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Tonga defeated Papua New Guinea 24-18 in a World Cup classic at St Helens, with Keaon Koloamatangi scoring a miracle try with five minutes to play to save his side’s blushes.
The Kumuls had fought back from 18-6 down to tie the game late on but with the game on the line, Mate Ma’a Tonga were able to showcase the depth of their talent with a sweeping, chaotic move that saw the ball go through eight pairs of hands and touch the deck four times before Siosiua Taukeiaho kick for Koloamatangi to score.
While it was spectacular, it was undoubtedly cruel on a PNG side that more than matched one of the most stacked sides in the tournament. Edwin Ipape, player of the year in the English second tier, and Kyle Laybutt, a career second grader in the Queensland Cup, were superb and Justin Olam, the clear star turn, dominated his edge.
Tonga have struggled to assemble a spine that matches the strength of their squad in other positions, and the first 20 minutes laid that bare.
Koloamatangi, one of the most destructive backrowers in the NRL, was used as a dummy half while Isaiya Katoa, yet to feature in first grade, got an international start alongside Super League stalwart Tui Lolohea.
“We have got a lot more in us,” Woolf said. “They are tough team PNG, they always turn up and run hard and that’s what they did.
“We found a way to win and that’s really important because it shows our class. We also got a real run into our legs. There were a number of guys who hadn’t played last week but as a team we will get better.”
They crafted a try in the first ten minutes through Rhyse Martin and might have had more, with a left shift to Olam causing constant problems for Tonga.
Sione Katoa saved one by knocking down Olam’s pass aimed at Dan Russell, who was later denied another after putting a foot in touch en route to the line.
In between those, Tonga did strike. It was confirmation of the old adage that you can’t teach speed: fullback Tolutau Koula unleashed all of his to create an opening and had the skill to back it up with a deft pass for Will Penisini.
The introduction of Soni Luke sped up the ruck and gave Koloamatangi freedom to play a more natural game. It worked almost immediately, with Lolohea running rampant through the middle, creating broken play from which Koloamatangi was able to put Moeaki Fotuaika over.
From the next set, it got better as Mosese Suli raced cleaer on the left and found the young Katoa on the inside for his first international try.
Mosese Suli of Tonga (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
PNG struck early in the second dig, with the Leigh duo of Ipape and Lachlan Lam combining, and might have had another, only for Roderick Tai to be stopped by a committed Koula. The video referee debating long about a potential grounding, but ultimately decided not to change the call from the on-field official.
“I thought it was a try, I think most people watching would’ve given it,” PNG coach Stanley Tepend said.
“The boys can hold their heads up high and take a lot of out of this game.
“We spoke about playing for ourselves and rising together. It will give us a lot of confidence.”
David Fifita was then denied a try at the other end, before the Kumuls finally capitalised with a sweeping scrum play ending with winger Russell crossing and Martin, from the sideline, converting with seven minutes to play.
Tonga needed something special and they found it. It was more accident than design, with a long passage of broken play and offloads, but with the talent available to Tonga, anything is possible. PNG were crestfallen.
Adam Doueihi has failed in his attempt to play in Lebanon’s crunch clash with Ireland this Sunday after the Match Review Panel upheld his one game suspension in a marathon session this evening (UK time).
The Wests Tigers man was sent off in the Cedars’ defeat to New Zealand on Sunday for foul and abusive language and was slapped with a suspension, but challenged the decision in a desperate attempt to play against Ireland, a game which Lebanon need to win to remain in contention for the knockout stages.
The winner of Sunday’s clash in Leigh is highly likely to face the Kangaroos in the quarter final. Ireland are in the box seat after their big win over Jamaica at the weekend.
PNG and Leeds Rhinos star Rhyse Martin has equalled the world record of 41 consecutive successful conversions in the Kumuls clash with Tonga.
Martin entered the game needing three to equal the standing record, achieved by Ireland captain Liam Finn in 2012, and achieved it with a sideline effort to convert Dan Russell’s second-half try.
His kick topped the previous best of 38 from Wales halfback Barry Eaton in 2003. Hazem El Masri was the last NRL player to hold the honour, with 35 consecutive conversions before being beaten by Eaton.
James Graham has been awarded his ceremonial golden 50th international cap – three years after he played brought up his half-century of Test appearances.
He was honoured at his junior club, Thatto Heath Crusaders, in a ceremony on Tuesday afternoon (UK time) before being presented to the crowd at St Helens, where he made started and ended his professional career, during the World Cup clash between Tonga and Papua New Guinea.
Graham broke down in tears as he passed his cap on to Dave Yates, vice chairman at Thatto Heath, in recognition of the role that the club had played in his development.
The former Saints, Bulldogs and Dragons forward reached the milestone in Great Britain’s loss to Tonga in October 2019, but was unable to receive his reward to due to the pandemic.
The International Rugby League awards golden caps to players who surpass 50 appearances.
Graham is unusual in that his international career is bookended by Great Britain, but the bulk of it was played for England.
He scored twice off the bench on Test debut against New Zealand in a midseason international in 2006 and made four more appearances in the red, white and blue, before a rebrand saw England preferred to Great Britain.
Jammer is the record appearance maker for England outright, with 44 Test matches including the 2008, 2013 and 2017 World Cup campaigns – though that could be equalled or overtaken if Ryan Hall features at this tournament.