A fantastic performance from the Niue under 18 boys prevented Samoa from claiming a clean sweep at this year’s senior QPICC tournament, powering to a 20-2 win at Bill Norris Oval.
With a hat-trick from winger Melchizedek Nonu and powerful performance in the middle from player of the match prop Noah Hetutu-Davis, Niue were able to stifle an impressive Samoa team and pressure them into errors.
Elsewhere across the three-day tournament, the might of Samoa could not be denied, with the nation claiming eight of the nine available titles on the final day of play.
Led by the performances of rising stars such as Australian Schoolgirls representative Shalom Sauaso in the Open Women’s 22-4 win over Papua New Guinea and experienced veterans of the tournament and Hostplus Cup regulars the Fai brothers George and Justin in the thrilling Open Men’s 18-10 win, also over PNG, Samoa celebrated from the under 13 age group to the Open men’s and women’s categories.
As well as some entertaining games and great individual displays of rugby league football, the weekend was also about sharing culture, with the opening ceremony another highlight.
Nations also performed challenges before each match, with the fans showing their colours and waving their flags proudly.
In closing the ceremony, Pasifika Empowerment Group Australia Inc and QPICC organising committee president Sam Panapa praised the unity of the participants during the carnival.
QPICC 2024 score summary - finals
Under 13 Girls
Samoa 26 (Eleanna Monaei 2, Temarah Taula 2, Haylee Smetheram tries; Temarah Taula 3 goals) def Cook Islands 0
Player of the final: Kalorina Samson (Cook Islands)
Under 14 Boys
Samoa 38 (Jesse-James Schuster 2, Tyler Harry, Eli Su'a, Triston Sauaga, Cruz Molo, Manu Misa tries; Jesse-James Schuster 5 goals) def Cook Islands 0
Player of the final: Knight Tanielu (Samoa)
Under 15 Girls
Samoa 44 (Shyloh Tofae 3, Peytton Wentholt 2, Sivaiala Alefosio 2, Elisa Asomua, Maleea Te Kotahi tries; Shyloh Tofae 3, Peytton Wentholt goals) def Cook Islands 0
Player of the final: Shyloh Tofae (Samoa)
Under 16 Boys
Samoa 22 (Cornelius Kelsall 3, Devine TIMU tries; Taupale Sauaso goal, Taupale Sauaso penalty goal) def Cook Islands 4 (Tiyrell Wood-Sneddon try)
Player of the final: Cornelius Kelsall (Samoa)
Under 17 Girls
Samoa 12 (Tia Molo, Letia Alefaio, Evelyn Roberts tries) def PNG 0
Player of the final: Evelynn Roberts (Samoa)
Under 18 Boys
Niue 20 (Melchizedek Nonu 3, Neyon Taito-Makea tries; Silaumuaoaana Talaese Fomai goal, Silaumuaoaana Talaese Fomai penalty goal) def Samoa 2 (Reece Kirk penalty goal)
Player of the final: Noah Hetutu-Davis (Niue)
Under 20 Men
Samoa 14 (Ulisese Nati, Graham Folau, George Taualai tries; George Taualai goal) def PNG 10 (Azaraia Aila, Darvin Lupe tries; Emmanuel Taviri goal)
Player of the final: Trey Fotu (Samoa)
Open Women
Samoa 22 (Shalom Sauaso 2, Zebadiah Latu Mulumulu, Jaydah Tofae, Bernadette Papani tries; Zebadiah Latu Mulumulu goals) def PNG 4 (Gemma Schnaubelt try)
Player of the final: Shalom Sauaso (Samoa)
Open Men
Samoa 18 def (Michael Rasmussen, Ono Sooialo, Justin Fai tries; Ono Sooialo 2 goals, Ono Sooialo penalty goal) PNG 10 (Hezron Moses, Standord Talita tries; Tyler Han goal)
Player of the final: Fa’afetai Vaavale (Samoa)
