TONGA survived a close scare in their final pool game of the Rugby League World Cup after beating Samoa 20-18 in front of a record crowd of 29,411 at CommBank Stadium in Australia.
Despite the result, Samoa will also feature in the semi-finals with Tonga, with both teams topping their pool.
Tonga came out firing right off the kick-off and crossed over in the 13th minute when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak launched himself in the corner, but replays showed his foot had grazed the sideline.
Just four minutes later, Tonga came close to scoring their first try, but Stephen Crichton’s desperate defence denied Jojo Fifita.
Samoa finally managed to work their way into Tonga’s territory with Crichton looking sure to score, but Fifita repaid his debt and stopped the centre from crossing over.
Tonga’s first points came in the 27th minute, when Rob Toia ran 45 meters to score.
A superb flick pass from teammate Haumole Olakau’atu put Toaia’s speed and agility to the test as he beat Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Sua Fa’alogo to the try line, taking an early 6-0 lead after Isaiya Katoa’s conversion.
Tonga extended their lead in the 36th minute after Katoa converted a penalty kick, but Samoa quickly hit back to make it 8-4.
The try came after Jarome Luai launched a bomb of a kick which was tapped back by Tabuai-Fidow to Crichton, who then got a miraculous flick pass away to To’o to score in the corner before heading into halftime.
The Tongan’s came out firing after the break and extended their lead when Katoa and Tui Lolohea combined on the left edge with the five-eighth delivering a pinpoint long ball for Fifita to power into the corner.
Katoa’s conversion made it 14-4.
Samoa replied not long after with To’o scoring his second from another freakish pass in the 52nd minute, this time from Chanel Harris-Tavita, who missed the conversion once again.
With 17 minutes to play, Samoa scored their third after a quick series of passes before finding Tabuai-Fiddow, who raced away and finished with his signature celebration.
Ronald Volkman was unable to convert, so Tonga retained the lead at 14-12.
Samoa started to build momentum, with Volkman busting through a couple of tackles to score after some brilliant hands from Junior Paulo and Spencer Leniu, taking an 18-14 lead.
Tonga pulled off another stunner to steal the lead after Addin Fonua-Blake took a pass right off the ruck before powering over Leniu and Connelly Lemuelu to score, leaving Katoa to convert for a 20-18 lead.
With two minutes to play, Samoa launched a raid on the left edge, and Fa’alogo went agonisingly close, but his foot grazed the sideline.
In the final minute, Samoa again had a shot at stealing the win when Tabuai-Fidow successfully contested a high kick. Still, his pass to Fa’alogo travelled forward, and Tonga hung on for an emotional 20-18 victory.
The Tongans will move on to a semi-final against New Zealand in Newcastle on Friday night while Samoa will meet Australia in Sydney on Saturday.
SOURCE: NRL
