WARRINGTON Wolves’ Halliwell Jones Stadium will be the stage for a mouthwatering men’s Rugby League World Cup quarter-final next weekend.
Following tonight’s crunching win by Samoa against France in Warrington, as Group A runners-up they will face Group D winners Tonga in an 'islands war' at The HJ next Sunday, kick-off 2.30pm.
It is being talked about as the potential game of the tournament, with collisions to create earthquakes alongside breathtaking skills.
🫣A MONSTER OF A HIT!
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 30, 2022
Junior Paulo with the biggest shot of RLWC2021 so far?#RLWC2021 | #SAMFRA | @BBCSport pic.twitter.com/DiAhE4KY3x
The Tonga and Samoa squads are stacked with NRL superstars who are desperate to represent their nations with passion and pride – and are going to give their all to progress to the semi-finals.
And both teams will have a colourful and noisy support base roaring them on, with the two cultural ‘war dances’ before kick-off setting the tone.
— Arch Stanton (@ArchStanton2020) October 30, 2022
Although Samoa, billed as tournament dark horses ahead of the tournament, were off the pace and embarrassed by England in the opening game at St James’ Park in Newcastle, they showed their true colours in tonight’s 62-4 demolition of France.
Powerful, explosive, well organised, ruthless and clinical all sum up the Samoans’ performance as they wowed The HJ’s biggest crowd of the tournament so far.
The fans lapped it up as they were treated to some bone-crunching action and spectacular tries.
And Tonga have grown through their three group games, showing in their 92-10 victory over Cook Islands in Middlesbrough this afternoon that they, too, are hitting form at exactly the right time.
The contest next Sunday will also mark the return to The Halliwell Jones Stadium for ex-Wire favourite Ben Murdoch-Masila, who has featured off the bench for Kristian Woolf’s side in the three group games.
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