Samoa is one victory away from securing their spot in the 2026 World Cup following a 30-16 win against Tonga on Saturday night in Suva.
After a strong start that saw them lead by 10 points within the first 10 minutes, Samoa faced a determined comeback from Tonga, who narrowed the gap to just four points with 15 minutes left. However, Samoa finished strong, scoring two late tries for a convincing win.
Now, Samoa will compete against the winner of the upcoming Pacific Bowl match between Fiji and Cook Islands. The decisive game will take place in Auckland on November 3, with the victor earning a place in the RLWC2026.
This defeat ends Tonga’s hopes of qualifying for this tournament cycle. Although Samoa began the match in control, they struggled at times to maintain their lead due to several mistakes.
Key performances came from Titans’ forward Sienna Lofipo, former Jillaroo Evania Pelite, and seasoned Kiwi Fern Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala, with both Jessica Patea and Gold Coast rookie Sarina Masaga scoring twice.
After quick tries from Masaga and Lofipo, along with a penalty goal from Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, Tonga began to find their footing around the 20-minute mark, showing resilience in just their fourth Test match since 2008.
As Tonga closed the score with Filomina Hanisi’s try, Lofipo turned the tide late in the half, leading to two quick scores from Samoa, first by Patea and then by Masaga. However, a mistake from Samoa allowed Manilita Takapautolo to score for Tonga, shrinking the margin at halftime.
Tonga continued to push, getting within four points with Lavinia Tauhalaliku’s try early in the second period. They nearly equalized after a knock-on from Pelite but failed to capitalize when Takapautolo dropped the ball.
Samoa rebounded with a brilliant play down the right that resulted in Patea’s try, and Lindsay Tui added another just before the final whistle, ensuring Samoa’s solid victory.