2023 Rugby League Pacific Championships Explained

The 2023 Rugby League Pacific Championships was the second edition of the Rugby League Pacific Championship and the first under its current name (having previously been called the Oceania Cup in 2019). The championship included a collection of international rugby league tournaments to be played from October to November 2023 between nations located in the Pacific region.

The competition was played in three groupings: the Pacific Cup for higher ranking men's teams, the Pacific Bowl for lower ranking men's teams, and a section of women's matches played throughout.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

A total of 101 tries were scored in the 13 full international matches at an average of 7.8 tries per game. There were 67 tries in the eight men's games (average 8.4) and 34 tries in five women's matches (average 6.8). A further ten tries were scored in the men's match between New Zealand A and Tonga A. Top try-scorer honours were shared by three men's players: Nene McDonald, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Jamayne Isaako, with four tries each. The top try-scorers from the women's internationals, with three each, were Abigail Roache and Mele Hufanga.

Background

The Pacific Rugby League Championships was announced August 2023, as part of a $7 million investment by the NRL and Australian Government to develop rugby league in the surrounding countries. The tournament serves a continuation of the Oceania Cup which had one edition in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. The inaugural Pacific Championships would be held across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.^{[6] [7] [8]}

Teams

Squads

See main article: 2023 Rugby League Pacific Championships squads.

Men's teams

Competition	Team	data-sort-type="number"		Coach	Captain
Pacific Cup		1		James Tedesco	[9] [10] [11]
		2			align=center	[12] [13]
		3	Ben Gardiner		align=center	[14] [15]
Pacific Bowl		13	Karmichael Hunt		align=center	[16]
		7			align=center	[17] [18] [19]
		6			align=center	[20] [21]

Women's teams

Competition	Team	World ranking	Coach	Captain
Women		1			align=center	[22]
		6	Rusty Matua		align=center	[23]
		19		Josephine Maejiirs	[24]
		2			[25]
		5		Sera Koroi and Belinda Gwasamun (replaced the named but injured Elsie Albert)	[26] [27]
		20			[28]
		16	Kelvin Wright		[29]

Venues

Five venues across three countries were selected to host the Championships.

• Auckland, New Zealand: Eden Park hosted three matches on 21 October 2023, including the second Pacific Cup match between New Zealand and Samoa, a women's match between New Zealand and Tonga, and a men's match between New Zealand A and Tonga A.
• Hamilton, New Zealand: Waikato Stadium hosted the Pacific Cup final on 4 November 2023.
• Melbourne, Australia: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium hosted a double-header on 28 October 2023, which featured men's and women's matches between Australia and New Zealand.
• Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: PNG Football Stadium hosted all four Pacific Bowl matches, including the final, over a four-week period, as well as two women's matches.
• Townsville, Australia: North Queensland Stadium hosted a women's match between Australia and New Zealand and the first Pacific Cup match between Australia and Samoa on 14 October 2023.

Officiating

Referees and side-line officials for week one matches were announced on 10 October 2023.^[30] Appointments for week two were announced on 17 October 2023, with several changes of role.^[31]

Referees
Grant Atkins
Darian Furner
Peter Gough
Liam Kennedy

Ashley Klein
Wyatt Raymond
Todd Smith
Gerard Sutton
Touch Judges
Phil Henderson
David Munro
Drew Oultram
Paki Parkinson

Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Belinda Sharpe
Chris Sutton
Bunker Review Officials
Chris Butler
Adam Gee

Pacific Cup

Standings

	Team									Qualification
1		2	2	0	0	74	30	+44	4	Advance to Pacific Cup Final
2		2	1	0	1	68	36	+32	2
3		2	0	0	2	12	88	–76	0

NB: were intended to participate but had already arranged a tour of England before the tournament was announced.

Fixtures

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Pacific Bowl

Standings

	Team									Qualification
1		2	2	0	0	65	34	+31	4	Advance to Pacific Bowl Final
2		2	1	0	1	62	53	+9	2
3		2	0	0	2	28	68	–40	0

Fixtures

------------

Women's games

A series of matches involving seven Women's teams was announced, however the number of matches to be played is irregular and there will be no semi-finals or final.

Teams

• , 2 matches
• , 1 match
• , 1 match
• , 3 matches
• , 1 match
• , 1 match
• , 1 match

Fixtures

----------------

Attendance

The combined attendance for the eight game days was 118,986.

• Australia 38,728 for the two double-headers in Townsville (18,144) and Melbourne (20,584).
• New Zealand 36,769 for the triple-header in Auckland (23,269) and men's Cup final in Hamilton (13,500).
• Papua New Guinea 43,489 for the four game days in Port Moresby. Note that the first two of the four attendance figures (7,133, 7,001, 14,546, and 14,809) are as published on the Rugby League Project website.
• The combined attendance total counts attendees of each double-header match, and triple-header in Auckland, just once.
• Average attendance for the eight game days is 14,873.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Australia, New Zealand, PNG to host 2023 Pacific Championships . 15 Aug 2023 . Rugby League International Federation.
2. Web site: Eden Park to Host Rugby League Triple Header this Labour Weekend. 16 Aug 2023. NZRL. 16 Aug 2023.
3. Web site: NRL announce 2023 Pacific Championships. 16 Aug 2023. NRL. 16 Aug 2023.
4. Web site: World Cup final rematches headline end of year Pacific Championships. Walter. Brad. 16 Aug 2023. NRL. 16 Aug 2023.
5. Web site: International rugby league returns in southern hemisphere this autumn with full schedule locked in. 16 August 2023. LoveRugbyLeague. 30 October 2023.
6. Web site: Pacific Rugby League Championships. 16 Aug 2023. Prime Minister of Australia. 13 Aug 2024.
7. Web site: Pacific State of Origin: PNG and Fiji to co-host to new international rugby league tournament. Evans. Kyle. 18 Aug 2023. ABC. 13 Aug 2024.
8. https://www.intrl.sport/news/australia-new-zealand-png-to-host-2023-pacific-championships/
9. Web site: Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga springs selection shock with Nat Butcher added to train-on squad. Harper. Lachlan. 18 Sep 2023. WWOS Nine. 23 Sep 2023.
10. Web site: Kangaroos name five debutants in Pacific Championships squad. 3 Oct 2023. NRL. 3 Oct 2023.
11. Web site: Australian men's and women's squads announced for Pacfiic Championships. 3 Oct 2023. League Unlimited. 3 Oct 2023.
12. Web site: Maguire and Henry Re-Appointed as Head Coaches through to 2025 Rugby League World Cup. 5 Jul 2023. NZRL. 17 Aug 2023.
13. Web site: 15 October 2023. Fisher-Harris confirmed as new Kiwis captain. NRL.com. 15 October 2023.
14. Web site: Samoa Appoint NRL, NRLW Coaches For Pacific Championships. 20 Sep 2023. International Rugby League. Rugby League Samoa. 20 Sep 2023.
15. Web site: Grand final stars feature in strong Toa Samoa squad. 3 Oct 2023. NRL. 3 Oct 2023.
16. Web site: Cook Islanders arrive. 12 Oct 2023. The National. 13 Oct 2023.
17. Web site: Kativerata is new Fiji Bati Coach. Romena. Romeka. 22 Feb 2023. fijilive.com. 17 Aug 2023.
18. Web site: Kativerata named permanent coach of Bati after impressive World Cup campaign. 24 Feb 2023. ABC. 17 Aug 2023.
19. Web site: Exciting rookie duo headline talented Fiji Pacific Championships squad. 6 Oct 2023. NRL. 6 Oct 2023.
20. Web site: 2023-08-24 . Kumuls coup: In-demand Holbrook to coach Papua New Guinea . 2023-08-24 . National Rugby League . en.
21. Web site: Walter. Brad. 15 October 2023. 'He smashes people': Lam backs Laybutt to lead from front. NRL.com. 15 October 2023.
22. Web site: Three Test newcomers among Jillaroos squad for Pacific Championships. 3 Oct 2023. NRL. 3 Oct 2023.
23. Web site: Orchids survive late comeback to overcome Cook Islands. Hogan. Kelsey. 22 Oct 2023. NRL. 15 Aug 2024.
24. Web site: Big dreams ahead: Fiji announce captain, coach, World Cup ambitions. Walter. Brad. 23 Sep 2023. NRL. 23 Sep 2023.
25. Web site: Kiwi Ferns name Co-Captains to lead Pacific Championships Squad. 10 Oct 2023. NZRL. 10 Oct 2023.
26. Web site: Holbrook, Grima offered big roles. 25 August 2023. 30 October 2023.
27. Web site: Seven NRLW stars in PNG Orchids squad. Walter. Brad. 5 Oct 2023. NRL. 5 Oct 2023.
28. Web site: A massive privilege: Fetu Samoa relish Williams-Guthrie inclusion. 3 Oct 2023. NRL. 3 Oct 2023.
29. Web site: Tonga name Penitani, Polata in Pacific Championships squad. 3 Oct 2023. NRL. 3 Oct 2023.
30. Web site: Match Officials: Pacific Championships Week 1. 10 Oct 2023. NRL. 11 Oct 2023.
31. Web site: Match Officials: Pacific Championships Week 2. 17 Oct 2023. NRL. 18 Oct 2023.

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