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2016 (2016) Samoa vs. Fiji rugby league test match ()
2016 Samoa vs. Fiji rugby league test match
18	20
Date	8 October 2016
Stadium	Apia Park
Location	Apia, Samoa
Referee	Gerard Sutton
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	TV1 SAMOA;

The 2016 Samoa vs. Fiji rugby league test match was played between Samoa and Fiji at Apia Park.

Background

On 7 May 2016, it was confirmed that Apia would host a test-match between Samoa and Fiji on 8 October 2016, marking the 30th anniversary of rugby league in Samoa.^[1] John Grant, the Chief Executive of the Australian Rugby League Commission, shared his support for the test by confirming that an Australian registered referee would be provided along with senior staff and management to help with the organisation of the match.^[2]

A couple of hours before the Pacific test-matches began, discussions were made and confirmed between the RLIF Deputy Chairman, John Grant, alongside Rugby League Samoa Chairman/Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation Chairman, Tagaloa Faafouina Su'a, and the Fiji Rugby League Chairman, Filimoni Vosarogo, that Samoa's city of Apia will host a test-match between Samoa and Fiji on October 8, 2016. This test-match will mark 30 years of Rugby league in Samoa.^[3]^[4]

Squads

Samoa picked 6 débutantes for the test match, while Fiji selected four. All of the Samoan team had players based in the NRL except for Denny Solomona, who plays for Super League club Castleford Tigers. Fiji on the other hand had a fair share of National Rugby League, and New South Wales Cup players along with one domestic player, Pio Seci. Samoa's most capped player was Leeson Ah Mau, who made his 11th appearance for his country, while Fiji's most experienced player was James Storer, who also made his 11th appearance for his country.

St. George Illawarra's Leeson Ah Mau captained Samoa, and Wests Tigers' Kevin Naiqama led Fiji.

Samoa	Position	Fiji
David Nofoaluma	Fullback	Sitiveni Moceidreke
Ken Maumalo	Wing	Tyrone Phillips
Matthew Wright	Centre	Kevin Naiqama (c)
Tim Lafai	Centre	Brayden Williame
Denny Solomona	Wing	Marcello Montoya
Pita Godinet	Five-Eighth	Henry Raiwalui
Mason Lino	Halfback	Maurice Kennedy
Sam Kasiano	Prop	Kane Evans
Kaysa Pritchard	Hooker	Apisai Koroisau
Junior Paulo	Prop	Junior Roqica
Leeson Ah Mau (c)	2nd Row	Viliame Kikau
Raymond Faitala-Mariner	2nd Row	Eloni Vunakece
Sauaso Sue	Lock	Korbin Sims

Erin Clark	Interchange	James Storer
Sam Lisone	Interchange	Tui Kamikamica
Bunty Afoa	Interchange	Ben Nakubuwai
James Gavet	Interchange	Pio Seci

Matt Parish	Coach	Mick Potter

Match summary

8 October 2016
4:40pm (UTC+13)

Samoa	18 – 20	Fiji
Tries: Maumalo (16', 20') 2 Kasiano (4') 1 Goals: Wright 3/3 (5', 18', 21')	Report	Tries: 1 (24') Montoya 1 (30') Storer 1 (38') Williame 1 (60') Phillips Goals: Moceidreke 2/4 (32', 40')

Apia Park, Apia
Referee:

Gerard Sutton

Fiji won the match after trailing 18-0 at the 20 minute mark.^[5] Samoa were dominating proceedings in the opening quarter as they controlled most of the possession and territory but Fiji hit back in the back-end of the game with Samoa's errors ruining the home team's chances.