Rugby League World Cup: Young guns star as Tonga defeat Papua New Guinea
An explosive, man-of-the-match display has put one Papua New Guinea star firmly in the shop window for NRL teams on the hunt for a game-changing weapon.
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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.”
YOUNG TALENT TIME
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.
Taking the ball from his own 40m line, Koula used his pace to get outside, break the line and throw a suspect pass to centre Will Penisini to score untouched and even the scores a 6-all.
THE COMEBACK
Trailing 18-6, the Kumuls scored a brilliant try to open the second half following a bullocking run from hooker and man of the match Edwin Ipape.
The Leigh Centurions No.9 jumped out of dummy half at halfway and ran through five players before setting it up for halfback Lachlan Lam to stroll over and reduce the margin to 18-12.
Ipape spent the 2020 pre-season with Manly on a train-and-trial contract, featuring in the NRL 9s tournament, before trying his luck in England.
At 23, Ipape recently signed a contract extension until the end of 2025 with Leigh, who he helped earn promotion to the Super League as he was named the Championship player of the year.
His performance for PNG is sure to draw the attention of NRL teams.
SUPER BOOT MARTIN
Move over Hazem El-Masri, there’s a new sharpshooter in rugby league.
Former Canterbury back-rower Rhyse Martin has kicked 41 consecutive goals, last missing an attempt on July 9 for Leigh.
His 41st, and arguably most important, evened the scores at 18-all for the Kumuls after Dan Russell took advantage of a Koula knock-on at his own goal line to go over in the corner from the ensuing scrum.
Martin, the Leeds Rhinos forward, had earlier opened the scoring after five-eighth Kyle Laybutt delivered him a nice a short pass and he then targeted rookie Katoa close to the line and brushed him aside to go over.
DENIED TRIES
Papua New Guinea will rue missing three clear scoring chances.
Ipape went close in the 11th minute when he dived over from dummy half, but knocked on getting the ball down.
Then winger Dan Russell put a foot on the touch line when going over to score in the corner in the 26th minute.
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.”
SPOTTED
Former Parramatta Eels cult hero Fuifui Moimoi among the crowd in the sea of red, cheering on Tonga. The 42-year-old has been playing for the Rochdale Hornets, a second-tier team based just north of Manchester.
THE QUOTE
“I always dreamt of playing for Tonga, to score a try at my first World Cup in my first game I’m very humble by it and I’m very grateful to have this opportunity,” Tonga forward Keaon Koloamatangi.
WHAT’S NEXT
Tonga play Wales on Tuesday morning, while Papua New Guinea face the Cook Islands on Wednesday. Assuming they both win those games, Tonga will set up a quarter-final against rivals Samoa, while the Kumuls will book a spot in the final eight against England.
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Originally published as Rugby League World Cup: Young guns star as Tonga defeat Papua New Guinea
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