TONGA 20 SAMOA 18
CALLUM WALKER, CommBank Stadium, Parramatta, Sunday

TONGA and Samoa played out a World Cup classic as Kristian Woolf’s men had just enough to end the group stages unbeaten.

Having already cruised past England and Lebanon, Tonga were made to work hard to set up a semi-final clash with New Zealand by a Samoa side who saved their best performance for the last group game.

England’s only remaining prayer to qualify for the semi-finals relied on Tonga defeating Samoa by an unrealistic margin of more than 46 points – and you could sense from the opening exchanges that such a scoreline was never going to materialise.

The tone of the game was set before a ball had even been kicked as Tonga led their Sipi Tau, closely followed by Samoa’s Siva Tau.

If spectators and viewers had not already been pumped for such an occasion, then those two war dances certainly clicked people into gear.

As it was, the ferocity displayed from both sides mirrored the passion on show before kick-off as Tonga almost took the lead when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak rose highest to an Isaiya Katoa kick.

The New Zealand Warriors winger, however, knocked on – and he should have scored again moments later after being set free by Robert Toia.

This time, though, Watene-Zelezniak had a foot in touch with Samoa surviving by the skin of their teeth once more.

It wasn’t even third time lucky for Tonga, either, with Stephen Crichton’s desperate tackle forcing Jojo Fifita to lose possession with the line begging.

But there was little Samoa could finally do when Haumole Olakau’atu offloaded for Toia down the touchline. With only Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to beat, Toia stepped majestically inside for the first points of the evening as the half-hour loomed.

Katoa converted then made it an 8-0 lead shortly after with a penalty, Jermaine McEwen being found guilty of a hand in the ruck.

But after being under the pump for almost the entire first half, Samoa hit back with a much-needed four-pointer just before the break.

A Jarome Luai bomb caused all sorts of problems in the Tongan defence and the ball eventually found Brian To’o in the corner. Chanel Harris-Tavita couldn’t convert as Tonga led 8-4 at half-time.

Tonga simply put their foot on the gas at the start of the second half, a wonderful scrum move ending with Fifita crossing as Katoa made it 14-4.

Like a boomerang, however, Samoa were able to clamber back once more, To’o notching his second on 51 minutes. Harris-Tavita, however, couldn’t convert and limped off moments later.

An incredible turnaround soon followed, Tabuai-Fidow getting on the end of a scintillating Samoa break to score before substitute Ronald Volkman showed tremendous strength to burrow through three defenders. Volkman finally landed a conversion as Samoa now led 18-14.

With twelve minutes remaining, the pressure was now on Tonga to find a response – and up stepped the ever-reliable Addin Fonua-Blake as the rampaging forward crashed through some weak tackling to break Samoa hearts.

Katoa’s conversion sent Tonga into a 20-18 lead – a lead they wouldn’t relinquish with Sualauvi Faalago being denied a last-minute try for a foot in touch.

GAMESTAR: Addin Fonua-Blake led from the front and scored the winning try.

GAMEBREAKER: Fonua-Blake’s try seven minutes from time clinched it for Tonga.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: The face-off between Tonga’s Sipi Tau and Samoa’s Siva Tau sent chills down the spine of every viewer.

MATCHFACTS

TONGA
1 Lehi Hopoate
2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3 Tolutau Koula
4 Robert Toia
5 Jojo Fifita
6 Tui Lolohea
7 Isaiya Katoa
8 Addin Fonua-Blake
9 Salesi Foketi
10 Jason Taumalolo
11 Haumole Olakau’atu
12 Siua Wong
13 Tyson Frizell
Subs
14 Soni Luke (not used)
15 Stefano Utoikamanu
16 Demitric Vaimauga
17 Taniela Paseka
18 Leka Halasima
19 Latu Fainu (not used)

Tries: Toia (27), Fifita (46), Fonua-Blake (73)
Goals: I Katoa 4/4

SAMOA
1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2 Brian To’o
3 Izack Tago
4 Stephen Crichton
5 Sualauvi Fa’alogo
6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
7 Jarome Luai
8 Francis Molo
14 Jazz Tevaga
10 Junior Paulo
11 Connelly Lemuelu
12 Jermaine McEwen
13 Francis Manuleleua
Subs
9 Benaiah Ioelu
15 Spencer Leniu
16 Shawn Blore (not used)
17 Ata Mariota
18 Clayton Faulalo (not used)
19 Ronald Volkman

Tries: To’o (38, 51), Tabuai-Fidow (63), Volkman (68)
Goals: Harris-Tavita 0/2, Volkman 1/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 8-0, 8-4; 14-4, 14-8, 14-12, 14-18, 20-18

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Tonga: Addin Fonua-Blake; Samoa: Ronald Volkman

Penalty count: 3-3
Half-time: 8-4
Referee: Adam Gee
Attendance: 29,411