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
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.
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.
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.
Jacko macho
Guest
Too many over weight forwards.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Loving it.The speed,the passion,the colour .,the incredible atmosphere, the fierce competition, the continuity.So far this weekend is better than most NRL rounds and still more to come. Interesting one referee. Anyone who bags these type of rep rl weekends ,needs tar and feathering.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
That concludes The Roar’s coverage of Tonga vs Samoa. There is plenty more sporting action throughout the week with England vs New Zealand, State of Origin II, AFL and the FIFA World Cup. New South Wales Blues will be looking for their first title since 2014 on Sunday night in State of Origin II. Be sure to join Scott Pryde from 7.40pm (AEST). Thanks for following along.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
There is more international rugby league to come over the weekend. England and New Zealand will set Mile High Stadium alight tomorrow morning (AEST) as they clash for the world No.2 ranking. Then Malta and South Africa go toe-to-toe in St Marys. Next weekend Ireland will visit Budapest where they take on Hungary, before Malta begin their 2021 Rugby League World Cup qualifying journey against Ukraine in Marsa.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME Tonga have come away with a 16-point victory over their Polynesian rivals in an entertaining test match. SAMOA 22 TONGA 38
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
80' The siren sounds and Tonga have come away with an historic victory SAMOA 22 TONGA 38
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
79' Robert Jennings brings the ball back for Tonga SAMOA 22 TONGA 38
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
78' Havili runs from acting half, he goes half a metre short of the line. Taumalolo runs on the last, offloads to Hopoate who grubbers on the run, Milford slips in-goal but finds a way out. SAMOA 22 TONGA 38
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
77' Samoa scrambling to get out of their own end, Lino juggles the ball on halfway then Tupou comes up with the intercept. SAMOA 22 TONGA 38
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
76' Havili knocks on at first-receiver SAMOA 22 TONGA 38
Katalina Halaunga
Guest
Well done Mate Ma’a Tonga!
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
75' Lafai loses the ball in the tackle, Tonga scrum-feed SAMOA 22 TONGA 38
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
74' Addin Fonua-Blake with an explosive run through the middle, Fifita puts the offload to ground but Havili scrambles to get to it. Lolohea kicks on the last and Crichton comes soaring through SAMOA 22 TONGA 38
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
73' The kick-off doesn't travel ten metres, penalty Tonga. SAMOA 22 TONGA 38
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
PENALTY GOAL! TONGA 72' Taukeiaho kicks the penalty goal to extend Tonga's lead back out to 16 points SAMOA 22 TONGA 38
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
71' Samoa turn the ball over, Taufua concedes a penalty. SAMOA 22 TONGA 36
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
70' Fifita offloads to Katoa, he passes to Taumalolo with a big run who then shifts it onto Michael Jennings tackled five metres short. They spread it out to Tupou who knocks on at the last tackle. SAMOA 22 TONGA 36
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
69' Papali'i comes within striking distance of the line. Leilua goes dangerously close, stopped by Taumalolo. Godinet smashed by Ofahengaue out of dummy-half on the last tackle. SAMOA 22 TONGA 36
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
67' Samoa in good field position, Leilua has the ball raked. Penalty Samoa SAMOA 22 TONGA 36
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
66' Lafai with a big run down the left edge, back inside to May. Milford grubbers on the last and Leilua comes in to tackle Hopoate in-goal. SAMOA 22 TONGA 36