The best thing about an international representative round on it's own weekend is that you're pretty much guaranteed at least a game's worth of entertainment. Yeah, the Anzac Test was a bit dull ('absorbing' for a true-blue fan) but the Kiwi Ferns win over the Jillaroos was quality, Nathan Cleary led the Junior Kangaroos to a classy win over the Junior Kiwis, Papa New Guinea continue to show great improve and beat Fiji while the Samoa vs Tonga fixture deserves to be a main event. City rolled Country, but both teams threw the footy around and Bryce Cartwright kicked more than Jack Bird ... plenty to reflect on.

The reason Samoa vs Tonga deserves to be a main event is because on top of their consistently ruthless brand of footy, there was a standoff pre-war dance. The haka - specifically the All Blacks' - is the most renowned war dance but you'd be silly to sleep on the sipi tau and siva tau, especially when performed by guys who share an NRL club and are now staring at their mate who right now, really dislikes you.

And I thought Tonga won the stand-off. They held their ground the longest and their sipi tau got the points decision, led by Solomone Kata at the front, who appears to be following my ramblings as he's quickly becoming a Tongan legend.

Kata and Kirisome Auva'a had their little scuffle and shared lovely sportsmanship, which got the headlines. That was a product of an intense battle throughout the game by two reasonably good NRL centres. Auva'a ended up being a low key important figure in the Rabbitohs' Premiership and doesn't mind a bit of niggle while Kata is the low key gun right now and won't take a backward step. This quickly became the one-on-one battle to watch during the game, highlighted by the respect shown between the two after the scuffle.

Auva'a looks to have settled into his centre role again with the Bunnies after starting the year in the forwards and on the wing. Kata is in a more interesting situation because depending on how his judiciary stuff goes, he'll come back to the Warriors and suddenly he's a player with a growing sense of responsibility. That was on display for Tonga (being front and centre of the sipi tau is part of that), who Kata has now played 4 games for since 2014.

Kata has been a consistent presence at centre for the Warriors to the point where he's not a new kid any more. I'd say he's one of the first names Andrew McFadden jots down each and Kata has a little opening (given the recent dramas) to become a certified leader.

That game kind of felt perfect for a bloke named Manu Ma'u.

David Fusitua is a gun. I'll keep telling ya until he's widely known as a gun.

With each strong display from The Fus at fullback, other NRL clubs will start to ramp up their enquiries. Remember that Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will come back next season and Fusitua is showing that he should start at fullback in the NRL each week.

While we're on the Warriors ... Ata Hingano was one of the Junior Kiwis' best players, perhaps matching Nathan Cleary's display. Ponder a Warriors backline that includes Kata, Hingano, Fusitua (on the wing), Tuivasa-Sheck, Shaun Johnson and Tuimoala Lolohea. I know it's hard but, paitence folks.

They will all be in their prime years soon, throw in Albert Vete, Sam Lisone, Toafofoa Sipley, John Palavi, James Gavet, Jazz Tevaga, Nathaniel Roache, Isaiah Papalii, Marata Niukore ... and yeah, patience folks.

Fa'amanu Brown showed what he can do, playing a leading role in the halves for Samoa. Brown is with Cronulla Sharks but James Maloney and Chad Townsend are doing a fine job down in the Shire, which has me wondering where Brown fits in.

How about the Test between Samoa and Tonga is played in both Australia and Aotearoa, perhaps an alternating basis. Obviously we want to see Tests in the Pacific Islands and that will definitely happen, however you'd get a fairly big crowd at Mt Smart or Eden Park with Samoan and Tongan Rugby League getting a nice financial boost from the ticket sales.

We all know how popular ... maybe 'how much more popular' at Samoa vs Tonga rugby league game will be in Aotearoa.

In different circumstances, I'd be shocked by PNG's win over Fiji. That win was simply a product of their PNG Hunters team in Queensland's Intrust Super Cup, which is a fine example of the very least, as to what is possible - we should aim for another kiwi team in either reserve grade competition before another NRL team. The Hunters compete weekly in the ISC and live/train out of a central base, combine that with PNG's passion for rugby league and you've a rugby league recipe.

Young PNG players have a clear career route they can go down, without leaving their country. If they are good enough then NRL clubs will identify you, just like Canberra did with Kato Ottio.

Imagine a team out of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji also competing in a similar manner, boom.

Here's a few players who did their New South Wales chances a boost in City's win over country...

Bryce Cartwright: Easy pick. Given freedom to do as he wished. Perfectly suited to a bench role. 9 runs for 77m, 1 try assist, 1 tackle bust, 18 tackles, 3 offloads, 3 kicks for 83m.

Tyrone Peachey: Another bench player. Peachey covers a bunch of positions very well. Skillful, tough and unpredictable. 5 runs for 47m, 1 try assist, 3 tackle busts, 20 tackles, 1 offload, 1 line break assist, 1 kick for 5m.

Josh Mansour: Metre-machine. Lively, good hands and oozes that Origin intensity. 18 runs for 150m, 4 tackle busts, 2 offloads, 1 line break.

Jack De Belin: Big, mobile and a decent passer. Predominantly a middle-forward who can genuinely play as a stereotypical prop or lock. Enforcer. 12 runs for 117 (only Country player for run for over 100m).

Euan Aitken: Quick, strong and generally solid. Won't be in the mix this year and will need to wait for his chance. Only Country back to not miss a tackle. 10 runs for 139m, 2 tackle busts, 1 line break, 1 line break assist.

James Maloney is understandably getting a lot of attention as a possible NSW half, I'm not completely sold on that. Maloney missed 5 tackles - the most tackles of any Country player. Queensland would love that.

Three names to remember from the Junior Kiwis: James Fisher-Harris, Brandon Smith and Hingano.

Fisher-Harris didn't actually play, but I've been harping on about him all season. Consider this a reminder to watch the Panthers play and to specifically watch Fisher-Harris.

In my research for the JK team, I came across this video about a young Brandon Smith who was in the Cowboys' set up. Smith's from Waiheke island and has now risen through the Cowboys' ranks. He shared minutes at hooker with Roache and was immense; making plenty of tackles, easily churning through metres with the footy despite his smaller stature. Smith will play NRL soon enough.

I alluded to Hingano's performance earlier and he deserves a double mention. His performance was everything I hoped it would be as Hingano stepped up to the plate to play a dominant hand. Like Lolohea, Hingano is a natural with all the skills, plus a silky left-boot which is an asset to any NRL side but it's those natural footy instincts that sets him apart.

Peep his try here; the funky grubber, leading the chase, putting himself in the contest and what'd'ya know ... he somehow gets the ball, effort's rewarded.