The biggest game of the Rugby League World Cup to date lived up to the hype as Tonga put paid to a Samoan fightback and claimed a 20-18 win on Sunday night.
The Pacific rivals went hammer and tongs in front of a sold-out 29,411 crowd at CommBank Stadium from the moment they lined up for the Sipi Tau and Siva Tau.
And now Tonga will battle New Zealand for a spot in the final while Samoa must face Australia in the semis, in a repeat of the 2022 decider.
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Samoa scored four tries to Tonga’s three on Sunday night but were made to rue three missed conversions — two by Chanel Harris-Tavita, who was injured on the second attempt and left the game.
Back-up playmaker Ronald Volkman stepped up and missed his first attempt but gave Samoa a four-point with 10 minutes remaining when he converted his own powerful try.
All the momentum was with Samoa but a Sua Fa’alogo error just minutes later proved costly as Addin Fonua-Blake scored and snatched victory in Tonga’s next set.
Fa’alogo appeared to have redeemed himself when he crossed in the corner with just two minutes left in the game.
But it went upstairs and the first replay showed he had stepped on the line, with Samoa unable to create a genuine chance in the last 60 seconds.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow came up with the ball after a last-ditch bomb but threw it forward.
“The scenes here are incredible. Hamiso gets the ball in his hands, just can’t get the pass where it needs to go out to Sua Fa’alogo,” Luke Keary said in commentary on Channel 7.
Emotional at the sight of the red, blue and white flags in the crowd, Tonga captain Jason Taumalolo said it was “probably one of the best games” he had ever been involved in.
“We knew tonight was going to be a physical game and it was going to be tough right from the start,” he said.
“We got ourselves into a little lead but Samoa, being the electrifying team they have been in the last two games, came out and really put points and made it a contest right till the last minute.
“Big shoutout to the Samoan boys for tonight. It’s a bloody tough game.”
A repeat match-up in the final would not disappoint but both sides face a difficult task coming down from Sunday night’s electrifying atmosphere and getting back up to face the Kiwis and Kangaroos next weekend.
“If these two sides can play like they did today, they’ll push New Zealand and Australia all the way,” James Graham said on Channel 7.
“There was nothing on the line today. Both teams if they draw the game or win by 12 or whatever, they play semi-finals.
“They didn’t (do that) because there’s more at stake here. If either of these teams can repeat what they did today next week then New Zealand and Australia are in serious trouble.”
Samoa captain Junior Paulo is facing match review scrutiny after a shoulder charge in the first half.
But he still had a smile on his face as he apologised to fans for the defeat.
“Sorry we didn’t get the job done but at he end of the day this is what it’s all about — making both nation’s people proud,” Paulo said.
“It was one of those games you were looking forward to before the tournament even started.
“Big credit to the Tongan boys, they showed up tonight and we knew it was going to be a tough one. All love and blessings to both nations.”
Samoa playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita limped out of the game — and potentially the Rugby League World Cup entirely — after grabbing at his left hamstring after a missed conversion attempt in the second half.
“This is big, this is massive news for Samoa in the context of this tournament,” Luke Keary said in commentary on Channel 7.
Andrew Voss added: “Chanel Harris-Tevita will go straight from the field, that could be his World Cup over.”
Wingers Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Jojo Fifita both crossed but had tries chalked off on review before Sydney Roosters star Rob Toia continued his incredible run of form to score Tonga’s opener in the 26th minute.
Haumole Olakau’atu ran over the top of Samoan five-eighth Jarome Luai before getting the ball away to Toia, who raced home from 50m out and dotted down under the sticks.
Halfback Isaiya Katoa converted then added a penalty after Jermaine McEwen was ruled to have interfered at the ruck.
But late in the first half, Luai put up a fifth-tackle kick that was batted back to Stephen Crichton, who flicked a late offload away for Brian To’o to score.
Fifita hit back for Tonga soon into the second half before Harris-Tavita flicked another Luai kick out to To’o to keep Samoa in the game.
Harris-Tavita struck the upright with his attempt then left the game with his injury.
Volkman was thrown into the action and the substitute No.6 was soon called upon to take a conversion that offered the chance to level the scores.
It came after Luai and Fa’alogo combined down the left before Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow finished the move.
Volkman was unable to add the extra points but pushed his side ahead when he pinballed through some tired Tonga defenders to score. He then converted his own try, with less than 12 minutes left.
But just as Samoa looked set to hang on, Fonua-Blake rampaged through the middle of the defence to snatch victory for Tonga.
Rugby League World Cup semi-finals
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
New Zealand v Samoa (women) – 5.45pm AEDT
New Zealand v Tonga (men) – 8.05pm AEDT
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Australia v Fiji (women) – 5.45pm AEDT
Australia v Samoa (men) – 8.05pm AEDT
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