Internationals Weekly Wrap: Week I

Kangaroos take care of undermanned Toa Sāmoa in Townsville

The Kangaroos made a welcome return to home soil finishing atop Toa Sāmoa 38-12 in a World Cup Final rematch at QLD Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night.

The hosts leapt out to a red hot start with Payne Haas, James Tedesco, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Cameron Murray all crossing in the opening 15 before Toa Sāmoa stopped the bleeding with a Murray Taulagi try.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow crossed on the stroke of half-time in his green and gold debut before grabbing a second on the other side of the half.

Luciano Leilua grabbed Sāmoa’s second before Staggs scored on the full-time siren to cap off a strong but far from perfect Australian win.

Tedesco scored a try and ran for 157 metres with eight tackle breaks whilst Haas scored a try, ran for 172 metres with six tackle breaks, and made 21 tackles without a miss.

Sualauvi Fa’alogo was superb at the back in his international debut assisting on a try, running for a team-high 176 metres with 11 tackle breaks, and being denied a phenomenal chip and chase try in the second half whilst Taulagi scored their first, assisted on their second, and ran for 129 metres.

Gallant Kiwi Ferns fall short of Jillaroos upset

The Jillaroos managed to back up their World Cup Final win over the Kiwi Ferns but only just with the Australians coming away with a 16-10 win in Townsville on Saturday.

It was a noticeable improvement for the New Zealanders who were defeated 54-4 by the Jillaroos less than a year ago.

NRLW Dally M Medallist Tamika Upton took just four minutes to grab the first try of her international career before Annessa Biddle hit back for the Kiwi Ferns.

Caitlan Johnston snagged one to improve the hosts’ lead before Upton notched a double just shy of the break.

Mele Hufanga powered her way over early in the second half to keep the visitors within reach but their comeback attempt fell short as the Jillaroos extended their winning streak to 17.

Upton scored a double and ran for a game-high 214 metres whilst Simaima Taufa ran for 120 metres and made 27 tackles.

Hufanga proved a handful all night long scoring a try and running for a team-high 171 metres with 17 tackle breaks whilst centre-partner Shanice Parker ran for 165 metres with a trio of tackle breaks.

Kumuls a class above scrappy Kukis in Port Moresby

The Kumuls have now won 11 of their past 16 after running away 46-10 victors over the Cook Islands in Port Moresby on Sunday afternoon.

A gale force wind mixed with some horrific Kukis ball handling saw the hosts jump out to a 30-0 half-time lead behind a double to debutant Zac Laybutt.

The first two sets of the second half resulted in tries No. 2 and 3 to Nene Macdonald before Esom Ioka and Steven Marsters got the visitors on the board only for Macdonald to grab his fourth late – the first Kumul ever to do so – and become the equal-leading try-scorer in Papua New Guinean history.

Macdonald scored four and ran for 214 metres with five tackle breaks whilst big man Epel Kapinias scored a try and ran for 201 metres.

Pride Petterson-Robati ran for 120 metres and made 50 tackles for the Kukis whilst Reuben Porter ran for 152 metres and made 26 tackles.

Fetū Sāmoa make history with win over Fiji Bulikula

Fetū Sāmoa have won their first international in almost 15 years defeating Fiji Bulikula 26-12 in Port Moresby on Sunday afternoon.

They overcame an early Vitalina Naikore try to take a 12-point lead into the sheds behind four-pointers to Lindsay Tui, Taylor-Adeline Mapusua, and Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala.

A second Tui try improved their lead early in the second half before back-to-back Fijian tries sparked a mini fightback only for Mapusua to wrap things up late with her second.

Niall Williams-Guthrie assisted on two tries and ran for a game-high 166 metres whilst Nu’uausala crossed the stripe and ran for 160 metres with four tackle breaks.

Aliti Namoce scored a try and ran for 118 metres with four tackle breaks for Fiji Bulikula whilst Patricia Raikadroka ran for a team-high 144 metres with a line break.

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