Samoa 20 Tonga 18, Rugby League World Cup quarter final

Sione Katoa’s late try brought Tonga back to within two points of the men in blue to set up a tense finish, but Samoa held on for a deserved 20-18 victory in front of a crowd of 12,674.

Jayden Su’a and Jarome Luai touched down in the first half for Matt Parrish’s side, who will now face England in the semi-finals in London next Saturday.

Brian To’o then scored in the second half, with Tonga’s other tries coming from Daniel Tupou and Siosiua Taukeiaho.

Sports reporter Matt Turner tells the full story here...

AN occasion that was everything it promised to be and more.

What an honour it was for our town to host such a blockbuster jamboree of the sport it holds so dear.

It wasn’t quite Mount Smart in Auckland but it was made to feel like that at times as the vibrant atmosphere belied the wet Warrington weather.

Crowds have been an unwanted talking point throughout this tournament but it was only fitting The Halliwell Jones Stadium was as busy as it has been since pre-Covid to witness two emerging titans of the international game.

Fans from both sides meant the terraces were awash with colour and noise, with areas around the stadium bouncing even hours before kick off.

Tonga fans at The Halliwell Jones Stadium (Image: SWpix.com)

Was this up there with one of the more memorable all-round occasions in this ground’s recent history? You’d have to say it was.

From the spine-tingling pre-match Siva Tau vs Sipi Tau showdowns to bone-crunching tackles and everything in between, everyone inside the ground and watching further afield were gripped from first hooter to last.

The Samoan Siva Tau and Tongan Sipi Tau performed pre-match (Image: SWpix.com)

On the field, this was much more like the Samoa everyone England fan might turn up in Newcastle to spoil their party on the opening day.

They have been recovering slowly since that 60-6 humiliation on Tyneside but here, they served notice that next week’s semi-final clash at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium should be much closer to the 50-50 bout many predicted.

Fast, powerful and lively around the ruck, Tonga struggled to contain them at times and those efforts were led by Josh Papali’i.

The Canberra Raiders and Queensland enforcer is one of the best front rowers in the world and he showed exactly why here with an incredible display.

Josh Papali'i in action for Samoa against Tonga (Image: SWPix.com)

In reply, Tonga struggled to get going – perhaps indicative of their tournament as a whole aside from last week’s blow-out against the Cook Islands.

It is difficult to remember them putting together sustained periods of pressure, with their efforts being pretty easily repelled by an enthusiastic Samoan defence.

Even though, they took it right until the end in what was the game of the tournament by a country mile

And so ends Warrington’s involvement in this Rugby League World Cup – an involvement which started with a half-empty Halliwell Jones Stadium and ended with it being shook to its very foundations by a collection of some of the world’s finest players.

Who knows when we’ll have such a gathering of greats on these shores again.

The Halliwell Jones Stadium during Samoa vs Tonga (Image: SWPix.com)