Parramatta Eels star Feleti Mateo will lead Tonga in its SP Brewery Pacific Cup warm-up match against New Zealand tomorrow night and headlines a powerful squad aiming to take out the inaugural tournament in Port Moresby.

rlhttp://www.rugbyleague.com/rugby-league-news/mateo-to-lead-tonga.htmlrl

The 2009 Pacific Cup will be a big improvement on past rugby league tournaments involving pacific nations. On the back of the growth of the international game and a successful World Cup the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) have implemented a schedule that includes ongoing international competitions for 2nd tier rugby league nations in the pacific.

rlhttp://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/RLP/Pacificcup/2009pacificcup.htmrl

Until players start dropping out and going back to NZ or OZ. Like a certain someone from fiji.

Only 2 games? That's disappointing, would have maybe liked to have seen a 3 week league structure.

I'd imagine this years competition will be be used to learn lessons and next years Pacific Cup will be something more akin to the Four Nations.

NZ beat tonga 40-24 btw

Am I reading this right?

rlPacific Cup to be broadcast on Sky.rl

Unsure if its highlights or full coverage.

Had to go to work so couldn't listen to it
Did you see or hear the game?

According to the thread in the other forum it sounded close then NZ just pulled away, 24 all at one point it said

rlGlobal coverage for Pacific Cuprl

nearly 8,000 turned up aswell in freezing conditions.

I've asked Sky and it's not been admended into the listings but been told to "not expect it to be Live".

you mean the kid from australia who had already played for australia and only played for fiji because our ridiculous rules allow players to switch countries basically at will?

Looks like the Pacific Cup highlights on Sky will be an hour long one off highlights show on Friday November 6th.