Kiwis win but Samoa earn respect

The no try obstruction call was the video refs call so can't blame him for that. Still can't understand why he didn't give Bromwich a try and that among other things (his nrl performance hasn't been great either) are why he shouldnt be reffereeing at international level. Obviously he didn't cost Samoa the game (because you seem to think that's what I meant in my post), I feel Samoa just didn't do enough, but as a league fan I didn't agree with his last two calls against them.

yes awesome series. I think the pacific is ripe for the picking. Rugby here in NZ really just ignores the pacific, I think it's time now for league to offer them the opportunity that they are grabbing at. And as someone said somewhere, PNG are excited about Samoa's effort, and I bet the others are thinking the same. I have read Fiji and PNG now have teams in the state cups, well what about Samoa, maybe after this series something has to happen with them!!! Maybe these 4 nations series should be a level financial affair, with all teams getting an equal share of the money, TV rights etc. With that and the dumb SOO eligability rules changed future international series would just get stronger!!!

I'm not sure if Beale is the answer for SKD, he wasn't that outstanding at the Dragons at center. I recall Leilua smoked Goodwin at the world cup also! Maybe young Au'vaa might have cut it, but he's not even in the squad or Hoffman he just made the squad after injury. I still don't get it, kiwis have never been flush with outstanding centers and Au'vaa is overlooked or could have had Alex Glenn as backup center but he didn't make the squad either!!!

There's been a lot of negativity about the four nations because of the long season and the toll on the players and blah blah blah, but I for one am loving it and think that continuing to play against developing teams can only improve the brand and the quality of domestic competitions, and improve the rugby league brand internationally. How can it not?

Cheers Bearfax. I think momentum is building. ToaSomoa has been a standout. Scoring just as many tries against England, then coming within minutes of defeating NZ - what will they serve up Against Australia? I think their performance has created a lot of good dialog among the league community. May this be the start of some great progress made in this area.

Which is great. But It doesn't address the top tier unfortunately. Its very grass roots focussed, which again is good. But it's not going to address the fact these nations need more tests. The Pacific cup has been running for years, but it runs during the NRL which means the vast amount of NRL players won't be eligible. Unless the NRL pulls it's finger out, cancels NRL during Origin and replaces it with the Pacific Cup, it will remain on the fringes of league, as a novelty. All we need is a break during the NRL season to allow these guys to play. It'll give the networks coverage when they need it, the NRL should also be able to sell the rights to the Pacific Islands. We need a top and bottom approach. I feel they are going to look at the bottom by sending some players to these nations every now and then, but that's all. These nations need to see their national representatives playing in tests that mean something.

I'm very much with you on this one RLDF. The Pacific is the major growth area for Rugby League. With PNG having a side in the QLD Cup and Fiji to have one on the NSW CUP next year, its time much more money was poured into these regions to allow them to grow.

RLDF The NRL launched a pacific strategy this year.

This must be proof, that Rugby League needs a more significant investment in the Pacific. What we must do is have meaning full Pacific Cups at a time when the NRL & Super League is not being run - in order for teams to use appropriately qualified NRL/Super league players. This is where the APRLC (Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation) and RLIF need to show some leadership and put the business case forward to the NRL/SuperLeague and their partners as to why it believes this will be a good investment for the competitions(s). At the same time, the European cup can be run in the Northern Hemisphere - which it is currently. This could happen during the Origin period or at seasons end. Someone needs to get on this. The Pacific is rising. Fiji could arguably pose more of a threat than ToaSamoa, if they had all their eligible players available.

Funny some code zealots are still going on about the insignificance of the 4nations. The Samoa v NZ game on GEM was the most watched footy code game of the weekend, even beating the cricket. Of course, the Roos v England game slaughtered everything. Imagine if the host broadcaster wasn't so armoured with a rival stations horse racing carnival, the ratings would be even bigger.

I didn't really care who won the game, it was just awesome to watch. Felt like I was watching Origin, it was just as brutal. Those Samoan boys hit hard.

If the international rugby league is serious about our game they will help the so called lesser countries. Samoa is a 3rd world country with little money to spare for its international teams full stop. And yes players would always chose not to play for toa samoa, with money in state of origin for example. In saying that would more players leave toa to play for other countries like matagi did joining the kiwis. I hope not and the IRL has to do something to stop the drain. How good would the toa be if anthony milford was playing for them. Australia would be worried.

Ben Roberts lost that game for Samoa

I agree cedric about Kearneys selections. It iwll be interesting what he does for the next game. It appears Manu is down the pecking order but SKD got smoked by Leilua so Id drop him for Beale & keep Manu on the left wing. Im at least glad Kearney respected Samoa & picked close to his best team. It wouldve been easy to underestimate them & select some of the 'B' team to give the rest of the squad some game time.

the kangaroos selectors are not alone, kiwis' didn't have Manu in 1st test, they were going with Watene-Zel.... who had about 6 NRL games then he got injured so they put Beale ahead of Manu and then put Nightingale on the other wing!!!!! Kiwis also didn't include Perrett Hoffman or Au'vaa and young Hiku has struggled a little although he will be the future!!! The Roos have got me and you puzzelled when they knew they were up against some big tough forward packs, and really selected only one prop and young and up an comer in the tigers boy!!!!!!

And the absurd. O try calls going against the Kiws? Perenara was woeful and his performance impacted negatively more on the Kiwis than it did Samoa, as has been said in the post already the match goes for 80mins not 75. It doesn't matter if you are dominant most of the match and still lose.

The Kangaroos selections are just ridiculous all round. Two props in the entire squad, and one hasn't even started in a club game.

And Josh McGuire has shown in two games how ridiculous it was that he was overlooked for the Aussie squad. The Maroons surely have to pick him this year.