build a legitimate international scene if we work it properly.

 

[Black Philip]

This is actually a really good idea. Awesome in fact! :D Judging by the success of last nights game I reckon it could become more popular every year as well

 

[ethos]

Awesome idea. And someone suggested it on another forum, but it should be played as a State of Origin style 3 game series.

Good move gallop icon_thumbs_u

As far as I understand, it's got nothing to do with Gallop and everything to do with the International Federation.

 

[Hamm.0]

Why not a "Poly Bowl"

Tonga, Samoa, Fiji play off....then select a Pacific side who play NZ in an Origin -style allegiance??

Although this sounds less drawn out and instantly gratifying. My only concern is the ability to continually play decent-standard football......(that was prolly said about SoO at first too I suppose?)

 

[ethos]

And get PNG involved as well.

They simply have to play more international footy on a regular basis.

 

[Coxy]

Why not just a simultaneous tri-nations? Have Tonga, Samoa and PNG play off while Australia, NZ and GB play off? That'd be awesome.

 

[Kimlo]

Awesome idea. And someone suggested it on another forum, but it should be played as a State of Origin style 3 game series.

Good move gallop icon_thumbs_u

As far as I understand, it's got nothing to do with Gallop and everything to do with the International Federation.

Gallop would of definitely had a say in it.

 

[Aeetee]

He probably would have tried to can the idea.

 

[Hamm.0]

I do like the idea of regular PUBLICISED PNG games!! IMO they couldn't sustain an NRL team, but this gives them something.

 

[Fozz]

Love to see Australia play PNG in a full test match yearly.

 

[Major JW Hochstetter]

Word, Tee.

Australian administrators, apart from a couple of obvious exceptions, shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the RLIF in a decision making capacity.