Tonga edge Samoa 20-18 at Parramatta in Rugby League World Cup
On 1 November 2026 at Parramatta, Tonga defeated Samoa 20-18 in the Rugby League World Cup, a result that confirmed England’s exit from the tournament on points difference.
The match was played amid intense pre-game pageantry, with Tonga and Samoa flags visible across the eastern seaboard and the streets of Parramatta five hours before kick-off crowded with supporters. Both sides entered the game effectively through to the final four but treated the derby as a fiercely contested tie; ticket activity ranged from high-priced resale sales to fans who paid $20 for entry. The sell-out crowd set a ground record of 29,411 and created a raucous atmosphere.
Early in the contest Brian To’o produced explosive darts while Tongan forwards Jason Taumalolo and Addin Fonua-Blake provided powerful carries that allowed both teams to build attacking platforms. Isaiya Katoa linked play from halfback for Tonga, and Robert Toia opened the scoring with a side-stepping solo run down the right centre channel 27 minutes in. Samoa responded after Jarome Luai’s big hit on Spencer Leniu and a Luai kick was fumbled by Tonga; Stephen Crichton created the opportunity that sent Brian To’o in for Samoa’s first points.
After the interval Toia finished a fluid left-side move and Katoa’s conversion pushed Tonga to a 14-4 lead. Samoa then produced a sequence initiated by another Luai high kick, a fumble and an overhead pass from Chanel Harris-Tavita that set up To’o’s second try; Harris-Tavita pulled a hamstring hitting a post with the conversion attempt and hobbled away, his World Cup done. Lehi Hopoate knocked the ball out of Salesi Foketi’s hands as he plunged over the line in a passage of heavy contact between the teams.
Samoa continued to threaten down the left when Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was sent in untouched but replacement kicker Ronald Volkman missed three attempts from the tee. Volkman then completed a team move of his own, finished a run and kicked to make it 18-14 with 10 minutes remaining. Tonga hit back when Addin Fonua-Blake powered through tired tacklers to level, and Katoa’s conversion put Tonga back in front.
Tonga’s veteran forwards, including Tyson Frizell and Taumalolo, showed signs of exhaustion but produced decisive defensive work late in the match. Two minutes from time Sua Fa’alogo’s toe was ruled to have touched the touchline and his try was disallowed, effectively ending Samoa’s chances.
World Cup organisers, the Australia Rugby League Commission, saw the event boosted by thousands of Lebanese fans and by Lebanon’s earlier 24-20 golden point win over France in the second game of the triple-header. The ARLC sold out the Parramatta fixture, and Peter V’landys and Co will now be considering how to stage similar events in future.
Samoa will face the Kangaroos across Sydney on Sunday, while Tonga take on the Kiwis in Newcastle in Saturday’s semi-final.