THE CULTURAL and commercial monster that Tonga-Samoa rugby league matches have become transformed into King Kong at CommBank Stadium tonight as the men in red scored an enthralling two point victory.
Tonga will play New Zealand in the first men’s semi-final at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday while Australia meets Samoa at Allianz on Sunday.
With 20 minutes to go, Tonga was clinging to a 14-8 lead amid almost once-in-a-lifetime scenes – the biggest ever crowd at the venue providing a deafening soundscape for the entire 80 minutes.
After an early disallowed try to Tonga’s JoJo Fifita, centre Robert Toia roared into the clear and unfurled some dazzling footwork to score the first touchdown at the 27 minute mark.
Two minutes short of halftime, Jarome Luai’s crossfield kick was batted back by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, with Stephen Crichton then shovelling the ball out to winger Brian To’o who crossed on the half-volley.
Tonga were good for their 8-4 lead and even better for a 10-point lead seven minute into the second half when an overlap was created for winger Fifita and he took full advantage.
During the next six minutes, Samoa fought hard to get back into the match and there were some thunderous confrontations.
But they succeeded in their mission, scoring the next three tries.
First, Chanel Harris-Tevita lobbed a pass over his head, unsighted, from a contested kick and To’o got his second.
But the Warriors’ Harris-Tevita pulled a hamstring in his unsuccessful conversion attempt and came straight off.
His replacement Ronald Volkman would play a huge role in what happened next.
There may have been a forward pass in the lead-up to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s 63rd minute try, when he backed up Sua Fa’alogo’s break.
After some stunning skill on the right by his team-mates six minutes later, Volkman scored using sheer determination to edge his team in front.
With six minutes to go, Tonga captain Addin Fonua-Blake beat Spencer Leniu one-on-one from close range and with a disallowed Fa’alogo try just short of halftime, that was the end of the scoring in this epic encounter.
TONGA 20 (Toia Fifita Fonua-Blake tries Katoa 4 goals) beat SAMOA 18 (To’o 2 Tabuai-Fidow Volkman tries Volkman goal) at CommBank Stadium. Crowd: 29,411.
Teams:
TONGA: Lehi Hopoate (Manly); Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (NZ Warriors), Tolutau Koula (Manly), Robert Toia (Sydney Roosters), Sosefo Fifita (Gold Coast); Tui Lolohea (Huddersfield), Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins); Addin Fonua-Blake (Cronulla), Salesi Foketi (Sydney Roosters), Jason Taumalolo (capt, North Queensland), Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly), Siua Wong (Sydney Roosters), Tyson Frizell (Newcastle).
Reserves: Soni Luke (North Queensland), Stefano Utoikamanu (Melbourne), Demitric Vaimauga (NZ Warriors), Taniela Paseka (Manly), Leka Halasima (NZ Warriors), Latu Fainu (Wests Tigers), Paul Alamoti (Penrith), Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Dolphins), Sione Katoa (Cronulla).
SAMOA: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins); Brian To’o (Penrith), Izack Tago (Penrith), Stephen Crichton (Canterbury), Sualauvi Fa’alogo (Melbourne); Chanel Harris-Tavita (NZ Warriors), Jarome Luai (capt, Wests Tigers); Francis Molo (Dolphins), Benaiah Ioelu (Sydney Roosters), Junior Paulo (capt, Parramatta), Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins), Jermaine McEwen (Newcastle), Francis Manuleleua (Newcastle).
Reserves: Jazz Tevaga (Wakefield), Spencer Leniu (Sydney Roosters), Shawn Blore (Melbourne), Ata Mariota (Canberra), Clayton Faulalo (Manly), Ronald Volkman (Parramatta), Pasami Saulo (Newcastle), Enari Tuala (Canterbury), Deine Mariner (Brisbane).
Referee: Adam Gee.
