Missing 4 goals is just not acceptable in a crucial game...

Plus a few dubious decisions didnt help Lebanons cause.

Samoa was the better side on the day...

Unlucky lebanon, they were the far more entertainig side, goal kicking let them down alot, but so was alot of poor finishing later on in the match they couldnt match the samoan forward power, i would of prefered to see lebanon go threw but o well congrats samoa.

just a question .. why wasn't hasem el masri playing for lebanon ??????

similar to robbie farah but hasem played orgin this year which rules him out playing for lebanon

Unfortunetly the rules only applied to the Lebanese players...

The puletua brothers played for NZ less than two years ago yet they were still allowed to play for Samoa... Double standards at there best!

Really upsetting...

I think that right from the first whistle nothing went Lebanons way can I ask u this full regards to Samoa they played well but u nearly call them the 2nd NZ team its unfair that they can help Samoa make the World Cup while Lebanon werent allowed to have Robbie Farah play and Hazem ElMasri,Samoa had nearly all kiwi internationals in their team can u tell me why because its such a bad rule. 

Yes we have been harking on about this for a long time now, basically the three big bullies can do what they please... unfortunate and as you say its upsetting.

Still Congrats to Samoa. Lebanon, despite me barracking for them... I felt played to much as individuals. Trying to play with flair instead of substance. Makes for great viewing but ultimately will not win you a game. Wouls farrah's influence helped, I suspect not. The guys seemed to want to be the ones to score "that try" for lebanon. Still credit to them to make where they got to you can only be peoud of yourselves on your efforts and I hope that it pays off with decent domestic crowd figures in Lebanon... man did the commentators love plugging the Bank of Beirute Championships last night or what... great! Considering that the telecast went to the whole middle east I am sure there must be some that would have heard, lestened and though hey I'll go check this out.

Samoa, although not as flashy did two things... They got more of the basics right and played more as a team. Ultimately this is what wins you matches not how many single brilliant players you have. Even in a potential time of crisis... there was one where Lebanon were threatening in a 10-15 min period in the 1st half... they just put their heads down did not panic and got on with the job, they wheatherd the strom and got through it with great colours. It shows that there is some maturity in the leading ranks of the team... I guess you have to with Vagana et al. in there. Anyway, congrats boys, I think they are in the more open group of the three and really could do some damage if they they play with consistency and the basics. I look forward to seeing them play.

---

For all The latest Rugby League scores from around the world:
http://www.rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com
Contact
info@rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com
-------------------------------------

Cedar, Do not let the emotion of the loss get the better of you –to the point where your senses are impaired.

Frank Puletua has never played for New Zealand.

Sometimes will cloud our better judgment and although we are quick to offer congratulations to the winners it is only superficial and trite.

In essence we harbor resentment and ill will when this energy would be better channeled into cheering the Lebanese basketball them that you so overtly revere.

In the same breath that we extend the congratulatory handshake we offer the fist of bitterness stating that it was poor goal kicking and poor referring that somehow colluded to concoct the demise of ones beloved team. One will find closure and peace when one learns to deal with loss and to allow the workings of catharsis.

1 Kings 20 refers to quote from King Ahab that I will paraphrase the people who boast should not be the warrior who is able to put on the amour but rather the one who is left standing to disrobe. Brave effort Lebanon but only one team was left to stand.

I never posted a single item till after the game believing that the final position in the world cup would be found on the field rather than online forums.

Indeed Robbie Farrar is a very competent player yet I do not think he would have made up the entire difference between the teams. Farrar was willing to assist Lebanon in qualifying yet his heart was with the Australian jumper that he openly covets.

Nations like Samoa and Lebanon should make use of who they got rather than lament over who has failed to front up.

I would have prefers a 12 team world cup with Lebanon and Wales all competing

 

well done samoa with some time together it will be a good team .

yep well done samoa, they deserved to win overall just too much power and skill

but lebanon played their part in what was an exiting game i thought and yeah, if they would have kicked the goals we could have been looking at a different story

LC you can certainly contribute the missed goals and the bizzare reffing (a hallmark of Mr Klien!) but lebanon let themselves down with a few daft pens which were legit and they left themselves with too much to do after the first half blitz

as a lebanon fan/supporter you can certainly hold up your head high today mate 

Yeah Lebanon should be proud of the Cedars, never giving up is what has made them unstoppable before this Samoa game- perhaps it was one more game too many... Despite there courageous efforts, I'm still proud of the Toa and the fact that they will be at the WC next year. Considering a few defectors from the Kiwi's, I think it's just a taste of what has been going on in Aus and NZ league for years-  alot of Islanders wanting to play for the Bigger nations but it seems as if Vagana and T.Puletua may have started a trend. At the end of the day they are proud Samoans so let the players decide what colour jersey they want to wear. Like a few of my boys and I have been saying, watch for Sonny Bill Williams to someday wear the Toa Samoa jersey only because he's proud of his heritage.

 Now regarding Farrah not playing for Lebanon, he clearly had a choice to make between the CEDARS or the BLUES/KANGAROOS- it's either one or the other so he chose the Green N Yellow.. You never heard of Vagana, Puletua or Lauiti'iti say 'I want to play for Samoa ONLY to help them qualify BUT still want to play for the Kiwi's next year' - NO. They made a choice that they want to be TOA and are now stuck with it for possibly the rest of there careers. Good on them!

Now before we have any more 'Samoa this Samoa that', just look at other teams and look yourself in the mirror and say they are all homeBRED... didn't think so.
 

SAMOANZ:

Yeah Lebanon should be proud of the Cedars, never giving up is what has made them unstoppable before this Samoa game- perhaps it was one more game too many... Despite there courageous efforts, I'm still proud of the Toa and the fact that they will be at the WC next year. Considering a few defectors from the Kiwi's, I think it's just a taste of what has been going on in Aus and NZ league for years-  alot of Islanders wanting to play for the Bigger nations but it seems as if Vagana and T.Puletua may have started a trend. At the end of the day they are proud Samoans so let the players decide what colour jersey they want to wear. Like a few of my boys and I have been saying, watch for Sonny Bill Williams to someday wear the Toa Samoa jersey only because he's proud of his heritage.

 Now regarding Farrah not playing for Lebanon, he clearly had a choice to make between the CEDARS or the BLUES/KANGAROOS- it's either one or the other so he chose the Green N Yellow.. You never heard of Vagana, Puletua or Lauiti'iti say 'I want to play for Samoa ONLY to help them qualify BUT still want to play for the Kiwi's next year' - NO. They made a choice that they want to be TOA and are now stuck with it for possibly the rest of there careers. Good on them!

Now before we have any more 'Samoa this Samoa that', just look at other teams and look yourself in the mirror and say they are all homeBRED... didn't think so.
 

wise words samoanz

good post mate

 I don't know how to point this out but- Without sounding cocky, is it just safe to say that Samoa have more talented players??? I'm not saying that they are God's Gift but there wouldn't be a real difference between teams if they were all on an even field. Look at the Aussies- they are the Best because the players are good. I only say this because not only do Samoans physiques speak for this but you see many sides packed with islanders/Samoans.

Here we are arguing about Former Kiwi reps when really the only ones playing for Samoa now are not has-been's but just not cemented first pick players for NZ. You can't really argue about the switch, There's only really 5 FORMER first choice pick players that played for NZ (Vagana, Puletua, Talau and Lauitiiti) Hansen the 5th I'm not sure if he played a Test?? BUT- Vagana and F Puletua played for Samoa first.

Now the other 12 are 'mainly' first grade players in NRL/ESL so who'se to blame??? Definately not Samoa because they obviously have good players playing for the those teams. It should be more of a case of other International countries getting there players into those leagues.

 

Toa Samoa line-up against Lebanon.

1.      Tangi Ropati (Samoa capped only)
2.      Smith Samau (Samoa capped only)
3.      Willie Talau (Former Kiwi)
4.      George Carmont (Samoa capped only)
5.      Andreas Bauer (Samoa capped only)
6.      Nigel Vagana (Captain) (Samoa capped first to NZ then back to Samoa)
7.      Joseph Paulo (Samoa capped only)
8.      Hutch Maiava (Samoa capped only)
9.      Chris Vaefaga (Samoa capped only)
10.    Frank Puletua (Samoa capped first to NZ then back to Samoa)
11.    Ali Lauiti’iti (Former Kiwi)
12.    Tony Puletua (Former Kiwi)
13.    Harrison Henson (Kiwi midweek player?)

Reserves
14.Philip Leuluai (Samoa capped only)
15.Chris Lei Sam (Samoa capped only)
16. Ponifasio Vasa (Samoa capped only0
17. Lepupa Taualagi (Samoa capped only)

Hmmm it hard sometimes on blogs not to have things sound cocky.

You make some good points, but physiquie is only a small part of it. On paper the Kiwis should be bashing the Aussies every time... but they dont why? The aussies despite playing not many games together, seem to gel as a team very quickly and very well and figure out how to not get bashed and run around defender... (poor Willie forgot to do this once lol)... I think when NZ learns not to try and bash through a team they will be much more sucessful. Samoa had glimpses of this, Vagana will be a great asset as in his day he was one of the great expointers of runninga round big fellas, I rember being at the SFS watching him single handedly carve up the bunnie with like 5 tries a few years ago when he was still at the dogs.

Samoa have the team to upset.

---

For all The latest Rugby League scores from around the world:
http://www.rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com
Contact
info@rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com
-------------------------------------

SAMOANZ:

 is it just safe to say that Samoa have more talented players??? .

 

im not sure i fully understand mate, more talented players than who? Eng/Aus and NZ or do you mean more talented than the rest of the 2nd teir nations? 

if you mean the rest of the 2nd tier nations then almost definatley allthough there are some talented players in the other qualified 2nd tier teams

i still see samoa as having the same problems as the rest of the island nations, problems in the key positions of 1,6,7,9,13 and while we can say these combos worked well int the 2 games against lebs and USA obviously there are sterner tests for samoa in 08

revgeorge:

Cedar, Do not let the emotion of the loss get the better of you –to the point where your senses are impaired.

Frank Puletua has never played for New Zealand.

Sometimes will cloud our better judgment and although we are quick to offer congratulations to the winners it is only superficial and trite.

In essence we harbor resentment and ill will when this energy would be better channeled into cheering the Lebanese basketball them that you so overtly revere.

In the same breath that we extend the congratulatory handshake we offer the fist of bitterness stating that it was poor goal kicking and poor referring that somehow colluded to concoct the demise of ones beloved team. One will find closure and peace when one learns to deal with loss and to allow the workings of catharsis.

1 Kings 20 refers to quote from King Ahab that I will paraphrase the people who boast should not be the warrior who is able to put on the amour but rather the one who is left standing to disrobe. Brave effort Lebanon but only one team was left to stand.

I never posted a single item till after the game believing that the final position in the world cup would be found on the field rather than online forums.

Indeed Robbie Farrar is a very competent player yet I do not think he would have made up the entire difference between the teams. Farrar was willing to assist Lebanon in qualifying yet his heart was with the Australian jumper that he openly covets.

Nations like Samoa and Lebanon should make use of who they got rather than lament over who has failed to front up.

I would have prefers a 12 team world cup with Lebanon and Wales all competing

 

 

Huh?????????????????????