NSW Samoa made it a neat double in Sunday’s finals action at the Harmony Nines, while Italy silenced the doubters to take home their first piece of silverware from the annual multicultural Rugby League festival.
The Italians took to the Croom Regional Sporting Complex No.1 field for the Under 16s Male division grand final with few giving them a chance coming up against high-flying Fiji.
But after No.7 Isaaq Karhani was sin-binned for a professional foul in the seventh minute, Italy pounced scoring through prop Cameron Makey for a slim 4-0 lead at halftime. He scored again in the second half earning himself the Player of the Match.
The Italians defensive wall relegated the Fijians to just one try – for centre James Lanyon midway through the second half. Makey’s double put the Europeans ahead with three minutes to play and send the sideline support crew into raptures.
“I don’t know exactly what won it for us but I do know these boys have an unbelievable drive,” said Italy captain Xavier Dinuccio.
“We worked so hard at every training session, and some boys from up the (NSW) coast had long travel days. But everyone showed such commitment.
“No-one gave us a hope today. Italy has never won a grand final in the Harmony Nines – it’s so unbelievable to win and to beat one of the strong Pacific nations like Fiji. It means a lot.”
Samoa’s Under 18s Male team beat Ozzy Cook Islands 26-8 to add another trophy to the cabinet after the Under 16s Females beat NSW Tonga an hour earlier.
The Samoans put on two classy first-half tries for a 10-4 lead and then added another three in the second eight-minute half to race away with the title.
Half Amazon Pua’avase had several line breaks and three try assists – one off a superbly placed corner kick. He was a popular Player of the Match winner.
“You could be watching the next generation of Samoan representative players,” said Samoan coach Jason Folomu.
“There’s a few of them in there that could give it a real crack. I hope some coaches and team selectors out there for elite clubs will notice them.
“Throughout the day the boys have just been grinding away their wins, putting in for each other and believing in what they do, and being accountable.
“That’s why it’s so pleasing to see them get the final reward.”
