Four different cultures will come together for one important cause tonight in Cairns when the SP Brewery Pacific Cup kicks off with a qualifying match between Samoa and Cook Islands.
A crowd of up to 8,000 is expected at Barlow Park with organisers set to conduct a blanket appeal to aid the crisis response in Samoa.
Samoan High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Lemalu Tate Simi, is a guest of honour at the event and will launch the Samoa Tsunami Relief Fund prior to kickoff.
The two teams will then perform their traditional war dances before a minute of silence is held.
Tonight’s match will be preceded by a feast of international Rugby League, with more than 30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island teams contesting the “Jack Ahmat Shield” at Barlow Park throughout the day.
Undoubtedly the most anticipated match of this carnival is the curtain-raiser clash (5.50pm) between the Dhaarrbah Bulls and Bingil Sharks, with the Bulls being coached by North Queensland Cowboys star Matt Bowen.
Tonight is the first time four cultures – Samoan, Cook Islands, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander – have come together for a major Rugby League event since the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
Cook Islands and Samoan local community groups will add to the atmosphere when they showcase traditional drum and dance performances on-field prior to kickoff.
Cairns District Rugby League Chairman, Nigel Tillet, said tonight’s match would cap a huge week for Rugby League in the region.
“The Samoan and Cook Islands teams have been terrific for us up here,” Tillet said.
“They’ve visited schools in between training and really engaged with the community and in return there’s been this wonderful vibe around town about this game.”
The winner of tonight’s match will progress to the inaugural SP Brewery Pacific Cup tournament which kicks off on October 24 in Port Moresby.
The eventual winner of the SP Brewery Pacific Cup will gain entry to the 2010 Four Nations tournament alongside league heavyweights Australia, New Zealand and England.
SP Brewery Pacific Cup Qualifying Match
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Barlow Park, Cairns
Kickoff 7.30pm
SAMOA |
| COOK ISLANDS |
Peter Matautia | Fullback | Monikura Tikinau |
Patrick Ah Van | Wing | Lulia Lulia |
Sam Tagataese | Centre | Brad Takirangi |
Tagi Ropati | Centre | Anthony Gelling |
Misi Taulapapa | Wing | Dominique Peroux |
Kyle Stanley | Five Eighth | Johnathan Ford |
Albert Talapeau | Halfback | Daniel Fepuleai |
Kylie Leuluai (c) | Prop | Tere Glassie (c) |
Terence Seuseu | Hooker | Samuel Brunton |
Mark Taufua | Prop | Ben Vaeau |
Harrison Hansen | Second row | Fred Makimare |
Phillip Leuluai | Second row | Leon Panapa |
Joseph Paulo | Lock | Sema Mataora |
Masada Iosefa | Interchange | John Viiga |
Jack Afamasaga | Interchange | Vincent Ngaro |
Paul Chan Tung | Interchange | Arona Tinirau |
Tanielu Pasene | Interchange | Fabien Sautar |
| Reserve | Zane Tetevano |
Willie Poching | COACH | David Fairleigh |