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Tonga have survived a spirited comeback from Papua New Guinea to avoid another Pacific nation disaster in the Rugby League World Cup.
Young guns Tolutau Koula and Isaiya Katoa inspired Tonga to a 24-18 win that keeps them on track for a semi-final clash with England.
But it didn’t come easy.
Tonga gave up an 18-6 halftime lead and needed a late try to seal it.
With scores tied with three minutes to play, a botched field goal set-up, a broken down play from 10m out that resulted in eight passes and an improvised grubber from prop Siosiua Taukeiaho allowed Keaon Koloamatangi to storm through to dive on the ball and give the Tongans a 24-18 victory at St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium.
“I thought he was outstanding, Keaon,” Tonga coach Kristian Woolf said of Koloamatangi.
“He played really good minutes. Playing nine there because obviously Siliva Havili’s injured at the minute. He did a great job and had a real influence on the game.
“If you have a look at the try just before halftime in the try to win the game, he was involved in both of those.”
As well as naming Koloamatangi at hooker, Woolf sprung another selection surprise, naming Penrith teenager Katoa at five-eighth in his international debut.
The Dolphins-bound 18-year-old is yet to make his NRL debut but Woolf, who will join Wayne Bennett’s expansion franchise as an assistant at the conclusion of World Cup, had no hesitation in giving Katoa a start.
Katoa helped lead Penrith’s SG Ball and Jersey Flegg sides to grand final victories in 2022. Now he can add a World Cup victory and a try to that list of achievements.
In the 37th minute Katoa started and finished a brilliant play, creating the linebreak for Moses Suli on Tonga’s 35m line, then supporting him back on the inside to score and give Tonga back-to-back tries after Gold Coast’s Moeaki Fotuaika crashed over on the previous set.
“Wayne Bennett will have a smile as wide as Christmas Day seeing his star recruit get over for this Tongan team,” former international James Graham said of Katoa’s effort.
Fullback Koula was arguably the most impressive. His kick return punished the Kumuls’ staggered defensive line in the 14th minute after they were forced to kick from their own 15m line.
The most controversial moment came in the 54th minute when the video referee ruled that Rodrick Tai had put the ball down on the sideline.
Tai looked certain to score, but a desperate attempt from winger Sione Katoa pushed the winger towards the touchline where, remarkably, the ball-carrying arm hit the corner post and came back infield, but not enough for the video referee to overturn the on-field decision of no try.
“That’s a try for me,” Graham said in commentary, before taking issue with Katoa’s tackle. “By the letter of the law he doesn’t attempt to wrap his arm around the attacker there. And I’ve got to say, I feel the Kumuls have been hard done by.
“This could be costly for the Kumuls.”
Kumula coach Stanley Tepend agreed with Graham. “We thought it was a try, but we respect the decision,” Tepend said. “It could have gone either way but apart from that we had other opportunities in the first half to score a couple of tries. We will go back and work harder again in our next game.”
