Tonga stunned England in their Rugby League World Cup opener in Perth, overturning expectations with a 24-16 victory that disrupts England’s campaign before it has fully begun. The Pacific island nation combined sharp attacking moves and solid defence, supported by a fervent home crowd, to inflict a major upset on the third-ranked side in the world.
England, ranked third, had been favoured to win against Tonga, who sit fifth in the rankings. The loss leaves Brian McDermott’s squad needing to regroup quickly for upcoming fixtures against France and Papua New Guinea to keep hopes of a top-two finish in the combined Group B-C alive and still chase a semi-final berth.
The match slipped away from England early on. The turning point came around the 22-minute mark when Victor Radley knocked on just yards from the Tongan try line following a punishing tackle from Tonga captain Jason Taumalolo. This turnover led directly to a try by Stefano Utoikamanu, who burst through after a precise inside pass from Isaiya Katoa that cut out two England defenders, George Williams and Kai Pearce-Paul. The Tongan supporters in Perth erupted as their team took the lead.
England’s frustrations mounted amid a series of mistakes and what seemed to be questionable refereeing decisions. Katoa converted two penalties after calls that raised eyebrows. Harry Smith was penalised for obstruction when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ran into him, and Herbie Farnworth conceded a penalty just before half-time by tripping Watene-Zelezniak off the ball.
England managed to regroup at the interval and responded with a strong attacking move early in the second half, which led to a try from full-back AJ Brimson. Brimson's score came after a powerful 20-metre run by Young, who shrugged off two defenders to set up the try. England then pressed hard, battering Tonga’s defence with sustained attacks, but the Tongans held firm.
Tonga capitalised on a moment of fortune when Haumole Olakau'atu seized on a grubber kick that initially looked uncertain but was pushed behind England’s line to register a try. Shortly after, Tolutau Koula powered over for a second Tongan try, delivering a one-two punch that unsettled England further.
England’s Young crossed out wide, offering a glimmer of hope late on, but Tonga sealed their victory with a fourth try. Katoa’s perfectly weighted grubber kick found Olakau'atu exploiting defensive gaps to score his second try of the match, wrapping up the upset.
Katoa’s influence was clear throughout the game. His kicking game pinned down England’s defenders, especially Zach Eckersley, and his ability to speed up or slow down play kept Tonga in control. Previously, Tonga’s strength lay in their physicality, but Katoa added a layer of tactical finesse that made them a more dangerous threat.
Elsewhere in Group B-C, co-hosts Papua New Guinea defeated Lebanon 42-18, adding to the competitive picture shaping up in the group.
England’s defeat leaves their tournament ambitions in the balance, with pressure mounting ahead of their next matches. Tonga’s unexpected win, buoyed by Katoa’s performance and a passionate crowd in Perth, has reshuffled expectations for the group.
According to BBC Sports.
