# 1977 Pacific Cup

The 1977 Pacific Cup was the second edition of the Pacific Cup, a rugby league tournament held between Pacific teams. The tournament was hosted by New Zealand and eventually won by the New Zealand Māori side, who defeated Western Australia 35-12 in the final.

## Background

The 1977 Pacific Cup was run by the New South Wales Rugby League, following the success of the inaugural 1975 Pacific Cup. The tournament involved three Australian state sides as well as Papua New Guinea, who did not yet have Test match status, and the New Zealand Māori. In the end the 1977 Pacific Cup proved to be expensive to run and resulted in the cancellation of the planned 1979 Pacific Cup.

## Squads

Each team was allowed to choose a 22-man squad for the tournament.
* New Zealand Māori: Reg Tamihere, Noel Rollo, James Leuluai, Pesa Sua, Ray Harris, Dennis Key, Murray Netzler, Neil Aspin, John Wilson, Josh Liavaa, T. Tolea, Ian Bell, K. Jenkinson (Auckland); Dick Uluave (Manawatu); C. Morgan, Warren Rangi, Harry Waikai, Rick Muru, Pop Raihe (c) (Waikato); Jack Knuckey (Taranaki); Eddie Orchard (Bay of Plenty); R. Tiananga (Hamilton).
* Papua New Guinea: Dikana Boge, Tara Gau, Bob Greathead, Garia Kora, Steve Malum, Paul Tore, John Wagambie (c), Asi Winnie (Southern Region); Joe Gandel, Sukope Iko, Paul Kombinari, Jack Metta, Alan Rero, Stainer Sapu, Joe Tomerup, Linus Gene (Highlands Region); Openi Geno, Vai Karava, Kaiva Kako (Northern Region); Peter Pais, David Pukuntap, David Tangoa (Islands Region).

### Team of the Tournament

Following the final, a 17-man squad was named consisting of the best players in the tournament. Papua New Guinea lock John Wagambie was named the player of the tournament.
* New Zealand Māori: John Wilson, Ray Harris, Eddie Orchard, Dennis Key, Murray Netzler, Ian Bell, Warren Rangi;
* Papua New Guinea: Bob Greathead, John Wagambie, Alan Rero, Tara Gau
* Western Australia: Martin Ridley, John Fielding, Alec Lockley
* Northern Territory: Brian Allia, Bob Dowie
* Victoria: Dave McFee

## Results

An opening ceremony was held at Turangawaewae Marae in Huntly.
| | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Māori | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2 | Western Australia | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | Papua New Guinea | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Northern Territory | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 5 | Victoria | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |

### Round 1

* 14 September 1977
| Western Australia | 33 – 19 | Papua New Guinea |
| Tries: Dixon (2), Fielding (2), Castle, Walls, Ridley, Mitchell, Kennedy Goals: Rice (2), Walls | | Tries: Tore, Bais, Boge Goals: Geni (3), Kombinari (2) |
* Davies Park, Huntly
* 14 September 1977
| Māori | 27 – 10 | Northern Territory |
| Tries: Uluave (2), Tamihere, Morgan, Rangi, Sua, Leuluai Goals: Tamihere (3) | | Tries: de la Cruz, Rogers Goals: Allia, Walker |
* Davies Park, Huntly

### Round 2

* 17 September 1977
| Māori | 25 – 17 | Papua New Guinea |
| Tries: Rangi, Toloa, Aspin, Key, Uluave Goals: Tamihere (5) | | Tries: Malum (3) Goals: Kombinari (4) |
* Rotorua
* 17 September 1977
| Western Australia | 10 – 14 | Victoria |
| Tries: Fielding, Mitchell Goals: Rice (2) | | Tries: Hall, Watts Goals: Wakefield (4) |
* Rotorua

### Round 3

* 18 September 1977
| Māori | 78 – 0 | Victoria |
| Tries: Leuluai (5), Sua (3), Liavaa (3), Bell (3), Rollo (2), Netzler, Key Goals: Wilson (12) | | |
* Tokoroa
* 18 September 1977
| Papua New Guinea | 25 – 14 | Northern Territory |
| Tries: Rero (3), Kora, Geno Goals: Kombinari (5) | | Tries: Mitchell, Dowie, Elliott, Caswell Goals: Castillion |
* Tokoroa

### Round 4

* 21 September 1977
| Papua New Guinea | 42 – 12 | Victoria |
| Tries: Rero (5), Geno (2), Wagambie (2), Karava Goals: Kombinari (6) | | Tries: Hoyle, Wakefield, de Tournouer, Bayne |
* Davies Park, Huntly
* 21 September 1977
| Western Australia | 23 – 16 | Northern Territory |
| Tries: Fielding (2), Dixon, Walls, Bowler Goals: Rice (4) | | Tries: Harrison, Mitchell, Walker, Dowie Goals: Castillon (2) |
* Davies Park, Huntly

### Round 5

* 1977
| Māori | 28 – 4 | Western Australia |
* Carlaw Park, Auckland
* 1977
| Northern Territory | 33 – 29 | Victoria |
* Carlaw Park, Auckland

### Final

* 27 September 1977
| Māori | 35 – 12 | Western Australia |
| Tries: Uluave (2), Rangi (2), Sua, Netzler, Tolea, Bell Goals: Wilson (6) | | Tries: Walls, Adams Goals: Walls (3) |
* Carlaw Park, Auckland Referee: Ray Seymour