Tonga beat Samoa 20-18 in an epic Rugby League World Cup contest at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Sunday 1 November 2026, in front of a record crowd of 29,411. Both teams advanced to the semi-finals, but the result had a major consequence elsewhere: England, who needed Tonga to win by more than 40 points to stay alive, are out of the tournament before the semi-finals for the first time.

A game that swung again and again

Tonga broke the deadlock after 27 minutes when centre Robert Toia scored a solo try from 45 metres out, set up by a flick pass from Haumole Olakau'atu, and Isaiya Katoa's conversion made it 6-0. A Katoa penalty extended the lead to 8-0 before Brian To'o pulled one back for Samoa, leaving Tonga 8-4 ahead at half-time. Jojo Fifita powered over in the corner early in the second half to make it 14-4, but Samoa fought back through a second To'o try, then scores from Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Ronald Volkman that put them 18-14 in front.

Fonua-Blake settles it late

With eight minutes remaining, Addin Fonua-Blake took a pass one off the ruck and charged through Spencer Leniu and Connelly Lemuelu to level the scores, and Katoa's conversion restored Tonga's lead at 20-18. Samoa almost stole it at the death: Sua Fa'alogo went agonisingly close in the final minutes but his foot grazed the sideline, and in the last minute Tabuai-Fidow's pass to Fa'alogo travelled forward, allowing Tonga to hold on for an emotional victory.

What happens next

Tonga will now face New Zealand in a semi-final in Newcastle on Friday night, while Samoa meet Australia in Sydney on Saturday. For England, the wait is over in the cruellest way: Tonga did their part by winning, but the margin was never close to the record victory England needed. The two Pacific rivals, meanwhile, produced one of the great World Cup matches — four tries apiece, decided by goal-kicking and by millimetres on the sideline.

Sources: NRL.com; Love Rugby League.