Cronulla rookie Fa’amanu Brown has piloted Samoa to a 14-6 Test win in another rocking encounter between the Pacific rivals.
In a typically bruising exhibition of rugby league, the fierce rivals traded brutal blow for brutal blow on Saturday night, with every collision bringing the crowd of 15,225 at Parramatta to a roar.
And while Samoa won out three tries to one, it was the boot of the versatile Brown that stood out.
He put on a goalkicking clinic, nailing two sideline conversions as well as a gift two-point penalty that gave his team an 8-6 lead at halftime.
The 21-year-old also set up Sharks teammate Ricky Leutele for the match-turning try in the 55th minute.
Centre Matthew Wright later sealed the win in the 75th.
Tensions stayed at the fever pitch from kickoff to fulltime, with Samoan captain Frank Pritchard and Tonga’s Solomone Kata on report for separate incidents in the first half.
Pritchard will have a case to answer for a high shot on Tongan winger Michael Oldfield, while Kata was could be in trouble for kneeing Kirisome Auva’a – an incident that prompted a minor brawl.
Tonga winger Mosese Pangai opened the scoring when he soared to take a Feleti Mateo kick in the fourth minute.
However, they were the only points for a Tonga side that lost halfback and former Sydney Roosters prodigy Samisoni Langi to a likely season-ending ACL injury in the first half.
The Test is the first time Samoa have recorded back-to-back victories over Tonga in four contests.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Organise the games and eligibility basically takes care of itself. It's too easy to attack the eligibility rules but in the professional sports world, no scheduled matches makes the eligibility arguments disingenuous.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Yeah agree, more matches is the way to solve that issue.
rebel
Guest
Agree, more matches for these sides will hopefully mean players like Radradra will be more inclined to stay with the country of their birth to grow the international game. Nothing against him personally, just the rules that allow him to do it. Similar to Speight, Naholo and Fekitoa in Rugby, would much prefer them playing for the country they were born and raised in, and getting fairly compensated for doing so. Both codes are set up for minnow countries to lose players due to residency which is a shame.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I've no issue with that. The only concern thus far as been, quite simply, a lack of matches for the Pacific nations. Once you start scheduling them in, then the whole thing grows from there and eligibility issues start to fall by the wayside. The interest is there and it can be built upon.
rebel
Guest
If you include a PI four nations on Origin weekends, that would fit in nicely to three matches each for Sam, Ton, Fiji and PNG. Winner could qualify for a 4 nations after the NRL season. Mid season NZ-Aus tests don't quite sit well. Drop the rep weekend that has just been played and play the matches on dedicated origin weeks. This should give enough content to Nine and Fox when all clubs have a bye.
E-Meter
Guest
Top game and what about the noise of the crowd...fantastic. Great to see Auva'a and Kata going at it as well.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It is an indication of how one practically prepares for the future by tapping into cultural and national identities amongst migrant communities with direct ties to their original homeland. Unless, of course, you think that the best way to improve rugby league internationally is to not play it.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I like pjm's posts. There is a hint of insight in them but when you scratch the surface, you find a void.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Yes, the same people who don't appreciate the subtleties of migration, cultural identification and economic necessity. and how all three can be combined into a direction for the international future of the code.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
A three-match series ought to be the goal. My only concern would be the potential for such a match to draw attention away from Origin. I don't mean on a large scale, afte all Origin is a behemoth. But Origin sponsors might not be comfortable with even a slightly reduced focus for the money they outlay. Just a thought.
nerval
Guest
Were the fans of Tonga and Samoa as fake and phoney as you insinuate the players were, pjm? And will you be the one to tell them? On how many rugby league threads, a game you despise, are you allowed to t-r-o-l-l?
pjm
Roar Rookie
That it isn't an indication of the strength of international Rugby League as 95% of the players weren't from the two countries competing.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Watch it every year ,and never disappointed.Committed body on the line stuff,fast and open . A test now set down between Fiji and Samoa in Samoa.Getting in thew schools there also.
blackstar
Guest
Bravo from all teams last ,reminded me why I played and loved watching this gladiatorial sport .I hope this is the future for RL .
AGO74
Guest
Great match. Loved watching it. The passion and intensity combined with some sublime skills - and at times some terrible terrible ball control - made for an enthralling contest. Bring it on again next year!
Craigo
Guest
Aus v NZ Rugby League Test match National figures for Friday night. 852,000 5 city metro. Regional added another 503,000. = 1,355,000
tom
Guest
rather a nz maori team included.,.more passion there..the tonga-samoa contests are part sport part culture..
Bluey
Guest
Wow! Thanks for the info Craigo. Those in charge need to seize this opportunity. Voss had a great idea about running a NZ, Samoa, and Tonga tri-series during Origin then winner play OZ.
jimmmy
Guest
More people watch Samoa v Tonga than the Tahs . Why would that surprise anyone? Exciting pulsing game played with passion vs well the Tahs.
Craigo
Guest
Great TV ratings for international RL on FOX. Beating all the AFL and Union games. Even the Jr Kangaroos v Jr Kiwis beat the Waratahs TV ratings FoxSports RL Tonga v Samoa 164k RL PNG v Fiji 111k RL Kangaroos v Jr Kiwis 80k Super Rugby WARvCHE 68k AFL Swans V Dons 154k AFLSuns v Dees 109k AFLCats V Eagles 118k