Super League stars on show in Pacific Championships as Cumbria thrash Nigeria

Whilst all the talk this weekend has been on the second Ashes Test at Everton, there has been plenty more international rugby league fixtures taking place, and many Super League stars were in action.

England’s Ashes series hopes are over following their 14-4 defeat, but for some Super League players, their weekend included competition wins, bragging rights and a dominant victory over international opposition.

New Zealand faced Tonga and Papua New Guinea battled Fiji in the Pacific Championships, whilst Wales and Ireland met in the second match of their tw0-match series. Cumbria also fielded a select side as they took on Nigeria.

So, how did the Super League contingent fare this weekend?

International round-up as Super League stars cross for tries

Pacific Championships

London Broncos signing Siliva Havili was the only UK representative in the New Zealand v Tonga game, with the hooker on the losing side in what is his final game Down Under before making the move to the capital.

In the Pacific Bowl, Papua New Guinea emerged victorious over Fiji to take the crown in the competition. Nene MacDonald, Lachlan Lam and Rhyse Martin all crossed in the 50-18 win, whilst incoming Castleford Tigers man Semi Valemei scored one of the Fijians three tries.

Edwin Ipape also featured for PNG, whilst Huddersfield’s Tanne Milne turned out for Fiji.

Wales vs Ireland

Following Wales’ convincing 24-0 win over Ireland last weekend, many expected this week to play out much the same.

However, that was proved wrong, with the Irish turning out an impressive display to draw the series.

Winning 36-12, out-of-contract Huddersfield man Connor Carr scored twice for the Irish, and he was joined by teammates Aidan McGowan, George King and Harry Rushton in representing their country.

Warrington’s Joe Philbin was the only other Irish Super League representative, whilst the Welsh had Hull FC’s Denive Balmforth, who crossed for one of Wales’ two tries, and Wigan youngster Sam Dickenson playing in the halves and at full-back respectively.

Cumbria vs Nigeria

In what was their first ever international fixture to be played outside of Africa, Nigeria took on a Cumbrian representative outfit at Craven Park, Barrow.

Whilst the occasion will no doubt be a monumental one for the country, they will be looking to move on from the result, suffering a 70-6 loss to the North West-based side.

The side was led by current Keighley Cougars coach Alan Kilshaw, and had Warrington prop Dan Okoro and recently-departed Castleford Tigers man Muizz Mustapha in their forward pack. Former St Helens youngster, who now plays at Workington Town, played in the halves, and former Leeds academy forward Leo Aliya also featured.

For Cumbria, their squad featured Hull FC new boy Harvie Hill and veteran prop Brad Singleton.

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