SARL has finalised the 0/19 Rhino Squad that will compete in this years Glasgow Commonwealth Championship.

The Team Are: 

By Matt Encarnacion, Western Sydney Correspondent
Sat, May 03, 2014 - 09:40PM - Source http://m.nrl.com/

To be fair, this was always going to be a fun, carnival-like night at the foot of the mountains. But when Fijian lock Korbin Sims came up with the biggest hit of the NRL calendar thus far on Samoa's Isaac Liu, we were guaranteed an unforgettable one. 

In the end, Samoa got the fourth and final ticket to the Four Nations at the end of the year with a 32-16 victory over Fiji at Penrith's Sportingbet Stadium. But there was no denying that rugby league – as it always seems after games like this – was the real winner in all of this. 

As it happened: NRL.com's live match blog

From Petero Civoniceva answering an SOS to come out of retirement, to Lote Tuqiri kicking his first goal in over a decade, to Penani Manumaleali'i's hat trick – six months after the tragic passing away of his mother during the World Cup – the raucous crowd of 9,063 had more than enough to cheer for. 

Samoan prop Sam Tagataese could be in trouble though after being sent off in the closing minutes for headbutting Fijian prop Kane Evans. 

Samoa had all the ball early, forcing three repeat sets inside the first 15 minutes. And while they eventually got a result – a big, Manumaleali'i left-foot step that got him under the posts in the 13th minute – Sims' fifth-minute bell-rattler on Liu showed this was going to be anything but a dour affair. 

And that's exactly how the first half transpired as Fijian fullback Kevin Naiqama – who shanked all three of those line drop outs – executed a perfect grubber and chase to get their first try a minute later. 

Centre Lote Tuqiri, in his first Test for Fiji since 2000, levelled the scores at 6-all. 

The 2013 World Cup semi-finalists went back-to-back in the next set when hooker James Storer made a 30-metre bust and kicked ahead for five-eighth Alipate Tani, who was grassed centimetres short of the tryline. A quick shift right in the ensuing play ended in Tuqiri stepping off his right and planting the ball. He added the extras to his own try, extending the lead to 12-6. 

Fiji went further ahead in the 27th minute when Storer sold the crowd – and marker Liu – a huge dummy from the play-the-ball for a two-try advantage, but Samoa got one back in the 38th when Manumaleali'i latched onto a magical round-the-corner offload from Sam Tagataese to reduce the margin to 16-12 at the break. 

A turning point came prior to Manumaleali'i's second try when Fijian halfback Aaron Groom and Samoa back-rower Dominique Peyroux clashed heads, ending Groom's night. 

The surprise Tagataese-Manumaleali'i combination got the Samoans off to a flyer – and onto a lead – in the second half when a quick play-the-ball from the Sharks prop, who had made a 40-metre bust earlier in the set, paved the way for his clubmate to scoot over from dummy half for his hat trick. Inu duly converted and the 2013 World Cup quarter-finalists stole the lead 18-16. 

Six minutes later, the Bulldogs reserve-grader kicked his side out a further two points when Korbin Sims charged his shoulder into Samoan hooker Michael Sio. 

Late call-up Carlos Tuimavave kept the circus rolling with a supreme juggling act in the 54th minute that turned the Test into it a two-try game. Manumaleali'i's initial bomb was kept alive by Inu, but when Vidot put up a second chip the Warriors utility leaped and had two grabs at the ball before a difficult putdown. 

Inu potted his fifth goal from as many attempts and at 26-16, the Samoans were well in control. 

While Inu had a perfect night with the boot, he reminded the rugby league community of his special talents under the high ball when, in the presence of three defenders, he soared to take a Tuimavave bomb and passed to winger Daniel Vidot in the same motion to score. When the former Warrior and Eel again smiled and converted, Samoa were well on their way to the Four Nations. 

The match ended in controversy when Tagataese was sent off for what referee Ashley Klein said was "leading with the head" in the 78th minute, in an incident that will surely come under the scrutiny of the NRL judiciary. 

Samoa will open their Four Nations campaign against England as part of a double-header involving Australia-New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium on October 25. 

Samoa 32 (Manumaleali'i 3, Tuimavave, Vidot tries; Inu 5 goals) defeated Fiji 16 (Naiqama, Storer, Tuqiri tries; Tuqiri 2 goals). Crowd: 9,063. 

PHOTO Brett Morris and Johnathan Thurston celebrate an Australian try.
GETTY: RENEE MCKAY - Source http://mobile.abc.net.au/

Australia edged to a 16th straight victory after running down a gallant New Zealand side to secure a 30-18 win at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday evening.

Rated as no-hopers before the game, the Kiwis more than held their own and led 18-12 at half-time before being overhauled in the second half by a ruthless Kangaroos side who only iced the victory with a Cooper Cronk try seven minutes from time.

The win extended the hosts' unbeaten record in this fixture to 16 years in front of a respectable crowd of 25,429, and equalled the run of successive victories set by the 1979-83 Invincibles side.

But the Kiwis can take great credit from a display that was full of character and commitment from a side containing five debutants and bereft of so many star players due to injury.

Only five who played in the humiliating 34-2 World Cup final defeat last November were included by Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney.

"There was no panic," said Australia's man of the match Johnathan Thurston, who converted all five of his shots at goal.

"We knew that if we got our share of possession we would be OK.

"We had to come out in the second half and do a job and we did."

Despite their relative inexperience, it did not take long for the tourists to take the lead when Jesse Bromwich crashed over from close range following a smart play from the excellent Shaun Johnson to keep the ball alive and earn six more tackles.

But the signs looked ominous when Greg Bird hit back almost immediately as the Kangaroos took advantage of an injury to Sam Moa to scythe through a depleted Kiwis defence.

St George Illawarra winger Brett Morris then scored in the right corner to finish off a sweeping move after debutant full-back Peter Hiku had knocked on.

But the young Kiwis side refused to collapse with Dean Whare hauling Greg Inglis over the sideline with a brilliant tackle when he looked to score, before Tohu Harris and the impressive Moa darted over before the interval.

The expected barrage of pressure from the Kangaroos did not reap instant rewards but Morris crossed for his second try 12 minutes after the restart with Thurston adding the extras to level the scores.

But the Kiwis would not go away and the Kangaroos were forced back in their own half for a sustained period before Johnson botched an opportunity to give his side great field position when he failed to find touch from a penalty.

That let-off re-awoke coach Tim Sheens's side with Inglis crossing on the hour mark following a third successive set of six.

Cronk then added some gloss to the result late with Thurston completing a flawless night with the boot.

Australia: 30 (B. Morris 2, G. Bird, G. Inglis, C. Cronk tries; J. Thurston 5 cons)

New Zealand: 18 (J. Bromwich, T. Harris, S. Moa tries; S. Johnson 3 cons)

AAP

Article from ww.rlif.com

The Rugby League International Federation today announced that Australia and New Zealand were jointly successful in winning the right to host Rugby League World Cup 2017, ahead of a bid from South Africa.

Chairman of the bid committee and RLIF vice chairman, Nigel Wood said: “The bid from South Africa was very strong, prepared professionally and clearly demonstrated a passion for Rugby League that is growing by the day in that country.”

Kobus Botha, President of South African Rugby League, congratulated Australia and New Zealand on their winning bid, stating: “South Africa will now endeavour to work with the Rugby League International Federation to ensure the growth of the sport here and will look at establishing a strong team to qualify for RLWC2017.”

SARL and the RLIF have already entered into discussions to look at ways of developing the game in South Africa through a series of international tournaments and exhibition matches to ensure that the nation is in a position to apply again to host RLWC2021.

“All of the facilities and aspects unique to South Africa to ensure expansion of the game are still available to the RLIF,” added Botha.

Ian Riley, CEO of the South African bid confirmed that the process had already generated positive spin-offs. “Rugby League in South Africa now has a voice and the process of bidding has allowed SARL to start conversations with SASCOC, the SRSA and SARU towards recognition and support,” he noted.

“It has also created dialogue between, and shown a willingness by, major Rugby League countries to get involved and play a role in developing the sport. We are in discussions with the RLIF on creating a seven year roadmap for Rugby League in South Africa and other territories to see how we can collectively grow the game.”