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Fiji down PNG 22-10 in Pacific Test

2nd May, 2015
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A try-scoring double by Melbourne’s Marika Koroibete has helped Fiji overcome a brave Papua New Guinea 22-10 in an historic rugby league Test on the Gold Coast.

In their first official Test against each other, Fiji lived up to their runaway favourites tag by cruising to a 18-0 halftime lead thanks to Koroibete’s heroics.

However, PNG – boasting just two NRL players to Fiji’s nine – hit back hard after the break.

Matt Trnka finally got PNG on the board in the 53rd minute when Kato Ottio somehow offloaded off the ground for the winger to score.

PNG man mountain Stanton Albert failed to hold onto a pass when over the line in the 60th – but eight minutes later more than amends.

In a remarkable 10m run, Albert bulldozed over three defenders before receiving the green light from the video referee to make it 18-10.

However, world No.6 Fiji weren’t to be denied in their first meeting with world No.11 PNG since their unofficial two match series in 2011.

Fiji centre Fabian Goodall iced the result when he intercepted an errant pass by PNG fullback Josh Damen to race 60m and score.

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Fiji were always going to be a handful against a plucky PNG after making the semi-finals at the last two World Cups.

Despite losing a host of eligible players to City-Country, Fiji still boasted a healthy NRL contingent including Wests Tigers’ Kevin Naiqama and Newcastle forward Korbin Sims.

PNG featured just Ray Thompson (North Queensland) and Nene MacDonald (Sydney Roosters) from the NRL.

PNG had hoped to end a dire trot since their last Test victory at the 2009 Pacific Cup.

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