Samoa is just one victory away from securing a spot at the 2026 World Cup after defeating Tonga 30-16 in Suva on Saturday night.
Samoa started strong, leading by 10 points within the first ten minutes. However, they faced a determined comeback from Tonga, who managed to close the gap to just four points with 15 minutes remaining in the match. Samoa ultimately pulled ahead, scoring two late tries to finish with a comfortable lead.
Next, Samoa will compete against the winner of the Pacific Bowl match between Fiji and Cook Islands, scheduled for November 3 in Auckland. The winner of that matchup will earn qualification for the RLWC 2026. Unfortunately for Tonga, their hopes of qualifying are now dashed.
While Samoa appeared to be the dominant team for much of the game at HFC Bank Stadium, they struggled to put Tonga away and made several critical errors. The team benefitted from impressive performances by Titans forward Sienna Lofipo, former Jillaroo Evania Pelite, and veteran Kiwi Fern Annetta-Claudia Nu’auasala, with both Jessica Patea and Gold Coast rookie Sarina Masaga scoring two tries each.
After a quick start from Masaga and Lofipo, along with a penalty goal from Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, Tonga managed to gain their footing around the 20-minute mark. Tonga’s Filomina Hanisi scored next, narrowing the margin to six points. Lofipo played a pivotal role in a crucial turnover shortly before halftime, setting the stage for Patea and Masaga to score two quick tries. However, Samoa’s chance to extend their lead was missed when Piliae-Rasabale lost the ball right after the break, allowing Tonga’s Manilita Takapautolo to score and reduce the deficit to ten.
The momentum shifted again when Tonga’s Lavinia Tauhalaliku scored early in the second half, bringing them within four points. A crucial opportunity for Tonga to even the score slipped away when Takapautolo dropped the ball right after a knock-on by Pelite, allowing Samoa to regain control.
Samoa then ramped up their attack, with Patea scoring again and Lindsay Tui sealing the game with another try, ensuring a definitive win with five minutes left on the clock.