1997 Oceania Cup

1997 Oceania Cup 6 New Zealand NZ New Zealand Residents 12 Pacific Cup 1996 1998 Pacific Cup The 1997 Oceania Cup was an international rugby league football tournament played in the Pacific region. The tournament was operated and contested by Super League-aligned countries during the Super League war as an alternative to the Pacific Cup. Six teams contested the Cup. The 1997 tournament went ahead following the previous year's cancellation due to the unavailability of Australian teams when the tournament was replaced with a Pacific Challenge Series. Western Samoa withdrew from the tournament in disagreement with Super League-aligned authorities over promises that they believed were given to them. The tournament was originally scheduled to have two pools, one based in New Zealand and one in Tonga, and the final was to be played as a curtain raiser to the Super League Tri-series final. Teams New Zealand Māori were coached by Cameron Bell and included Dean Clark, Tukere Barlow, Frank Watene, Darryl Beazley and Solomon Kiri. New Zealand Residents were coached by Gary Kemble and included Glenn Coughlan, Blair Harding, Mike Dorreen, Iva Ropati, Shane Endacott, captain Aaron Whittaker, Mark Faumuina, Denvour Johnston, Hitro Okesene, Jerry Seuseu, Bryan Henare, Meti Noovao, Brad Williams, Joe Galuvao, Fa'ausu Afoa, Ben Fahey, Jason Kerapa, Keneti Asiata and Paul Staladi.John Coffey, Bernie Wood 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008 Huia Publishers 2008 301 https://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC 978-1-86969-331-2 Richard Stewart replaced Shane Endacott when he withdrew due to injury.New Zealand Rugby League Annual '97, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1997. p.124 Before the series began the New Zealand Māori bet the New Zealand Residents 21-19 at Ericsson Stadium. Results Group stage Round 1 11 May 1997 Cook Islands 22 – 14 Fiji Carlaw Park, Auckland 11 May 1997 New Zealand Residents NZ 21 – 18 Papua New Guinea Carlaw Park, Auckland 11 May 1997 New Zealand Māori 46 – 10 Tonga Carlaw Park, Auckland Round 2 13 May 1997 New Zealand Māori 32 – 12 Fiji Carlaw Park, Auckland 13 May 1997 New Zealand Residents NZ 32 – 10 Tonga Carlaw Park, Auckland 13 May 1997 Papua New Guinea 34 – 12 Cook Islands Carlaw Park, Auckland Round 3 15 May 1997 New Zealand Residents NZ 46 – 2 Cook Islands Carlaw Park, Auckland 15 May 1997 Tonga 14 – 14 Fiji Carlaw Park, Auckland 15 May 1997 New Zealand Māori 34 – 6 Papua New Guinea Carlaw Park, Auckland Table TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1New Zealand Māori3300112288462NZ New Zealand Residents330099306963Papua New Guinea31025867-924Cook Islands31023694-5825Fiji30124068-2816Tonga30123492-581 Knock-out stage 5th place play-off 18 May 1997 Fiji 22 – 20 Tonga Carlaw Park, Auckland 3rd place play-off 18 May 1997 Papua New Guinea 38 – 14 Cook Islands Carlaw Park, Auckland Final 18 May 1997 New Zealand Residents NZ 20 – 15 New Zealand Māori Tries: Paul Staladi (2)Darryn AveryFa'asu AfoaGoals: Glenn Coughlan (2) Tries: Ricky HenryShane EdwardsGoals: Tama Hohaia (3, 1 FG) Carlaw Park, Auckland Jim Stokes References Oceania Cup Oce Category:International rugby league competitions hosted by New Zealand Category:Pacific Cup