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{{Infobox rugby league international tournament
| year               = 2004
| title              = Pacific Rim Championship
| image              = 
| imagesize          = 
| alt                = 
| finalists          = 6
| country            = New Zealand
| winners            = Cook Islands
| count              = 1
| matches            = 
| attendance         = 
| points             = 
| tries              = 
| topscorer-flag     = 
| topscorer          = 
| top try scorer-flag= 
| top try scorer     = 
| tournaments        = Pacific Cup
| last               = [[1998 Pacific Cup]]
| next               = [[2006 Pacific Cup|2006]]
}}
The '''2004 Pacific Rim Championship''' and the '''2004 Pacific Cup''' was the 9th [[Pacific Cup]], a [[rugby league]] tournament held between Pacific teams. The tournament was hosted in Auckland and for the first time split into two competitions; The Pacific Rim Championship between national teams and the Pacific Cup between Auckland-based selections. In the final of the Pacific Rim competition the Cook Islands defeated [[New Zealand Māori rugby league team|New Zealand Māori]] 46-6 while Samoa XIII defeated Tonga XIII 52–18 to win the Pacific Cup.

==Background==
The tournament, organised by both the [[New Zealand Rugby League]] and [[Pacific Island Rugby League Association]] (PIRLA), was a revival of the [[Pacific Cup]] which had not been held since 1997 due to the [[Super League war]]. The aim of the Pacific Rim Championship was to promote awareness of the game in the region with a view to re-establishing international fixtures and full contact with the main nations [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]], [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] and [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]] in the near future.

The teams that participated in the 2004 Pacific Rim competition were: Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand Māori, Niue, Samoa and the Cook Islands. The Pacific Cup included Auckland Māori, New Caledonia, Samoa XIII, Tonga XIII and two other teams.

The official opening was held as part of the pre-match programme for the [[2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations|Tri-Nations]] test match between Australia and the New Zealand Kiwis on 16 October. A colourful parade of flags representing the participating countries was led into the stadium in front of about 20,000 spectators before kick-off.<ref name=epoly/>

Matches were played at [[Waitemata Stadium]], [[Ericsson Stadium Auckland|Ericsson Stadium]] and [[North Harbour Stadium]].<ref name=epoly>[http://www.eventpolynesia.com/events/nz/archive/NZ3_page_pacificcup04.htm Auckland Hosts Pacific Rugby League Showdown] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112085650/http://www.eventpolynesia.com/events/nz/archive/NZ3_page_pacificcup04.htm |date=2006-11-12 }} ''eventpolynesia.com''</ref>

==Squads==
The Pacific Rim competition featured international and New Zealand based players while the Pacific Cup squads were limited to Auckland-based players with the exception of New Caledonia who sent a development squad.<ref>{{cite book
| last =John Coffey, Bernie Wood
| title = 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008
| publisher =Huia Publishers
| year = 2008
| pages = 329–330
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC
| isbn =9781869693312}}</ref>

===Pacific Rim squads===
====New Zealand Māori====
[[New Zealand Māori rugby league team|New Zealand Māori]] were coached by [[Tawera Nikau]] who was assisted by [[Terry Hermansson]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Taranaki pair picked for NZ Maori cup team |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/15579864CEC831E8&f=basic |work=Taranaki Daily News |date=7 October 2004 |page=12 |location=New Plymouth, New Zealand |via=[[NewsBank]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left"
|-
!Player
!Club
|-
|{{sortname|Sam|Andrews|Sam Andrews (rugby league)}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Waicoa Bay Stallions]]
|-
|{{sortname|Kurt|Cawdron}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Auckland Lions]]
|-
|{{sortname|Taite|Daniels}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Northern Storm (rugby league team)|Northern Storm]]
|-
|{{sortname|Teteira|Davis}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Wellington Orcas]]
|-
|{{sortname|Willy|Henare}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Auckland Lions]]
|-
|{{sortname|Aoterangi|Herangi}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Auckland Lions]]
|-
|{{sortname|Charlie|Herekotukutuku}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Canterbury Bulls]]
|-
|{{sortname|Nathan|Hohaia}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Taranaki Wildcats]]
|-
|{{sortname|Shane|Wallacehoskin}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Taranaki Wildcats]]
|-
|{{sortname|Odell|Manuel}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Auckland Lions]]
|-
|{{sortname|Tukua|Matthews}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Waicoa Bay Stallions]]
|-
|{{sortname|Vern|Moana-Mason}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Waicoa Bay Stallions]]
|-
|{{sortname|Glen|Rota}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Auckland Lions]]
|-
|{{sortname|Peter|Prime}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Northern Storm (rugby league team)|Northern Storm]]
|-
|{{sortname|Herewini|Rangi}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Eastern Tornadoes]]
|-
|{{sortname|Kererua|Savage}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Hawke's Bay Unicorns]]
|-
|{{sortname|Barry|Tawera}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Waicoa Bay Stallions]]
|-
|{{sortname|Sonny|Whakarau}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Central Falcons]]
|-
|{{sortname|Mike|Whakatihi}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Central Falcons]]
|-
|{{sortname|Vince|Whare}} || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Canterbury Bulls]]
|}

====Fiji====
The Fijian squad was composed mainly of locally based players.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bati targets defensive patterns |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/105B73E05726DC41&f=basic |work=Fiji Times |date=5 October 2004 |location=Suva |page=36 |via=[[NewsBank]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left"
|-
!Player
!Club
|-
|{{sortname|Isimeli|Soqe}} ||
|-
|{{sortname|Iowane|Divavesi}} ||
|-
|{{sortname|Lusio|Tanoa}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Neori|Ravono}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Saula|Lalagavesi}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Saimoni|Ralulu}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Toakula|Tuqiri}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Alipate|Tuinivata}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Saverio|Matairakula}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Atekini|Roko}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Sevanaia|Koroi}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Asaeli|Saravaki}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Marika|Koroivui}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Lagilagi|Golea}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Semesa|Cadrakilagi}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Tevita|Volavola}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Joji|Nuidamu}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Jone|Wesele}} || 
|-
|{{sortname|Semisi|Tora}} || 
|}

==Pacific Rim Competition==

===Pool A===
{{rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 17 October 2004 |
time =  |
team1 = {{rl-rt|New Zealand Māori}} |
score =  54 – 4    |
report = 
|team2 = {{rl|Niue}}|
points1 = |
points2 = |
stadium = [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]]|
attendance = |
referee= 
| manofmatch= |
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 19 October 2004 |
time =  |
team1 = {{rl-rt|Samoa}}  |
score =   36 – 18  |
report = 
|team2 = {{rl|Niue}} |
points1 = |
points2 = |
stadium = [[Auckland]]|
attendance = |
referee= 
| manofmatch=  |
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date =  21 October 2004 |
time =  |
team1 = {{rl-rt|New Zealand Māori}} |
score =  70 – 10  |
report = <ref>{{cite web |title=NZ Maori Thrash Samoa |url=http://www.rugbyleaguenz.com/news.php?id=221 |website=Rugby League in New Zealand |access-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041030201616/http://www.rugbyleaguenz.com/news.php?id=221 |archive-date=30 October 2004}}</ref> |
team2 = {{rl|Samoa}}|
points1 = '''Try''': Davis (3), Hohaia, [[Charlie Herekotukutuku|Herekotukutuku]], Moana-Mason, Herangi, Prime, [[Herewini Rangi|Rangi]], Savage, Whakatihi <br> '''Goal:''' Davis (13) |
points2 = '''Try''': [[Tangi Ropati|Ropati]], Tavita <br> '''Goal:''' [[Tangi Ropati|Ropati]] |
stadium = [[Mt Smart Stadium|Ericsson Stadium]], [[Auckland]]|
attendance = |
referee= | manofmatch= |
}}

===Pool B===
{{rugbyleaguebox
| bg         = #eeeeee
| date       = 17 October 2004
| time       =
| team1      = {{rl-rt|Fiji}}
| score      = 6 – 56
| report     = [http://leagueunlimited.com/news/tonga-too-good-for-fiji-pacific-rim#mSspkWZWfzTdPw5d.97 report]
| team2      = {{rl|Tonga}}
| points1    =
| points2    
| stadium    = [[Auckland]]
| attendance =
| referee    =
| manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox
| bg         = #eeeeee
| date       = 19 October 2004
| time       =
| team1      = {{rl-rt|Cook Islands}}
| score      = 18 – 10
| report     = <ref>{{cite web |title=Cook Islands survive Tongan onslaught |url=http://www.rugbyleaguenz.com/news.php?id=218 |website=Rugby League in New Zealand |access-date=2 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041030201344/http://www.rugbyleaguenz.com/news.php?id=218 |archive-date=30 October 2004 |date=20 October 2004}}</ref>
| team2      = {{rl|Tonga}}
| points1    =  '''Try''': [[Byron Ford|B. Ford]], N. Ford, Taia <br> '''Goal:''' Mataora (3)
| points2    = '''Try''': Sete, [[Joel Taufaʻao|Taufaʻao]] <br> '''Goal:''' [[Vunga Lilo|Lilo]]
| stadium    = [[Auckland]]
| attendance =
| referee    =
| manofmatch =
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox
| bg         = #eeeeee
| date       = 21 October 2004
| time       =
| team1      = {{rl-rt|Cook Islands}}
| score      = 20 – 12
| report     = <ref>{{cite web |title=Cooks into Pacific Rim Grand Final |url=http://www.rugbyleaguenz.com/news.php?id=220 |website=Rugby League in New Zealand |access-date=1 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041030202004/http://www.rugbyleaguenz.com/news.php?id=220 |archive-date=30 October 2004 |date=22 October 2004}}</ref>
| team2      = {{rl|Fiji}}
| points1    = '''Try''': [[Kane Epati|Epati]], [[Tere Glassie|Glassie]], Taia <br> '''Goal:''' Mataora (4)
| points2    = '''Try''': Saravaki, Soqe <br> '''Goal:''' Tinivata (2)
| stadium    = [[Auckland]]
| attendance =
| referee    =
| manofmatch =
}}

===Bowl Final===
{{rugbyleaguebox
| bg = #eeeeee
| date = 23 October 2004
| time =
| team1 = {{rl-rt|Fiji}}
| score =  34 – 24
| report =  
| team2 = {{rl|Niue}} 
| points1 = '''Try:''' Saravaki (2) [[Semisi Tora|Tora]], Karaitiana, [[Sevanaia Koroi|Koroi]], Tanoa <br>'''Goal:''' Tanoa (4), Saravaki
| points2 = '''Try:''' Ikinofo, Vasau, Pulesea, Pesene, Talafagi <br>'''Goal:''' Logopati (2)
| stadium = [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]] 
| attendance = 
| referee = 
| manofmatch =
}}

===Grand Final===
{{rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 23 October 2004 |
time = |
team1 = {{rl-rt|Cook Islands}} |
score =  46 – 4 |
report = <ref>{{cite web |title=Pacific Rim Grand Final Cook Islands v NZ Maori |url=http://www.rugbyleaguenz.com/news.php?id=224 |website=Rugby League in New Zealand |access-date=1 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041030202114/http://www.rugbyleaguenz.com/news.php?id=224 |archive-date=30 October 2004}}</ref> |
team2 = {{rl|New Zealand Māori}} |
points1 = '''Try:''' [[Byron Ford|B. Ford]] (3), N. Ford (2), Jeffries, [[Martin Mitchell|Mitchell]], Pritchard, [[George Tuakura|Tuakura]] <br>'''Goal:''' Mataora (5) |
points2 = '''Try:''' Prime |
stadium = [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]] |
attendance = |
referee= | 
manofmatch= |
}}

==Pacific Cup==

===Pool A===
{{rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 17 October 2004 |
time =  |
team1 = {{rl-rt|Samoa|name=Samoa XIII}} |
score =  44 – 10    |
report = 
|team2 = {{rl|New Zealand Māori|name=Auckland Māori}}|
points1 =      |
points2 = |
stadium = [[Auckland]]|
attendance = |
referee= | manofmatch= |
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 18 October 2004 |
time =  |
team1 = {{rl-rt|New Zealand Māori|name=Auckland Māori}} |
score =  70 – 0  |
report = 
|team2 = {{rl|New Caledonia}}|
points1 = |
points2 = |
stadium = [[Auckland]]|
attendance = |
referee= 
| manofmatch= |
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 20 October 2004 |
time =  |
team1 = {{rl-rt|Samoa|name=Samoa XIII}} |
score = 76 – 0  |
report = 
|team2 = {{rl|New Caledonia}} |
points1 = |
points2 = |
stadium = [[Auckland]]|
attendance = |
referee= 
| manofmatch=  }}

===Pool B===
{{rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 17 October 2004 |
time =  |
team1 = {{rl-rt|Tonga|name=Tonga XIII}} |
score =  22 – 17 |
report = 
|team2 = {{rl|Cook Islands|name=Cook Islands XIII}}|
points1 =      |
points2 = |
stadium = [[Auckland]]|
attendance = |
referee= | manofmatch= |
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 18 October 2004 |
time =  |
team1 = {{rl-rt|Tonga|name=Tonga XIII}} |
score =  22 – 18 |
report = 
|team2 = {{rl|American Samoa}} |
points1 = |
points2 = |
stadium = [[Auckland]]|
attendance = |
referee= 
| manofmatch=  |
}}
{{rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 20 October 2004 |
time =  |
team1 = {{rl-rt|Cook Islands|name=Cook Islands XIII}} |
score = 28 – 12  |
report = 
|team2 = {{rl|American Samoa}}|
points1 = |
points2 = |
stadium = [[Auckland]]|
attendance = |
referee= 
| manofmatch= |
}}

===Final===
{{rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 23 October 2004 |
time =  |
team1 = {{rl-rt|Samoa|name=Samoa XIII}} |
score =  52 – 18    |
report = |
team2 = {{rl|Tonga|name=Tonga XIII}}|
points1 = |
points2 =  |stadium = [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]]|attendance = |
referee= | manofmatch= |
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web|url=http://nzrl.co.nz/page/2004_pacific_rim_results.html|title=NZRL - 2004 Pacific Rim Results|publisher=New Zealand Rugby League|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091108232755/http://nzrl.co.nz/page/2004_pacific_rim_results.html|archive-date=8 November 2009}}

{{Rugby League in Oceania}}
{{2004 in rugby league}}

[[Category:2004 in rugby league|Oceania Cup]]
[[Category:2004 in New Zealand rugby league|Pacific Cup]]
[[Category:International rugby league competitions hosted by New Zealand]]
[[Category:Pacific Cup|2004]]