# 2019 Oceania Cup (rugby league)

The 2019 Oceania Cup was the inaugural edition of the Oceania Cup. Contested by six teams, the competition began in June and concluded in November.
The competition was announced at the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) congress in November 2018. The draw was released in March and breaks the six teams into two separate pools with promotion and relegation to exist in what is to become an annual tournament. Group A will comprise the top three ranked Pacific nations in Australia, New Zealand and Tonga while Group B will comprise Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.
The winner of Pool A will win the Oceania Cup while the winner of Pool B will win the Oceania Shield and be promoted to Pool A in the next edition in place of Australia, who were due to travel to Europe for their first Kangaroos tour since 2003.

## Venues

The games were played at the following venues in New Zealand and Australia.
| Auckland | Auckland | Wollongong |
| Eden Park | Mt Smart Stadium | WIN Stadium |
| Capacity: 50,000 | Capacity: 30,000 | Capacity: 23,000 |
| Sydney | Christchurch |
| Leichhardt Oval | Rugby League Park |
| Capacity: 20,000 | Capacity: 18,000 |

## Results
### Group A - Cup

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/− | Pts |
| Australia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 20 | +18 | 2 |
| New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 40 | −2 | 2 |
| Tonga | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 46 | −16 | 2 |
* 22 June 2019 17:40 NZST (UTC+12)
| New Zealand | 34–14 | Tonga |
| Tries: Johnson (2), Hughes, Manu, Smith, Tuivasa-Sheck Goals: Marsters (5/6) | report | Tries: Kata, Taukeiaho, Tupou Goals: Taukeiaho (1/2), Staggs (0/1) |
* Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 23,624 Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia)
Team details :
| FB | 1 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck |
| WG | 2 | Ken Maumalo |
| CE | 3 | Esan Marsters |
| CE | 4 | Joseph Manu |
| WG | 5 | Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (c) |
| FE | 6 | Shaun Johnson |
| HB | 7 | Benji Marshall |
| PR | 8 | Jesse Bromwich |
| HK | 9 | Brandon Smith |
| PR | 10 | Jared Waerea-Hargreaves |
| SR | 11 | Kenny Bromwich |
| SR | 12 | Briton Nikora |
| LK | 13 | Isaac Liu |
| Interchange: |||
| BE | 14 | Jahrome Hughes |
| BE | 15 | Leeson Ah Mau |
| BE | 16 | Nelson Asofa-Solomona |
| BE | 17 | James Fisher-Harris |
| Coach: |||
| Michael Maguire ||||
| FB | 1 | William Hopoate (c) |
| WG | 2 | David Fusitu'a |
| CE | 3 | Kotoni Staggs |
| CE | 4 | Solomone Kata |
| WG | 5 | Daniel Tupou |
| FE | 6 | John Asiata |
| HB | 7 | Tuimoala Lolohea |
| PR | 15 | Addin Fonua-Blake |
| HK | 9 | Siliva Havili |
| PR | 10 | Sio Siua Taukeiaho |
| SR | 11 | Tevita Pangai Junior |
| SR | 12 | Manu Ma'u |
| LK | 13 | Jason Taumalolo (c) |
| Interchange: |||
| BE | 14 | Manase Fainu |
| BE | 16 | Peni Terepo |
| BE | 17 | Sitili Tupouniua |
| BE | 19 | Tevita Tatola |
| Coach: |||
| Kristian Woolf ||||
* Touch judges:
* Chris McMillan (New Zealand)
* Chris Sutton (Australia)
* Video referee:
* Steve Chiddy (Australia)
Notes:
* Jahrome Hughes, Briton Nikora (both New Zealand), Manase Fainu, Kotoni Staggs, and Sitili Tupouniua (all Tonga) made their Test debuts, while John Asiata made his debut for Tonga having previously represented Samoa.
* 25 October 2019 20:10 AEDT (UTC+11)
| Australia | 26–4 | New Zealand |
| Tries: Addo-Carr, Cook, Frizell, Tedesco Goals: Mitchell (4/5), Cherry-Evans (1/1) | Report | Tries: Nicoll-Klokstad Goals: Johnson (0/1) |
* WIN Stadium, Wollongong Attendance: 18,104 Referee: Gerard Sutton (Australia)
Team details :
| FB | 1 | James Tedesco |
| WG | 2 | Josh Addo-Carr |
| CE | 3 | Latrell Mitchell |
| CE | 4 | Jack Wighton |
| WG | 5 | Nick Cotric |
| FE | 6 | Cameron Munster |
| HB | 7 | Daly Cherry-Evans |
| PR | 8 | Josh Papalii |
| HK | 9 | Damien Cook |
| PR | 10 | David Klemmer |
| SR | 11 | Boyd Cordner (c) |
| SR | 12 | Tyson Frizell |
| LK | 13 | Jake Trbojevic |
| Interchange: |||
| BE | 14 | Ben Hunt |
| BE | 15 | Payne Haas |
| BE | 16 | Paul Vaughan |
| BE | 17 | Wade Graham |
| Coach: |||
| Mal Meninga ||||
| FB | 1 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck |
| WG | 2 | Ken Maumalo |
| CE | 3 | Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad |
| CE | 4 | Joseph Manu |
| WG | 5 | Jamayne Isaako |
| FE | 6 | Shaun Johnson |
| HB | 7 | Benji Marshall (c) |
| PR | 8 | Leeson Ah Mau |
| HK | 9 | Brandon Smith |
| PR | 10 | Jared Waerea-Hargreaves |
| SR | 11 | Briton Nikora |
| SR | 12 | Kenny Bromwich |
| LK | 13 | Adam Blair |
| Interchange: |||
| BE | 14 | Jahrome Hughes |
| BE | 15 | Zane Tetevano |
| BE | 16 | Braden Hamlin-Uele |
| BE | 17 | Corey Harawira-Naera |
| Coach: |||
| Michael Maguire ||||
* Man of the Match:
* Damien Cook (Australia)
* Touch judges:
* Nick Beashel (Australia)
* Dave Munro (Australia)
* Video referees:
* Ben Galea (Australia)
* Jared Maxwell (Australia)
Notes:
* Josh Addo-Carr, Nick Cotric, Payne Haas, Jack Wighton (all Australia), Braden Hamlin-Uele, and Corey Harawira-Naera (both New Zealand) made their Test debuts, while Paul Vaughan made his debut for Australia having previously represented Italy, and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Zane Tetevano made their debut for New Zealand both having previously represented the Cook Islands.
* 2 November 2019 19:40 NZDT (UTC+13)
| Tonga | 16–12 | Australia |
| Tries: Hopoate, Jennings, Pangai Junior Goals: Staggs (2/4) | Report | Tries: Wighton, Vaughan Goals: Mitchell (2/2) |
* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 25,257 Referee: Gerard Sutton (Australia)
Team details :
| FB | 1 | William Hopoate |
| WG | 2 | David Fusitu'a |
| CE | 3 | Michael Jennings |
| CE | 4 | Konrad Hurrell |
| WG | 5 | Daniel Tupou |
| FE | 6 | Tuimoala Lolohea |
| HB | 21 | Kotoni Staggs |
| PR | 15 | Addin Fonua-Blake |
| HK | 9 | Siliva Havili |
| PR | 10 | Sio Siua Taukeiaho (c) |
| SR | 11 | Ben Murdoch-Masila |
| SR | 12 | Manu Ma'u |
| LK | 13 | Jason Taumalolo (c) |
| Interchange: |||
| BE | 8 | Andrew Fifita |
| BE | 14 | Sione Katoa |
| BE | 19 | Tevita Pangai Junior |
| BE | 20 | Joe Ofahengaue |
| Coach: |||
| Kristian Woolf ||||
| FB | 1 | James Tedesco |
| WG | 2 | Josh Addo-Carr |
| CE | 3 | Latrell Mitchell |
| CE | 4 | Jack Wighton |
| WG | 5 | Nick Cotric |
| FE | 6 | Cameron Munster |
| HB | 7 | Daly Cherry-Evans |
| PR | 8 | Josh Papalii |
| HK | 9 | Damien Cook |
| PR | 10 | David Klemmer |
| SR | 11 | Boyd Cordner (c) |
| SR | 12 | Tyson Frizell |
| LK | 13 | Jake Trbojevic |
| Interchange: |||
| BE | 14 | Cameron Murray |
| BE | 15 | Payne Haas |
| BE | 16 | Paul Vaughan |
| BE | 17 | Wade Graham |
| Coach: |||
| Mal Meninga ||||
* Touch judges:
* Nick Beashel (Australia)
* Dave Munro (Australia)
* Video referee:
* Jared Maxwell (Australia)
Notes:
* Cameron Murray (Australia) made his Test debut.

### Group B - Shield

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/− | Pts |
| Fiji | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 38 | +28 | 4 |
| Samoa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 50 | −8 | 2 |
| Papua New Guinea | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 46 | −20 | 0 |
* 22 June 2019 19:55 AEST (UTC+10)
| Papua New Guinea | 6–24 | Samoa |
| Tries: Wapi Goals: Martin (1/1) | report | Tries: Aloiai, Harris-Tavita, Luai, Paulo Goals: Isaako (4/4) |
* Leichhardt Oval, Sydney Attendance: 8,408 Referee: Adam Gee (Australia)
Team details :
| FB | 1 | Edene Gebbie |
| WG | 2 | Junior Rau |
| CE | 3 | Bernard Lewis |
| CE | 4 | Xavier Coates |
| WG | 5 | Terry Wapi |
| FE | 6 | Edwin Ipape |
| HB | 7 | Kyle Laybutt |
| PR | 8 | Enock Maki |
| HK | 9 | James Segeyaro (c) |
| PR | 10 | Luke Page |
| SR | 11 | Rhyse Martin |
| SR | 12 | Nixon Putt |
| LK | 13 | Moses Meninga |
| Interchange: |||
| BE | 14 | Kurt Baptiste |
| BE | 15 | Rhadley Brawa |
| BE | 16 | Zev John |
| BE | 17 | Stanton Albert |
| Coach: |||
| Michael Marum ||||
| FB | 1 | Jamayne Isaako |
| WG | 2 | Jorge Taufua |
| CE | 3 | Hymel Hunt |
| CE | 4 | Marion Seve |
| WG | 5 | David Nofoaluma |
| FE | 6 | Chanel Harris-Tavita |
| HB | 7 | Anthony Milford (c) |
| PR | 8 | Junior Paulo |
| HK | 9 | Jarome Luai |
| PR | 17 | Josh Aloiai |
| SR | 11 | Raymond Faitala-Mariner |
| SR | 12 | Jaydn Su'A |
| LK | 13 | Martin Taupau |
| Interchange: |||
| BE | 10 | James Gavet |
| BE | 14 | Mason Lino |
| BE | 15 | Michael Chee-Kam |
| BE | 16 | Herman Ese'ese |
| Coach: |||
| Matt Parish ||||
* Touch judges:
* Nick Morel (Australia)
* David Munro (Australia)
* Video referees:
* Henry Perenara (New Zealand)
* Bryan Norrie (Australia)
Notes:
* Xavier Coates, Edene Gebbie, Edwin Ipape, Zev John, Kyle Laybutt, Bernard Lewis, Terry Wapi (all Papua New Guinea), Chanel Harris-Tavita, Hymel Hunt, Marion Seve, and Jaydn Su'A (all Samoa) made their Test debuts, while Jamayne Isaako made his debut for Samoa having previously represented New Zealand.
* 2 November 2019 14:20 NZDT (UTC+13)
| Samoa | 18–44 | Fiji |
| Tries: Taufua (2), Lafai, Mulitalo Goals: Lafai (1/4) | Report | Tries: Kikau (2), Miller, Lovodua, Lumelume, Naiqama, Ratuvakacereivalu, Wiliame Goals: Wakeham (5/6), Moceidreke (1/2) |
* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 25,257 Referee: Grant Atkins (Australia)
Team details :
| FB | 1 | Ronaldo Mulitalo |
| WG | 2 | Jorge Taufua |
| CE | 3 | Tim Lafai |
| CE | 4 | Joseph Leilua (c) |
| WG | 5 | Brian To'o |
| FE | 6 | Marion Seve |
| HB | 7 | Jarome Luai |
| PR | 8 | Junior Paulo |
| HK | 9 | Danny Levi |
| PR | 10 | Martin Taupau |
| SR | 11 | Tino Fa'asuamaleaui |
| SR | 12 | Michael Chee-Kam |
| LK | 14 | Dunamis Lui |
| Interchange: |||
| BE | 13 | Bunty Afoa |
| BE | 15 | Moses Leota |
| BE | 16 | Luciano Leilua |
| BE | 17 | James Gavet |
| Coach: |||
| Matt Parish ||||
| FB | 1 | Sitiveni Moceidreke |
| WG | 2 | Isaac Lumelume |
| CE | 3 | Taane Milne |
| CE | 4 | Brayden Wiliame |
| WG | 5 | Suliasi Vunivalu |
| FE | 6 | Kevin Naiqama (c) |
| HB | 7 | Brandon Wakeham |
| PR | 8 | Kane Evans |
| HK | 9 | Joe Lovodua |
| PR | 10 | Tui Kamikamica |
| SR | 11 | Viliame Kikau |
| SR | 12 | Ben Nakubuwai |
| LK | 13 | D'Rhys Miller |
| Interchange: |||
| BE | 14 | Lamar Liolevave |
| BE | 15 | Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu |
| BE | 18 | King Vuniyayawa |
| BE | 19 | Penioni Tagituimua |
| Coach: |||
| Brandon Costin ||||
* Touch judges:
* Paki Parkinson (New Zealand)
* Stephane Vincent (France)
* Video referee:
* Jared Maxwell (Australia)
Notes:
* Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Luciano Leilua, Moses Leota, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Brian To'o (all Samoa), Lamar Liolevave, and Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu (both Fiji) made their Test debuts, while Danny Levi made his debut for Samoa having previously represented New Zealand.
* 9 November 2019 17:20 NZDT (UTC+13)
| Fiji | 22–20 | Papua New Guinea |
| Tries: Kamikamica, Kikau, Nakubuwai, Wiliame Goals: Wakeham (3/4) | | Tries: Boas, Gebbie, Martin Goals: Martin (4/4) |
* Rugby League Park, Christchurch Attendance: 8,875 Referee: Chris Kendall (England)
Team details :
| FB | 1 | Sitiveni Moceidreke |
| WG | 2 | Maika Sivo |
| CE | 3 | Taane Milne |
| CE | 4 | Brayden Wiliame |
| WG | 5 | Suliasi Vunivalu |
| FE | 6 | Kevin Naiqama (c) |
| HB | 7 | Brandon Wakeham |
| PR | 8 | Kane Evans |
| HK | 9 | Joe Lovodua |
| PR | 10 | Tui Kamikamica |
| SR | 11 | Viliame Kikau |
| SR | 12 | Ben Nakubuwai |
| LK | 13 | D'Rhys Miller |
| Interchange: |||
| BE | 14 | Lamar Liolevave |
| BE | 15 | Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu |
| BE | 18 | King Vuniyayawa |
| BE | 19 | Penioni Tagituimua |
| Coach: |||
| Brandon Costin ||||
| FB | 1 | Alex Johnston |
| WG | 2 | Edene Gebbie |
| CE | 3 | Daniel Russell |
| CE | 4 | Justin Olam |
| WG | 5 | Terry Wapi |
| FE | 6 | Kyle Laybutt |
| HB | 7 | Watson Boas |
| PR | 8 | Wellington Albert |
| HK | 9 | Wartovo Puara |
| PR | 10 | Luke Page |
| SR | 11 | Nixon Putt |
| SR | 12 | Rhyse Martin (c) |
| LK | 13 | Moses Meninga |
| Interchange: |||
| BE | 14 | Edwin Ipape |
| BE | 15 | Stanton Albert |
| BE | 16 | Enock Maki |
| BE | 17 | Stargroth Amean |
| Coach: |||
| Michael Marum ||||
* Touch judges:
* Chris Butler (Australia)
* Paki Parkinson (New Zealand)
* Video referee:
* Shayne Hayne (Australia)
Notes:
* Daniel Russell (Papua New Guinea) made his Test debut, while Alex Johnston made his debut for Papua New Guinea having previously represented Australia.