2009 Pacific Cup

2009 (2009) Pacific Cup  ()
Number of teams	5
Host country	Papua New Guinea
Winner	Papua New Guinea
Matches played	5
Attendance	37,261 (7,452 per match)
Points scored	156 (31.2 per match)
Tries scored	28 (5.6 per match)
Top scorer	Daniel Fepuleai (16)
Top try scorer	Akuila Uate (4)
Tournaments  < 2006 2010 >

The 2009 Pacific Cup, known as the 2009 SP Brewery Pacific Cup due to sponsorship,^[1] was a rugby league competition held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.^[2] The competing teams were the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga.^[2]

Tonga, Fiji and PNG had their places in the draw confirmed initially,^[2] 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.^[2]

The four Pacific Cup matches were played at Lloyd Robson Oval on 24–25 October and 31 October.^[2] The Pacific Cup final was played on 1 November 2009 between Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands.^[2] 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).^[2]

Matches

Qualifying

17 October 2009

Cook Islands	22 - 20	Samoa
Try: Makimare (2) Ngaro Fepuleai Goal: Takairangi (3)	Report	Try: Ah Van (2) Taulapapa Hansen Goal: Mata'utia (2)

Barlow Park, Cairns, Australia Attendance: 4261[3]

Semifinals

24 October 2009

Cook Islands	24 - 22	Fiji
Try: Daniel Fepuleai (2) Dominique Peyroux (2) Vincent Ngaro Goal: Daniel Fepuleai (2)	Report	Try: Akuila Uate (2) Lepani Waqa Michael Ratu Goal: Wes Naiqama (3)

Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Attendance: 3,269 Referee/s: Phil Haines

25 October 2009

Papua New Guinea	44 - 14	Tonga
Try: David Mead (2) Menzie Yere (2) Anton Kui Jason Chan Charlie Wabo Jessie Joe Parker Goal: John Wilshere (6)	Report	Try: Sione Tongia (2) Atelea Vea Goal: Eddie Paea

Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Attendance: 9,813[4] Referee/s: Chris James

Third place Playoff

31 October 2009

Fiji	26 - 16	Tonga
Try: Joe Ravueta (2) Akuila Uate (2) Iowane Divavesi Goal: Wes Naiqama (3)	Report	Richard Fa'aoso (2) Joel Taufa'ao Goal: Eddie Paea Pita Maile

Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Attendance: 2,000 Referee/s: Shane Rehm

Final

1 November 2009

Papua New Guinea	42 - 14	Cook Islands
Try: David Mead (2) Menzie Yere (2) Richard Kambo Anton Kui Charlie Wabo	Report	Try: Sema Mataora Lulia Lulia Brad Takairangi Goal: Ben Taia

Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Attendance: 10,151[5] Referee/s: Chris James

Telecast Details

The Pacific Cup was shown in the UK, Australia, and throughout the Pacific.^[6]

• 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.^[7]

• Coach: Rohan Smith^[8][9]

Cook Islands

Coach: David Fairleigh (Parramatta Eels)^[10]

• Alex Glenn was originally named but withdrew after a groin injury required surgery.^[11]

Toa Samoa

Coach: Willie Poching (Leeds Rhinos)^[12]

Papua New Guinea Kumuls

Coach: Adrian Lam (Sydney Roosters)^[13][14]

Fiji Bati

Coach: Terry Gilogely^[14][15]

References