# 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification – Asia-Pacific play-off

The 2017 Rugby League World Cup Asia-Pacific qualification play-off was a rugby league match that was played on 17 October 2015 at Campbelltown Stadium in Australia. Tonga defeated the Cook Islands 28–8 to qualify for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

## Overview

On 3 October 2014, the 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying competition was announced. Seven of the eight teams who made the knockout-stages of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup were announced as automatic qualifiers, which included New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and Fiji.
In October 2015, Papua New Guinea was announced a co-host of the 2017 World Cup and granted automatic qualification. It was confirmed that Tonga would take on the Cook Islands in a one-off game for the 2017 World Cup with the playing date later being confirmed as 17 October 2015. The game was held at Campbelltown Stadium in Campbelltown, Australia.

## Squads

Both teams picked preliminary train-on squads that had NRL and Super League experience.

### Tonga

The Tongan squad as of 24 September 2015 is as follows:
* Coach: Kristian Woolf
| Club Team | Players |
| Burleigh Bears | Nafe Seluini |
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Danny Fualalo, Antonio Kaufusi |
| Catalans Dragons | Michael Oldfield |
| Cronulla Sharks | David Fifita, Malakai Houma, Saulala Houma, Pat Politoni, Anthony Tupou |
| Gold Coast Titans | Leva Li |
| Huddersfield Giants | Ukuma Ta'ai |
| Hull F.C. | Mickey Paea |
| Leigh Centurions | Fuifui Moimoi |
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Tony Satini, Jorge Taufua, Siosaia Vave |
| New Zealand Warriors | David Fusitu'a, Siliva Havili, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Sione Lousi, John Palavi, Albert Vete |
| Parramatta Eels | John Folau, Peni Terepo, Vai Toutai |
| Penrith Panthers | Daniel Foster, Leilani Latu, Sika Manu, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak |
| Redcliffe Dolphins | Charlie Faingaa |
| St. Helens | Atelea Vea |
| Sydney Roosters | Willie Manu, Vaha Pulu |
| Wests Tigers | Sitaleki Akauola, Asipeli Fine, Salesi Funaki, Delouise Hoeter, Joel Luani |

### Cook Islands

The Cook Islands squad as of 24 September 2015 is as follows:
* Coach: Alex Chan
| Club Team | Players |
| Brisbane Broncos | Francis Molo |
| Canberra Raiders | Ezra Howe, Jordan Rapana |
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Makahesi Makatoa |
| Cronulla Sharks | Tinirau Arona |
| Halifax | Adam Tangata |
| Melbourne Storm | Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Aaron Teroi |
| Narellan Jets | Drury Low |
| Parramatta Eels | Eric Newbigging |
| Penrith Panthers | Tupou Sopoaga |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | Wallace Tangiiti |
| Sydney Roosters | Reuben Porter |
| Wentworthville Magpies | Fred Pakutoa |
| West Belconnen Warriors | John Papalii |
| Wests Tigers | Esan Marsters, Chance Peni |
| Wigan Warriors | Anthony Gelling |

## Qualifier

Tonga picked 4 débutantes, while the Cook Islands featured eleven. The Tongan team consisted of National Rugby League based players except for Mosese Pangai and Ukuma Ta’ai, who play in the Queensland Cup for the Townsville Blackhawks and the Super League for the Huddersfield Giants respectively. The Cook Islands team consisted mainly of players who play at reserve grade or youth levels for their respective NRL clubs, only 4 players in the lineup have played first grade this season either in the NRL or in the Super League. Tonga's most capped player is Ukuma Ta’ai who made his 8th appearance for his country, while the Cook Islands' most experienced players are Drury Low, Anthony Gelling and Johnathon Ford who all made their 6th appearance for their nation.
Penrith's Sika Manu captained Tonga, and Canberra's Jordan Rapana led the Cook Islands.

### Match details

* 17 October 2015
| Tonga | 28 – 8 | Cook Islands |
| Try: Tafua 13' c Fonua 34' c Kata (2) 63', 68' c Terepo 74' c Goal: Kata (4/5) 14', 35', 69', 75' | Report | Try: Nicoll-Klokstad 4' Gelling 23' Goal: Rapana (0/2) |
* Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown Attendance: 4,813 Referee: Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Solomone Kata (Tonga)
| FB | 1 | Solomone Kata |
| RW | 2 | Jorge Taufua |
| RC | 3 | Mahe Fonua |
| LC | 4 | Mosese Pangai |
| LW | 5 | Delouise Hoeter |
| SO | 6 | Pat Politoni |
| SH | 7 | Daniel Foster |
| PR | 8 | Albert Vete |
| HK | 9 | Joel Luani |
| PR | 10 | Peni Terepo |
| SR | 11 | Sika Manu (c) |
| SR | 12 | Manu Ma'u |
| LF | 13 | Joe Ofahengaue |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Nafe Seluini |
| IC | 15 | Ukuma Ta’ai |
| IC | 16 | Ben Murdoch-Masila |
| IC | 18 | David Fifita (came in as a late replacement for Leilani Latu) |
| Coach: ||
| Kristian Woolf ||
| FB | 1 | Jordan Rapana |
| RW | 2 | Drury Low |
| RC | 3 | Anthony Gelling |
| LC | 4 | Chance Peni |
| LW | 5 | Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad |
| FE | 6 | Johnathon Ford (c) |
| HB | 7 | Wallace Tangiiti |
| PR | 8 | Uiti Baker |
| HK | 9 | Aaron Teroi |
| PR | 10 | Sam Mataora |
| SR | 11 | Esan Marsters |
| SR | 12 | Makahesi Makatoa |
| LK | 13 | Francis Molo |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Carne Doyle-Manga |
| IC | 15 | Vincent Rennie |
| IC | 16 | Vinny Ngaro |
| IC | 17 | Fred Pakutoa |
| Coach: ||
| Alex Chan ||
With the win, Tonga qualified for the 2017 World Cup.