Tonga XIII have defeated Pacific rivals Toa Samoa 20–18 in a dramatic Rugby League World Cup encounter at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Sunday night.
The narrow two-point victory extends Tonga’s unbeaten campaign to three matches following earlier wins over England and Lebanon.
The highly anticipated Pacific showdown saw both teams locked in a fierce defensive battle, with neither side managing to score during the opening 25 minutes.
Tonga finally broke the deadlock in the 27th minute when centre Robert Toia produced an impressive individual try, beating Samoa fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Tonga entered the match having defeated England 30–12 and Lebanon 36–0, while Samoa had recorded commanding victories over France and Papua New Guinea.
The result also provides a measure of revenge for Tonga following Samoa’s 20–18 victory in their 2022 Rugby League World Cup quarter-final encounter.
The latest triumph adds another memorable chapter to the fierce sporting rivalry between the two Pacific nations as Tonga continue their pursuit of World Cup glory.
