Overview
- Tonga defeated Samoa 20-18 in the final pool match on Sunday, with Addin Fonua-Blake scoring the late match-winning try.
- The win set the semi-finals as Tonga v New Zealand and Samoa v Australia for next week.
- England’s tournament exit was confirmed because they required an implausible large Tonga victory on points difference after losing to Tonga in the opening round.
- Samoa suffered key setbacks during the game when playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita limped off with a suspected hamstring injury and captain Junior Paulo was put on report for an early shoulder charge.
- The match drew a sold-out crowd and intense Pacific community display in Parramatta, and both the match review and medical assessments will shape team selection and availability for the semis.