4 May 2015

Sport: Niue hope for ranking boost after big win

1:49 pm on 4 May 2015

Niue are hopeful their 48-4 demolition of South Africa will encourage more top rugby league nations to take them on.

Niue rugby league team.

Niue rugby league team. Photo: Niue Rugby League

Playing in just their third ever test match, the Rock were too strong for the Rhinos, running in nine tries to one in Campbelltown, south-west of Sydney.

Niue coach Brendan Perenara admits he was surprised at the lopsided scoreline, considering his players only came together for a team training run the day before the game.

He says with an increasing focus on the international game, hopefully other countries will taken more notice of Niue and the emerging nations.

"We're trying to build on that and shake a few feathers. Hopefully other nations can see us on the big stage and see that we're competitive and we can match them. We're hoping they can give us a call and give us some better games, some good games. We haven't got a ranking but that was a ranking test match so hopefully it pushes [us] up somewhere".

Brendan Perenara says Niue is have been invited to play Thailand in October.