2014 Rugby League Four Nations

The 2014 Rugby League Four Nations tournament was the fourth staging of the Rugby League Four Nations tournament played in Australia and New Zealand over three weeks from Saturday, 25 October to Saturday, 15 November 2014. The series was contested by regular participants Australia, England and New Zealand, joined by Samoa, having won their Pacific qualifier against Fiji. New Zealand won the tournament, defeating Australia in the final at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on Saturday 15 November.[1]

2014 (2014) Four Nations  ()
Number of teams4
Host countries New Zealand
 Australia
Winner New Zealand (2nd title)

Matches played7
Attendance144,722 (20,675 per match)
Points scored286 (40.86 per match)
Tries scored52 (7.43 per match)
Top scorerNew Zealand Shaun Johnson (30)
Top try scorerNew Zealand Jason Nightingale (5)
 < 2011
2016

Background

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The 2014 tournament is the first Four Nations series to be scheduled following the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, with the venues rotating between Europe and the South Pacific.

In addition to automatic inclusions Australia, England and New Zealand, Pacific nations Fiji and Samoa met in a mid-season test match at the Penrith Stadium in western Sydney to determine the fourth entrant in the tournament. Samoa won an entertaining match 32-16 in front of 9,063 fans.

The 34,500 capacity Westpac Stadium in Wellington will play host to the first Four Nations Final played in New Zealand. The last time the final of the tournament was held in New Zealand was at the Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland when the tournament was known as the Tri-Nations in its inaugural year, 1999.

Teams

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Team Coach Captain RLIF Rank Continent
  Australia Tim Sheens Cameron Smith 1st Oceania
  England Steve McNamara Sean O'Loughlin 3rd Europe
  New Zealand Stephen Kearney Simon Mannering 2nd Oceania
  Samoa Matt Parish David Fa'alogo 7th Oceania

Squads

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Venues

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The games were played at the following venues in Australia and New Zealand. The tournament final was played in Wellington.

Wellington Brisbane Whangārei
Westpac Stadium Suncorp Stadium Toll Stadium
Capacity: 34,500 Capacity: 52,500 Capacity: 30,000
   
Melbourne Dunedin Wollongong
AAMI Park Forsyth Barr Stadium WIN Stadium
Capacity: 30,050 Capacity: 30,748 Capacity: 23,750
     

Referees

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Touch judges/video referees

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  • Anthony Eliott (Touch Judge - New Zealand)[2]
  • Grant Atkins (Touch Judge - Australia)[3]
  • Jason Walsh (Touch Judge - Australia)[3]
  • Robert Hicks (Touch Judge - England)[3]
  • Ian Smith (Video Referee - England)[3]
  • Bernard Sutton (Video Referee - Australia)[3]

Qualifier

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Samoa v. Fiji

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3 May 2014
Samoa   32 – 16   Fiji
Tries:
Penani Manumalealii (3) 13' c, 38' c, 44' c
Carlos Tuimavave 54'c
Daniel Vidot 64'c
Sam Tagataese 78' 
Goals:
Krisnan Inu (6/6) 13', 38', 44', 50', 54', 64'
Video
Tries:
Kevin Naiqama 16' c
James Storer 27' c
Lote Tuqiri 30' m
Goals:
Lote Tuqiri (2/3) 17', 28'
Penrith Stadium, Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 9,063
Referee:   Ashley Klein
Player of the Match:   Penani Manumalealii

Samoa won the test match by 32–16 after being behind 16–12 at half-time. Samoa's Penani Manumalealii won the man of the match award, scoring 3 tries in the match.

Samoa picked 7 debutantes for the test match, while Fiji featured three. All of the Samoan team were National Rugby League based players, while the Fijian side had 10 players from the NRL. Samoa's most capped player was Daniel Vidot who made his 6th appearance for his country, while Fiji's most experienced players were Alipate Noilea, Aaron Groom, and captain Ashton Sims who all made their 10th appearance for their nation.

Results

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Round 1

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Saturday, 25 October 2014
5:00pm (AEDT)
England   32 – 26   Samoa
Tries:
Michael Shenton 21' c
Kallum Watkins 34' c
Liam Farrell 46' c
Joel Tomkins 65' c
Sam Tomkins 68' c
Goals:
Gareth Widdop (6/6) 22', 34', 40', 46', 65', 68'
Report
Tries:
Isaac Liu 26' c
Daniel Vidot 30' m
Pita Godinet (2) 55' c, 61' c
Antonio Winterstein 72' c
Goals:
Kyle Stanley (3/4) 26', 55', 61'
Ben Roberts (1/1) 72'
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia[4]
Attendance: 47,813
Referee:   Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match:   Sam Tomkins
  • Ben Roberts made his 10th appearance for Samoa, only the second player to hit double-digit appearances for his country with George Carmont being the first.
FB 1   Sam Tomkins
RW 2   Josh Charnley
RC 3   Kallum Watkins
LC 4   Michael Shenton
LW 5   Ryan Hall
SO 6   Gareth Widdop
SH 7   Matty Smith
PR 8   George Burgess
HK 9   Josh Hodgson
PR 10   James Graham (c)
SR 11   Liam Farrell
SR 12   Joel Tomkins
LF 13   Joe Westerman
Substitutions:
BE 14   Daryl Clark
BE 15   Brett Ferres
BE 16   Tom Burgess
BE 17   Chris Hill
Coach:
  Steve McNamara
FB 1   Tim Simona
RW 2   Antonio Winterstein
RC 3   Ricky Leutele
LC 4   Joey Leilua
LW 5   Daniel Vidot
FE 6   Ben Roberts
HB 7   Kyle Stanley
PR 8   Sam Tagataese
HK 9   Michael Sio
PR 10   David Fa'alogo (c)
SR 11   Frank Pritchard
SR 12   Leeson Ah Mau
LK 13   Josh McGuire
Substitutions:
BE 14   Pita Godinet
BE 15   Jesse Sene-Lefao
BE 16   Isaac Liu
BE 17   Mose Masoe
Coach:
  Matt Parish

Saturday, 25 October 2014
7:30pm (AEDT)
Australia   12 – 30   New Zealand
Tries:
Beau Scott 3' c
Greg Inglis 21' c
Goal: Cameron Smith (2/2) 3', 21'
Report
Tries:
Proctor 17' c
Lewis Brown 29' c
Shaun Johnson 47' c
Dean Whare 51' c
Jason Nightingale 68' c
Goals:
Shaun Johnson (5/5) 17', 29', 47', 51', 68'
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia[4]
Attendance: 47,813
Referee:   Phil Bentham
Player of the Match:   Shaun Johnson
FB 1   Greg Inglis
RW 2   Josh Mansour
RC 3   Michael Jennings
LC 4   Dylan Walker
LW 5   Daniel Tupou
SO 6   Johnathan Thurston
SH 7   Cooper Cronk
PR 8   Aaron Woods
HK 9   Cameron Smith (c)
PR 10   Sam Thaiday
SR 11   Beau Scott
SR 12   Ryan Hoffman
LF 13   Greg Bird
Substitutions:
BE 14   Robbie Farah
BE 15   Aidan Guerra
BE 16   Josh Papalii
BE 17   Corey Parker
Coach:
  Tim Sheens
FB 1   Peta Hiku
RW 19   Gerard Beale
RC 3   Shaun Kenny-Dowall
LC 4   Dean Whare
LW 2   Jason Nightingale
FE 6   Kieran Foran
HB 7   Shaun Johnson
PR 8   Jesse Bromwich
HK 9   Thomas Leuluai
PR 10   Adam Blair
SR 11   Simon Mannering (c)
SR 12   Kevin Proctor
LK 13   Jason Taumalolo
Substitutions:
BE 14   Lewis Brown
BE 15   Greg Eastwood
BE 16   Martin Taupau
BE 17   Tohu Harris
Coach:
  Stephen Kearney

Round 2

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Saturday, 1 November 2014
4:00pm (NZT)
New Zealand   14 – 12   Samoa
Tries:
Kieran Foran 10' c
Jason Nightingale 64'
Shaun Kenny-Dowall 76'
Goals:
Shaun Johnson (1/3) 11'
Report
Tries:
Tautau Moga 6'
Daniel Vidot 18'
Joseph Leilua 44'
Goals:
Tim Lafai (0/3)
Toll Stadium, Whangārei, New Zealand[4]
Attendance: 16,912
Referee:   Henry Perenara
Player of the Match:   Kieran Foran
FB 1   Peta Hiku
RW 2   Jason Nightingale
RC 3   Shaun Kenny-Dowall
LC 4   Dean Whare
LW 5   Manu Vatuvei
FE 6   Kieran Foran
HB 7   Shaun Johnson
PR 8   Jesse Bromwich
HK 9   Issac Luke
PR 10   Adam Blair
SR 11   Simon Mannering (c)
SR 12   Kevin Proctor
LK 13   Jason Taumalolo
Substitutions:
BE 14   Lewis Brown
BE 15   Suaia Matagi
BE 16   Martin Taupau
BE 17   Tohu Harris
Coach:
  Stephen Kearney
FB 1   Tim Simona
RW 20   Tautau Moga
RC 3   Tim Lafai
LC 4   Joey Leilua
LW 5   Daniel Vidot
FE 6   Ben Roberts
HB 7   Kyle Stanley
PR 8   Isaac Liu
HK 13   Josh McGuire
PR 10   David Fa'alogo (c)
SR 11   Frank Pritchard
SR 12   Leeson Ah Mau
LK 16   Sauaso Sue
Substitutions:
BE 9   Pita Godinet
BE 14   Dunamis Lui
BE 17   Mose Masoe
BE 18   Dominique Peyroux
Coach:
  Matt Parish

Sunday, 2 November 2014
4:00pm (AEST)
Australia   16 – 12   England
Tries:
Michael Jennings 16'
Ben Hunt 56' c
Greg Inglis 62' c
Goals:
Cameron Smith (2/3) 57', 64'
Report
Tries:
Kallum Watkins 28' c
Ryan Hall 33' c
Goals:
Gareth Widdop (2/2) 29', 35'
AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia[4]
Attendance: 20,585
Referee:   Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match:   Cameron Smith
FB 1   Greg Inglis
RW 2   Josh Mansour
RC 3   Michael Jennings
LC 4   Dylan Walker
LW 5   Sione Mata'utia
SO 6   Johnathan Thurston
SH 7   Daly Cherry-Evans
PR 8   Aaron Woods
HK 9   Cameron Smith (c)
PR 10   Sam Thaiday
SR 11   Beau Scott
SR 12   Greg Bird
LF 13   Corey Parker
Substitutions:
BE 14   Boyd Cordner
BE 15   Ben Hunt
BE 16   David Klemmer
BE 17   Josh Papalii
Coach:
  Tim Sheens
FB 1   Sam Tomkins
RW 2   Josh Charnley
RC 3   Kallum Watkins
LC 18   Dan Sarginson
LW 5   Ryan Hall
SO 6   Gareth Widdop
SH 7   Matty Smith
PR 8   George Burgess
HK 9   Josh Hodgson
PR 10   James Graham
SR 11   Liam Farrell
SR 12   Joel Tomkins
LF 19   Sean O'Loughlin (c)
Substitutions:
BE 14   Daryl Clark
BE 15   Brett Ferres
BE 16   Tom Burgess
BE 17   Chris Hill
Coach:
  Steve McNamara

Round 3

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Saturday, 8 November 2014
7:00pm (NZT)
New Zealand   16 – 14   England
Tries:
Jason Nightingale (2) 2' c, 29' c
Manu Vatuvei 45'
Goals:
Shaun Johnson (2/3) 3', 31'
Report
Tries:
Ryan Hall (2) 7', 56' c
Josh Charnley 24'
Goals:
Gareth Widdop (1/3) 58'
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand[4]
Attendance: 15,863
Referee:   Phil Bentham
Player of the Match:   Jason Taumalolo
  • With the victory, New Zealand secured a place in the final.
FB 1   Peta Hiku
RW 2   Jason Nightingale
RC 3   Shaun Kenny-Dowall
LC 4   Dean Whare
LW 5   Manu Vatuvei
FE 6   Kieran Foran
HB 7   Shaun Johnson
PR 8   Jesse Bromwich
HK 14   Thomas Leuluai
PR 10   Adam Blair
SR 11   Simon Mannering (c)
SR 12   Kevin Proctor
LK 13   Jason Taumalolo
Substitutions:
BE 9   Issac Luke
BE 15   Greg Eastwood
BE 16   Martin Taupau
BE 17   Tohu Harris
Coach:
  Stephen Kearney
FB 1   Sam Tomkins
RW 2   Josh Charnley
RC 3   Kallum Watkins
LC 4   Dan Sarginson
LW 5   Ryan Hall
SO 6   Gareth Widdop
SH 7   Matty Smith
PR 8   George Burgess
HK 14   Daryl Clark
PR 10   James Graham
SR 11   Liam Farrell
SR 12   Joel Tomkins
LF 13   Sean O'Loughlin (c)
Substitutions:
BE 15   Brett Ferres
BE 16   Tom Burgess
BE 17   Chris Hill
BE 18   Elliott Whitehead
Coach:
  Steve McNamara

Sunday, 9 November 2014
4:00pm (AEST)
Australia   44 – 18   Samoa
Tries:
Cooper Cronk (2) 2', 62'
Greg Inglis (2) 11', 26'
Daly Cherry-Evans 30'
David Klemmer 34'
Josh Papalii 76'
Josh Mansour 79'
Goals:
Cameron Smith (4/6)
Daly Cherry-Evans (2/2)
Report
Tries:
Tim Simona 20'
Ben Roberts 47'
David Fa'alogo 69'
Goals:
Tim Lafai (3/3)
WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Australia[4]
Attendance: 18,456
Referee:   Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match:   Greg Inglis
FB 1   Greg Inglis
RW 2   Josh Mansour
RC 3   Michael Jennings
LC 4   Dylan Walker
LW 5   Sione Mata'utia
SO 6   Daly Cherry-Evans
SH 7   Cooper Cronk
PR 8   Aaron Woods
HK 9   Cameron Smith (c)
PR 10   Josh Papalii
SR 11   Sam Thaiday
SR 12   Greg Bird
LF 13   Corey Parker
Substitutions:
BE 14   Boyd Cordner
BE 15   Ben Hunt
BE 19   David Klemmer
BE 21   Josh Jackson
Coach:
  Tim Sheens
FB 1   Tim Simona
RW 2   Antonio Winterstein
RC 3   Tim Lafai
LC 4   Joey Leilua
LW 5   Daniel Vidot
FE 6   Ben Roberts
HB 7   Kyle Stanley
PR 8   Isaac Liu
HK 13   Josh McGuire
PR 10   David Fa'alogo (c)
SR 11   Frank Pritchard
SR 12   Leeson Ah Mau
LK 17   Mose Masoe
Substitutions:
BE 9   Pita Godinet
BE 14   Dunamis Lui
BE 15   Reni Maitua
BE 16   Sauaso Sue
Coach:
  Matt Parish

Standings

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1   New Zealand W 3 3 0 0 60 38 +22 6
2   Australia 3 2 0 1 72 60 +12 4
3   England 3 1 0 2 58 58 0 2
4   Samoa 3 0 0 3 56 90 –34 0

Final

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Saturday, 15 November
8:30pm (NZT)
New Zealand   22 – 18   Australia
Tries
Manu Vatuvei (35', 63') 2
Jason Nightingale (23') 1
Shaun Johnson (58') 1
Goals
Shaun Johnson 3/5
(25', 29' pen, 36')
Report
Tries
1 (11') Michael Jennings
1 (42') Sione Mata'utia
1 (76') Ben Hunt
Goals
3/3 Cameron Smith
(12', 43', 77')
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand[4]
Attendance: 25,093
Referee:   Phil Bentham
Player of the Match:   Shaun Johnson[5]
New Zealand Position Australia
Peta Hiku FB Greg Inglis
Jason Nightingale WG Josh Mansour
Dean Whare CE Michael Jennings
Shaun Kenny-Dowall CE Dylan Walker
Manu Vatuvei WG Sione Mata'utia
Kieran Foran FE Johnathan Thurston
Shaun Johnson HB Cooper Cronk
Jesse Bromwich PR Aaron Woods
Isaac Luke HK Cameron Smith (c)
Adam Blair PR Josh Papalii
Simon Mannering (c) SR Sam Thaiday
Kevin Proctor SR Greg Bird
Jason Taumalolo LK Corey Parker
Lewis Brown Int Boyd Cordner
Greg Eastwood Int Ben Hunt
Martin Taupau Int Josh Jackson
Tohu Harris Int David Klemmer

Score Progression:
11th: Australia 6 - 0 (Jennings Try, Smith Goal) 23rd: Even 6 - 6 (Nightingale Try, Johnson Goal) 29th: New Zealand 8 - 6 (Johnson Penalty Goal) 35th: New Zealand 14 - 6 (Vatuvei Try, Johnson Goal) 42nd: New Zealand 14 - 12 (Mata'utia Try, Smith Goal) 58th: New Zealand 18 - 12 (Johnson Try) 63rd: New Zealand 22 - 12 (Vatuvei Try) 76th: New Zealand 22 - 18 (Hunt Try, Smith Goal)

Match records:

Player statistics

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Broadcasting rights

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In the United Kingdom, Premier Sports televised all the matches live while BBC Two televised England's round robin matches and the final live. BBC One televised highlights of matchday one while BBC Two televised highlights of matchday two while BBC One televised highlights of England's final round robin match against New Zealand while highlights of matchday three was televised on BBC Two in England and England HD at 10:00pm and in Northern Ireland at 10:30pm and in Scotland 11:00pm and in Wales at 11:30pm. BBC One televised highlights of the final.

References

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  1. ^ Brisbane double-header launches Four Nations
  2. ^ a b Officials named for key fixtures nzrl.co.nz, 14 October 2014
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Four Nations referees announced nrl.com, 17 October 2014
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "2014 Four Nations Schedule". NRL.com. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Kiwis claim second Four Nations title". NRL.com. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  6. ^ Putting the record straight warriors.co.nz, 18 November 2014
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