Samoa is just one victory away from securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup after defeating Tonga 30-16 in Suva on Saturday night.
The match started favorably for Samoa, who quickly gained a 10-point lead within the first 10 minutes. However, Tonga showed resilience, closing the gap to just four points with 15 minutes left. Ultimately, Samoa sealed their victory with two late tries to finish with a comfortable margin.
Samoa’s next challenge will be against the winner of the upcoming Pacific Bowl match between Fiji and Cook Islands, scheduled for November 3 in Auckland. The winner of that game will earn a spot at RLWC2026, while Tonga’s hopes of qualification have ended for this cycle.
Despite their strong start, Samoa struggled to maintain their lead and made some costly errors during the match. Standout performances from Titans’ forward Sienna Lofipo, former Jillaroo Evania Pelite, and long-time Kiwi Fern Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala bolstered their efforts. Jessica Patea and Gold Coast rookie Sarina Masaga each scored two tries.
After quick scores from Masaga and Lofipo early in the match, along with a penalty goal from Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, Tonga began to find their footing around the 20-minute mark and started to compete more vigorously. Following a try from Filomina Hanisi that narrowed the score, Lofipo initiated a turnover, leading to two quick tries for Samoa.
However, a misplay by Piliae-Rasabale on the restart allowed Tonga to score again, keeping the contest alive as they trailed by 10 at halftime.
Tonga continued to apply pressure in the second half, closing the gap further with a try from Lavinia Tauhalaliku. They even had a chance to equalize but squandered the opportunity with a knock-on.
Samoa eventually regained control with a dazzling play that resulted in a try for Patea, followed by a touchdown from Lindsay Tui, sealing the match with just five minutes remaining.