International league matches

@ACT-Crusader given Te Maire Martin is in extended squad I would suggest given his history he gets the call up.

Normally in the NRL they have a set of 4 reserves 18-21 on the team list when named on Tuesday. Two names get cut closer to game day (often players in extended reserves named can come into 17, usually depends on injuries, but allows coaches extra time to have a final named 17. The final two names get cut usually on game day, just in case something goes wrong. It appears to be something similar in play for international league

@Nepia said in International league matches:

It also appears Liu was the only to miss out on a number from the original squad.

He withdrew from the squad as partner is expecting their 2nd child.

@bayimports that makes sense. And the reserves are good with an outside back, second rower and a 5/8

The crowd is already going off in the curtain raiser. Great atmosphere.

Jerome

@kiwiinmelb said in International league matches:

Jerome

Jahrome.

Also, I'm going to be 5 minutes behind by the end of the game, as per usual the Kayo app is as crap as ever and keeps skipping and repeating,

Enterprising rugby league from the kiwis

Well worked try by Tonga.

That was too easy. This was Tonga's first chance in the 20 and they score.

Niukore caught out.

Poor option by Manu there. Tongan defense was still scrambling out wide.

Tonga don't have much of a kicking game so the Kiwis are starting every set in decent field position.

Try to the Queenslander. Was pretty spectacular too.

Manu with 198m in the first half. Sheesh.

Jinx alert… but how good are we playing!

Bodies in motion with quality halves steering the ship. Our big units are causing all sorts. The finishing has been top drawer too. Defensively we have put several in the tackle to slow it down. We’ve targeted their kickers on the last, although Tonga’s halves are too busy trying to hit the top of Mt Smart instead of going for distance.

Hopefully those big units have another solid 40 in them

How the fudge did Tonga get that scrum feed?

Leota has been so good off the bench.

Kiwis finally score a try in the 2nd half. 26 - 6 to the Kiwis.

As I expected, the overhyped Tongan pack were outplayed by the Kiwi pack and the end result was an easy win to the Kiwis (they really should have scored more though).

Taumalolo did his best run in the 70th minute of the game.

Manu is a machine.

Good win. Superior spine with all 4 playing well.

Best for the Kiwis,
Fisher-Harris, Manu, Hughes, Smith, Brown, Rapana

better spine won the game that's its, any injury to that spine and it won't flow the same, back up choices are well below par. Bloody awesome in full flight though

@bayimports said in International league matches:

better spine won the game that's its, any injury to that spine and it won't flow the same, back up choices are well below par. Bloody awesome in full flight though

I think you're underrating our pack. They easily contained the Tongan pack who could get no go forward, while getting decent go forward themselves.

We still need a fullback though so we can move Manu back to the centres though.

@bayimports Fisher-Harris was a big difference as well. Not sure on the stats, but his run metres must’ve been up there.

Our forwards were good, but you put that spine on the other team and the score would probably be the same but the other way around in my mind. Dylbags and Hughes pinned then down for repeat sets repeatedly, that kills any team.

Don’t get me wrong that was the most complete performance from a NZ side for a long time and today would have challenged the Aussie’s but I just don’t buy into the rest.

@Nepia Personally I like Manu at the back. Gets his hands on the ball more and is constantly a threat there. The superior Kiwi halves and the strong middle the Kiwis had nullified any Tongan threat. It's one of the stronger Kiwis sides they've put out in a while.

Good kiwi team this one alright , good pack , good spine .

Let’s face it , to win the league wc , all you need is a team capable of beating Australia, and we might have that .

Papali'i's performance is further proof of the shitty coaching at the Warriors.

I saw plenty of vehicles with Tonga flags driving to and around Auckland yesterday.

@Bovidae said in International league matches:

Papali'i's performance is further proof of the shitty coaching at the Warriors.

I saw plenty of vehicles with Tonga flags driving to and around Auckland yesterday.

Clearly the environment and standards are poor, just creates a culture where close enough is good enough

Matt Burton's wobble kick is truly an art form. Would be a huge weapon in union. Wonder if we will see others trying to emulate in both codes. Oops meant to be Origin thread

@ARHS said in International league matches:

Matt Burton's wobble kick is truly an art form. Would be a huge weapon in union. Wonder if we will see others trying to emulate in both codes. Oops meant to be Origin thread

Yeah keep that shit in its own thread.

A year after the world cup international league returns to it's usual micky mouse status.

The Kiwis having to pull in no names as they're missing players due to injuries, club enforced "injuries", unavailable because pissy with the coach, weddings (seems weddings go for 4 weeks now), etc.

Tonga are now stealing players from other PIs as well as NZ (and TBF the PI player is a NZer).

I know there has been some focus on Nathan-Wong being selected in the Kiwi Ferns, but you've also got Robins-Reti (former Black Fern), and the two women who played for the Chiefs Manawa in that squad.

@Bovidae I'm quite happy to see former Tui Amelia Pasikala on that list, who has everything to become a Black Fern, if only she was still playing rugby. That probably would have been the case if any SR Aupiki squad had shown interest in her. I still can't understand why she didn't get picked up. I haven't seen any NRLW matches due to lack of time, but apparently she has made quite an impression in her first season of playing league.