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Samoa vs Tonga: Pacific Test live scores, blog

23rd June, 2018
Kickoff: 7:10pm (AEST)
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney
TV: Live, Nine Network and Fox League
Head-to-head: 20 played - Samoa 11, Tonga 9

Samoa
Iulio Afoa, Josh Aloiai, Michael Chee Kam, Christian Crichton, James Gavet, Pita Godinet, Sam Kasiano, Timoteo Lafai, Joseph Leilua, Luciano Leilua, Mason Lino, Dunamis Lui, Tyrone May, Anthony Milford, Isaiah Papali'i, Joseph Paulo, Liligiifo Sao, Jorge Taufua

Tonga
Andrew Fifita, Addin Fonua-Blake, Moeaki Fotuaika, Siliva Havilli, Mafoa'aeata Hingano, Viliami Hopoate, Konileti Hurrell, Michael Jennings, Robert Jennings, Sione Katoa, Tuimoala Lolohea, Manu Ma'u, Joe Ofahengaue, Tevita Tatola, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Vaai Taumalolo, Peni Terepo, Taniela Tupou
Andrew Fifita of Tonga in action during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
Roar Guru
23rd June, 2018
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7721 Reads

Match result:

Tonga’s argument for a rugby league Test against Australia is gaining strength, pushing their case with a 38-22 defeat of Samoa in Sydney.

» Click here to read the full match report

Final score
Samoa 22
Tonga 38

Match preview:

In one of international rugby league’s biggest rivalries, Samoa will be seeking vengeance against a resurgent Tonga. Can Mate Ma’a Tonga justify their world No.4 ranking or will Samoa cause an upset over their Polynesian rivals? Join The Roar from 7:10pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage.

Matt Parish has overhauled his Samoan team to take on Tonga with only five players returning from the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

Parish has named eight debutants with the controversial inclusion of former Mate Ma’a Tonga winger Jorge Taufua in his 18-man squad.

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Despite having an inexperienced playing group, Samoa will be buoyed by the inclusion of Anthony Milford who is set to start at fullback with Mason Lino and Tyrone May linking up in the halves. Milford will form a crucial part of the Samoan spine and be their X-factor.

Parish will be hoping Samoa’s forward pack can step up against a much heavier and more mobile Tongan engine room while their backline also lacks the skill and power that Tonga possess.

It will be a tough ask for Toa Samoa, currently ranked world No.6, however they have proven in the past that they can match it with some of the best nations in the world.

Mate Ma’a Tonga are coming off a stunning Rugby League World Cup semi-final finish in which they experienced heartache in the final moments against England.

The tiny Pacific Island nation caused massive upsets topping the group of death which featured world No.2 New Zealand, then world No.4 Scotland and Samoa before defeating Lebanon to qualify for the final four.

Star players Andrew Fifita and Jason Taumalolo have been named in Kristian Woolf’s 18-man squad with 14 players returning from last year’s World Cup campaign while Addin Fonua-Blake returns after playing for New Zealand.

Three players – Moeaki Fotuaika, Robert Jennings and Junior Tatola – are in line to make their test debuts.

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Tonga will be looking to assert their dominance through the middle of the park with their big forward pack. Despite the absence of David Fusitu’a and Solomone Kata, their backline still offers plenty of speed and power through the likes of Michael Jennings, Konileti Hurrell and Will Hopoate.

The biggest question lies with their halves pairing of Tuimoala Lolohea and Mafoa’aeata Hingano. The pair failed to complement each other in 2017 with both favouring a running game and will need to rectify that if Tonga are to become a legitimate threat to the big three.

20 games have been played between the two Pacific rivals with Samoa winning on eleven occasions. The last time the two nations met was in last year’s Rugby League World Cup when Tonga ran out 32-18 victors in Hamilton.

Prediction
Tonga’s star-studded side will continue their charge with a dominant win over Samoa.

Tonga by 8.

Join The Roar from 7:10pm (AEST) for score updates and debate in our live blog.

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