1986 Pacific Cup

1986 Pacific Cup 6 Cook Islands New Zealand Māori 3 10 Pacific Cup 1977 1988 The 1986 Pacific Cup was the 3rd Pacific Cup, a rugby league tournament held between Pacific teams. The tournament was hosted in the Cook Islands and eventually won by the New Zealand Māori side, who defeated Western Samoa in the final. Background The 1986 Pacific Cup was the first to be held after the cancellation of the planned 1979 version. Only the New Zealand Māori side returned from the first two editions, as this Pacific Cup had a more Pacific Island focus than the first two which included Papua New Guinea (who now had Test status) and Australian lower grade sides. Squads The Cook Islands included John Whittaker, George Lajpold and Riki Cowan. Coached by Richard Bolton, the New Zealand Māori squad included Gary Mercer, Dave Watson, Adrian Shelford, Mark Woods, Anthony Murray, captain Sam Stewart, Mark Horo, Tawera Nikau and Mike Kuiti. Hugh McGahan, Ron O'Regan, Owen Wright, Tracey McGregor, Andrew Vincent and Brendon Tuuta all pulled out of the side due to injury or professional club commitments.John Coffey, Bernie Wood 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008 Huia Publishers 2008 224–226 https://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC 978-1-86969-331-2 The Māori side played a warm up game before the competition began, defeating Waikato 52–32. It was the first time in over two decades that the Māori side was comprised completely of Māori players, as the side had previously also picked Polynesian players. Tokelau included Sam Panapa. The rest of the squad was selected entirely from domestic players, chosen from a population of just over 1000. Tonga included John Fifita, George Mann, Dick Uluave and Robert Fonua. Western Samoa included Paddy Tuimavave, Anitelea Aiolupotea, To'o Vaega, Lomitusi Sasi, Filitoga Lameta,Rugby League Samoa https://www.rugbyleaguesamoa.com/rls-our-history/ 2023-08-22 Rugby League Samoa en-NZPolu Lance 2022-12-27 THE MAKING OF TOA SAMOA: PART 5 – Making it Happen at the Grassroots Level https://talamua.com/2022/12/27/the-making-of-toa-samoa-part-5-making-it-happen-at-the-grassroots-level/ 2023-08-22 Talamua Online en-NZ Esene Faimalo, Robert Moimoi, Mike Kerrigan, Richard Setu and Paul Okesene.Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987. Team of the Tournament The 1986 Pacific Cup Tournament team was named at the end of the tournament and included: George Huriwai (Māori), Gary Mercer (Māori), Anitelea Aiolupotea (Samoa), Robert Fonua (Tonga), Alamoni Liavaʻa (Tonga), Paddy Tuimavave (Samoa), Sam Panapa (Tokelau), Neville Ramsay (Māori), Dave Sefuiva (Samoa), Adrian Shelford (Māori), Simona Foua (Tokelau), Mick Curran (Tonga), Lafu Papalii (Samoa), Sam Stewart (Māori), John Fifita (Tonga), Lorne Greene (Māori) and Dick Uluave (Tonga). Results Pool A TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1New Zealand Māori220064263842Cook Islands21013240-823Niue20022454-300 #eeeeee 1986 Cook Islands 22 - 8 Niue Rarotonga #eeeeee 1986 Niue 16 - 32 New Zealand Māori Rarotonga #eeeeee 1986 New Zealand Māori 32 - 10 Cook Islands Rarotonga Pool B TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1Tonga220060382242Samoa Western Samoa21015046423Tokelau20023460-260 #eeeeee 1986 Samoa Western Samoa 34 - 12 Tokelau Rarotonga #eeeeee 1986 Tonga 34 - 16 Samoa Western Samoa Rarotonga #eeeeee 1986 Tokelau 22 - 26 Tonga Rarotonga Playoffs Semifinal Final New Zealand Māori 27 Tonga 18 Samoa Western Samoa 48 Cook Islands 0 Tonga 4 Samoa Western Samoa 46 New Zealand Māori 23 Samoa Western Samoa 6 #eeeeee 1986 New Zealand Māori 27 - 18 Tonga Rarotonga #eeeeee 1986 Cook Islands 0 - 48 Samoa Western Samoa Rarotonga #eeeeee 1986 Tonga 4 - 46 Samoa Western Samoa Rarotonga Final #eeeeee 1986 New Zealand Māori 23 - 6 Maoris retain league cup https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19861108.2.60 The Press 8 November 1986 Christchurch 8 Papers Past Samoa Western Samoa Kuiti, Haggie, Ramsey, Huriwai Mercer (3) Ramsey Taogaga Ropati Rarotonga References Pacific Cup Pacific Cup Category:Rugby league in the Cook Islands Category:1986 in the Cook Islands Category:1986 in New Zealand rugby league Category:Pacific Cup