Tonga Edges Samoa in Rugby League World Cup Thriller
Tonga secured a 20-18 victory over Samoa in their final group match, sealing England's elimination from the tournament.
Tonga defeated Samoa 20-18 in the final group match of the Rugby League World Cup in Sydney, a result that officially confirmed England's elimination from the international tournament.
Brian McDermott's English side had secured a 34-12 victory against Papua New Guinea earlier in the week, but their progression depended on Tonga defeating Samoa by a margin of more than 46 points. Having lost their opening match 30-12 to Tonga, England faced an uphill battle in the standings despite an 82-0 thrashing of France in round two.
The high-stakes encounter between the two Pacific giants also served as a celebration of culture and community, generating enormous excitement and unity within South Auckland's Pasifika community as supporters proudly displayed flags from their cars and homes.
During Sunday's match in Sydney, England's hopes flickered briefly when Tonga took an 8-0 lead following a nearly 50-meter sprint and opening try by Robert Toia, alongside conversions and a penalty kick from Isaiya Katoa. However, Brian To'o responded with a try for Samoa, narrowing the deficit to 8-4 by halftime.
In the second half, Jojo Fifita extended Tonga's lead to 14-4 before tries from To'o, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and Ronald Volkman pushed Samoa ahead by two points. Ultimately, Addin Fonua-Blake scored the decisive try to secure the win for Tonga.
With the pool stage concluded, Tonga advances to the semi-finals to face New Zealand. Meanwhile, Samoa moves on to play Australia in a rematch of the 2022 final.
The tournament structure, downsized from 16 teams to 10 after Australia stepped in as hosts following France's financial withdrawal in 2023, drew criticism from analysts and pundits regarding its format and lack of quarter-finals.
As the tournament heads into its final stages, the Rugby Football League announced plans to convene modern-era England legends and leadership to review the national team's international pathway and future performance following the World Cup exit.