2023 Week 2 Pacific Championships - Teams and Game Day

[The Greenhouse]

Fiji kick off to start the second half. And the half starts with a big hit from Fiji and an error from the Cook Islands.

[The Greenhouse]

47th min TRY COOK ISLANDS to fullback Esom Ioka. Esan Marsters runs at the line on the last and produces a great last gasp offload to Ioka to score under the posts. Converted Steven Marsters.

Cook Islands 12-4

[The Greenhouse]

56th min TRY FIJI to fullback Jahream Bula. Half break from Kurt Donoghoe sets it up. Converted Brandon Wakeham from in front.

Cook Islands 12-10

[The Greenhouse]

60th min Going to the video for a no try for the Cook Islands. NO TRY. Ruled a lost ball in the tackle over the line.

[The Greenhouse]

67th min Going to the bunker for a no try for the Cook Islands. Nice kick to the in goal, but it is a ruled to have been knocked on in the regather. Cook Islands still lead by two. This has been a very good performance from the Aitu.

[The Greenhouse]

68th min TRY FIJI to Waqa Blake. There appears to be a knock on in the lead up. The Cook Islands were forced into a line drop out, they take the short kick, and Fiji are ruled to have knocked the ball back and they score under the posts. That is cruel for the Cook Islands. They really deserve to win. Wakeham converts.

Fiji 16-12

[The Greenhouse]

72nd min TRY COOK ISLANDS under the posts to Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano, set up again by Esan Marsters. That levels it with the kick to come from in front. Steven Marsters converts.

Cook Islands 18-16

[The Greenhouse]

75th min TRY FIJI to Sunia Turuva, it is off the back of a set restart for Fiji. The conversion for Wakeham is from almost in front. And he gets it.

Fiji 22-18

[The Greenhouse]

FULL TIME

Fiji Bati 22
Cook Islands Aitu 18

MATCH REPORT: Late Turuva try sees Fiji down brave Cook Islands



A late Sunia Turuva try has led Fiji Bati to a thrilling 22-18 victory over the Cook Islands in their Pacific Championships clash in Port Moresby on Sunday.

Down 18-16 with six minutes to play, the 2023 Dally M Rookie of the Year did it all himself, darting and weaving his way through Cook Island defenders to keep his side's Pacic Championships finals hopes alive.

Read more: https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/10/22/lat ... k-islands/

[RedRaider]

Fiji wins via an exciting last 12 minutes with 3 tries scored. Cook Islands did not give up at any stage against the more highly credentialed Fiji. Fiji via Turuva just a little too much individual class.

[zim]

Be interesting to see how Turuva turns up in 2024. I'd expect him to be a little flat in the first month given the schedule he's had for such a young player.
I wonder if teams looking for a new fullback have forgotten how good he was last year in that position. He'll be even better when he comes off contract in 2025 with the extra first grade experience.