Nauru Chiefs

After a scrappy start to the game yesterday, the Chiefs started to assert their dominance in the 2nd quarter, getting on top in the middle with young ruckman, Kais Tatum getting the better of the Canadian big men in the ruck contests.

Kaison's influence lifted his middle brigade with Mallinson Batsiua, German Lightning Grundler, Tiana Waidubu and Patrick Agadio lifting their work rate and winning more of the clearances.

"If you look at it, apart from PNG, New Zealand and Ireland the table is very even," Vice captain Kenneth Oppenheimersaid.

"We could be fourth, you know. South Africa is not looking too strong and Great Britain as well and we're looking at maybe fourth of fifth place if we're lucky".

Nauru failed to score in the opening quarter against PNG and Oppenheimer said they've performed well below expectations.

"We expected it to be pretty tough but not this tough," he said.

"Our team is struggling a bit to get used to the conditions here, the cold, and I don't know.

But the big hard body clashes expected particularly from Nauru, were just not there in the amount we come to expect.  

Or maybe it is just that open play six goal opening quarter from PNG just took the sting out of Nauru?  

PNG are very aware that if they can play well enough and finish with a 3-1 record next Tuesday then they are still a chance to play in the Grand Final if their percentage is good enough.  

And so it was they burst out of the blocks at Sebastapol.

The rain had thankfully passed - however as this 3:45pm game progressed the sun also began to pass - as the moon rose in the East the lights were flicked on, with limited benefit to the onlookers.

The New Zealand squad had the height advantage and match up pretty well on weight so wouldn't be pushed around. Nevertheless there were some fierce clashes and players on both sides will wake up sore tomorrow morning.

The two teams met at Beenleigh Buffalo's AFC in Queensland.

Much to the Chiefs credit they readjusted and kept PNG goal-less in the last quarter to end the game on a high.

Final scores PNG 49 defeated Chiefs 17.

It was a good hit out for both clubs as they head towards the start of the International Cup this weekend on August 6.

PNG will take on Ireland in a replay of IC14 Grand Final and the Chiefs will take on NZ.

The Nauru Chiefs head to Melbourne today.

Photo AFL Nauru/Facebook 

AFL Nauru President Mathew Batsiua said they have been competitive at every international cup tournaments since they entered the tournament in 2008 so they are expecting to go well and be in contention.

Batsiua said the structure of the 2017 tournament is different now with two divisions, so they are pitted against top ten ranked teams in the world.

“So there is really no place to hide as each game will be super competitive.

“But we won’t want it any other way. We want to play against the best because we belong with the best.

The two nations will meet again with a little more on the line on the 9th of August in the "Schools Round" at Mt Clear in Ballarat.

Both the Nauru Chiefs & PNG Mozzies are inviting members of the South Pacific Community and all footy people in Brisbane and the Gold Coast to the Beenleigh Buffalo's AFC on Monday, August 31 at 6.15pm (local time) for the match between the 2 countries.

Photo file. Caption: Nauru Chiefs 

The Micronesian nation finished seventh in the men's division one competition in 2014, despite only losing one of their five matches.

Vice-Captain Kenneth Oppenheimer made his international debut at that event and believes Nauru were and are better than their final placing suggests.

"I don't think the way they did the ladder then was very fair because we only lost one game against the Irish," he said.

"I don't think we're actually the (seventh) in the world. We’re a bit higher than that, I do believe so."