[1] John Grant, the Chief Executive of the Australian Rugby League Commission, shared his support for the test by confirming that an Australian registered referee would be provided along with senior staff and management to help with the organisation of the match.

[2] A couple of hours before the Pacific test-matches began, discussions were made and confirmed between the RLIF Deputy Chairman, John Grant, alongside Rugby League Samoa Chairman/Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation Chairman, Tagaloa Faafouina Su'a, and the Fiji Rugby League Chairman, Filimoni Vosarogo, that Samoa's city of Apia will host a test-match between Samoa and Fiji on October 8, 2016.

All of the Samoan team had players based in the NRL except for Denny Solomona, who plays for Super League club Castleford Tigers.

St. George Illawarra's Leeson Ah Mau captained Samoa, and Wests Tigers' Kevin Naiqama led Fiji.

[5] Samoa were dominating proceedings in the opening quarter as they controlled most of the possession and territory but Fiji hit back in the back-end of the game with Samoa's errors ruining the home team's chances.