International rugby league in 2016

6 May 2016 8.05pm (AEST)

Australia	16–0	New Zealand
Tries: Boyd (14') 1 Inglis (32') 1 Ferguson (80') 1 Goals: Thurston 1/3 (20' pen) Smith 1/2 (44' pen) Sin Bin: Radradra 1 (6')	[4]

Hunter Stadium, Newcastle Attendance: 27,724 Referee: Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Paul Gallen

Notes:

• This was the annual 2016 Anzac Test.
• Australia's win ended a 3-match losing streak against New Zealand.
• This was the first time New Zealand were held scoreless in a test-match since 2007.[5]
• With the victory, Australia reclaim the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy.
• Martin Taupau and Sam Moa made their 10th test appearance for New Zealand.
• Blake Ferguson, Josh McGuire, Michael Morgan and Fijian-born Semi Radradra made their international debuts for Australia while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Kenny Bromwich and Manu Maʻu made their international debuts for New Zealand.

The 2016 Melanesian Cup was played between Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Papua New Guinea created history to win their first Melanesian Cup title.[6] The test looked in a similar situation to last year when Fiji took a comfortable lead into the break but this time around Papua New Guinea scored enough points in the second half to outscore their pacific rivals and win their first major title since the 2009 Pacific Cup. Captain David Mead shone for the Kumuls as he made try-saving tackles, assists and even line breaks in a man-of-the-match performance which was a crucial influence to earning his country's first win on away soil since the year 2000. Fiji picked 7 débutantes for the test match, while PNG featured five players making their first ever International appearance for their country. Both teams had a fair share of NRL, Queensland or New South Wales Cup, as well as domestic club players. Papua New Guinea's most capped player was Rod Griffin who made his 10th appearance for his country, while Fiji's most experienced player was Akuila Uate who made his 12th appearance for his country. Gold Coast's David Mead captained Papua New Guinea, and Port Kembla Blacks' James Storer led Fiji.

7 May 2016 5.45pm (AEST)

Papua New Guinea	24–22	Fiji
Tries: W Boas (5'), (52') 2 Ottio (42') 1 McDonald (71') 1 Goals: A Boas 4/5 (6'), (8' pen), (44'), (72') Sin Bin: Olam 1 37' to 47'	Report	Tries: Vunakece 1 (16') Qionimacawa 3 (29') (37') (75') Goals: Kennedy 1/1 (17') Moceidreke 2/4 (22' pen), (76')

Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta[7] Attendance: 15,225 Referee: Robert Hicks (Rugby Football League

FB 1 David Mead (c) RW 2 Justin Olam RC 3 Kato Ottio LC 4 Nene McDonald LW 5 Stargroth Amean SO 6 Ase Boas SH 7 Watson Boas PR 8 Luke Page HK 9 Wartovo Puara PR 10 Henry Wan SR 11 Rhyse Martin SR 12 Rod Griffin LF 13 Adam Korave Substitutions: IC 14 Adex Wera IC 15 Brandy Peter IC 16 Willie Minoga IC 17 Kurt Baptiste Coach: Michael Marum

FB 1 Tyrone Phillips RW 2 Akuila Uate RC 3 Sisa Waqa LC 4 Brayden Wiliame LW 5 Etuate Qionimacawa SO 6 Sitiveni Moceidreke SH 7 Maurice Kennedy PR 8 Kane Evans HK 9 James Storer (c) PR 10 Daniel Saifiti SR 11 Junior Roqica SR 12 Fabian Goodall LF 13 Eloni Vunakece Substitutions: IC 14 Ben Nakubuwai IC 15 Tui Kamikamica IC 16 Tevita Cottrell IC 17 Jokatama Dokonivalu Coach: Mick Potter

Notes:

• This was the first of the two 2016 Pacific Rugby League Tests.
• The win was Papua New Guinea's first win on foreign soil since the 2000 World Cup.[8]
• With the victory, Papua New Guinea now hold the Melanesian Cup shield.
• Rod Griffin made his 10th test appearance for Papua New Guinea.
• James Storer made his 10th test appearance for Fiji.
• Justin Olam, Stargroth Amean, Watson Boas, Henry Wan and Kurt Baptiste made their international debuts for Papua New Guinea while Etuate Qionimacawa, Sitiveni Moceidreke, Maurice Kennedy, Ben Nakubuwai, Tui Kamikamica, Tevita Cottrell and Jokatama Dokonivalu made their international debuts for Fiji.

The 2016 Polynesian Cup was played between Samoa and Tonga. Samoa defeated Tonga to win their second consecutive Polynesian Cup title.[9] The strong crowd would always show their passion and loud screaming support throughout the game after big hits, strong runs and intense moments were key talking points. However a total of 29 errors and a completion rate of just over 50% from both countries was a headache for everyone to watch. Despite Tonga having 55% possession and more territory, they didn't score and the Samoans made them pay by taking their few second-half opportunities that were given to them resulting in another Samoan victory over their old 'War rivals'. Samoa picked 7 débutantes for the test match, while Tonga featured three. Both teams' players varied from National Rugby League players to Queensland or New South Wales Cup to Holden Cup and to the Super League. Samoa's most capped player was Leeson Ah Mau who made his 10th appearance for his country, while Tonga's most experienced player was Feleti Mateo who made his 13th appearance for his country. English Super League club Hull F.C. gave permission for two players to leave England and play in the Polynesian Cup test; coincidentally they were captain of both nations. Frank Pritchard captained Samoa, and Sika Manu led Tonga.[10]

7 May 2016 7.45pm (AEST)

Samoa	18–6	Tonga
Tries: Winterstein (15') 1 Leutele (55') 1 Wright (75') 1 Goals: Brown 3/4 (16'), (40' pen), (56')	Report	Tries: Pangai 1 (4') Goals: Kata 1/1 (5')

Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta[7] Attendance: 15,225 Referee: Ben Cummins

FB 1 Tim Simona RW 2 Antonio Winterstein RC 4 Ricky Leutele LC 3 Kirisome Auva'a LW 5 Matthew Wright SO 6 Fa'amanu Brown SH 7 Pita Godinet PR 8 Sam Kasiano HK 9 Kaysa Pritchard PR 10 Junior Paulo SR 11 Leeson Ah Mau SR 12 Frank Pritchard (c) LF 13 Sauaso Sue Substitutions: IC 14 Erin Clark IC 15 John Asiata IC 16 Raymond Faitala-Mariner IC 17 Sam Tagataese Coach: Matt Parish

FB 1 David Fusitua RW 2 Mosese Pangai RC 3 Solomone Kata LC 4 Vai Toutai LW 5 Michael Oldfield SO 6 Feleti Mateo SH 7 Samisoni Langi PR 8 Peni Terepo HK 9 Sione Katoa PR 10 Felise Kaufusi SR 11 Sika Manu (c) SR 12 Tony Williams LF 13 Joe Ofahengaue Substitutions: IC 14 Nafe Seluini IC 15 David Fifita IC 16 Siosaia Vave IC 17 Patrick Kaufusi Coach: Kristian Woolf

Notes:

• This was the second of the two 2016 Pacific Rugby League Tests.
• With the victory, Samoa retain the Polynesian Cup shield.
• Leeson Ah Mau made his 10th test appearance for Samoa.
• Kirisome Auva'a, Fa'amanu Brown, Erin Clark, Junior Paulo, Kaysa Pritchard, Raymond Faitala-Mariner and John Asiata made their international debuts for Samoa while David Fusitu'a, Patrick Kaufusi and Sione Katoa made their international debuts for Tonga.

11 June 2016

Chile	58–20	El Salvador
	Report

Henson Park, Marrickville[12]

Notes

• This was the first ever 13-aside match both teams ever played as they regularly play 9-aside matches against each other and fellow Latin Heat-based nations.

11 June 2016

Italy	22–26	Lebanon
Tries: Diac (31'), (35'), (77') 3 Arrigo (46'), (51') 2 Goals: Arrigo 0/2 Dodi 1/2 Giorgis 0/1	Report	Tries: Sabat 3 (4'), (14'), (64') Zeidan 1 (10') Finan 1 (24') Goals: Hachem 3/6

Catania University Stadium, Catania[13]

Notes:

• This was the first Mediterranean Cup since 2004.
• Both nations fielded a total of 12 debutants each.

16 July 2016

Sweden	24 – 40	Norway
Tries: Ah-Lam (22') 1 Cammell (31') 1 Teodor Loxvi (48') 1 Wikander (69') 1 Goals: Jönsson 4/4	Report	Tries: Mwikaria 2 (5'), (9') Schmidt 1 (27') Flage 1 (35') Mellor 2 (54'), (75') Mikalsen 2 (58'), (79') Goals: Hachem 4/8

Årsta, Stockholm

Notes:

• This was a part of the 2016 Nordic Cup.
• This was the first time ever that the Nordic Cup only featured two countries, after Denmark withdrew from the tournament.
• It was Norway's first Nordic Cup win since 2012.

16 July 2016

Jamaica	2 – 38	Canada
Tries: Goals: Myers 1/1	Report	Tries: McCarthy 1 Legault 1 Boyd 1 Grace 1 Miller 1 Hergott 1 Schouten 1 Goals: Kelly 5/5 Felix 0/1 Gemmell 0/1

Levitown, Pennsylvania[15] Referee: Vince Lawson

23 July 2016

United States	54 – 4	Jamaica
Tries: Taylor Alley 3 Mike Timpano 2 Taioalo Vaivai 1 Gabe Farley 1 Barthlemey Longchamp 1 Nick Newlin 1 CJ Cortalano 1 Goals: Mike Timpano 6/9 Taioalo Vaivai 1/1	Report	Tries: Ronaldo Wade 1

A. A. Garthwaite Stadium, Conshohocken[15]

Notes:

• Former NRL player, Taioalo 'Junior' Vaivai, made his International debut for the United States.

24 September 2016

Canada	8 – 14	United States

Lamport Stadium, Toronto[15]

Notes:

• Also played as part of the Colonial Cup.

6 August 2016

Germany	12–26	Belgium
Tries: Amefia 2 Goals: Keinhorst 2/2	Report	Tries: Leclerq 2 Bertrand 1 Troquereau 1 Guimard 1 Goals: Leroyer 3/5

Mendesportanlage, Dortmund[16]

13 August 2016

Netherlands	6 – 8	Germany
Tries: Werk (8') 1 Goals: Storm 2/2	Report	Tries: Hagenah (13') 1 Ziekursch (22') 1 Goals: Seelweger 0/2

Rotterdamse Rugby Club, Rotterdam[16]

Notes

• With the win, Germany retained the Griffin Cup.

3 September 2016

Belgium	36–12	Netherlands

Neder-Over-Heembeek, Brussels[16]

4 November 2016

Italy	76 – 0	Russia
Tries: Goals:	Report	Tries: Goals:

Leigh Sports Village, Leigh, England Attendance: 450 Referee: Chris Campbell Player of the Match: Terry Campese

FB 1 Mason Cerruto RW 2 Chris Centrone RC 3 Christophe Calegari LC 4 Col Wilkie LW 5 Richard Lepori FE 6 Terry Campese (c) HB 7 Ryan Ghietti PR 8 Shannon Wakeman HK 9 Dean Parata PR 10 Gavin Hiscox SR 11 Jayden Walker SR 12 Brenden Santi LK 13 Joel Riethmuller Substitutes: IC 14 Joseph Tramontana IC 15 Ryan Tramonte IC 16 Guiseppe Pagani IC 17 Gioele Celerino Coach: Cameron Ciraldo

FB 2 Maksim Suchkov RW 5 Vadim Buryak RC 1 Nikolay Zagoskin LC 3 Leonid Kalinin LW 14 Vadim Tsynkovich SO 6 Aleksandr Lysokon SH 7 Denis Tiulenev PR 16 Vadim Fedchuk HK 9 Vladimir Vlasyuk PR 10 Ivan Troitskii SR 12 Mikhail Burlutskii SR 11 Andrey Kuznetsov LF 13 Viacheslav Eremin Substitutes: IC 17 Igor Chuprin IC 18 Dmitry Bratko IC 8 Sergei Konstantinov IC 4 Petr Botnarash Coach: Denis Korolev

With the win Italy became the 14th, and final, team to qualify for the 2017 World Cup.[33]