Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Isaiya Katoa extends Tonga’s lead by banging over a penalty from 24m out. He kicks it through the middle and right into his adorning fans, who are a sea of red.
Tonga 8, Samoa 0 – 36th minute
Toia! Try!
It might have taken 26 minutes but it was the worth the wait. Robert Toia has scored the opening try. He’s run 46m to score and he’s absolutely stood up Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Toia broke free after storming on an offload from his backrow teammate Connelly Lemuelu.
What a try and what a year Toia is having.
But Tonga will be under some pressure from the kick restart after mucking up the take. Their drop-kick restart isn’t successful either as Stephen Crichton climbs high to take it.
Toia’s at it again. He’s put a big shot on his Roosters teammate Spencer Leniu and the big forward drops it.
Tonga 6, Samoa 0 – 35th minute
Tonga’s been denied a try by the bunker. Jojo Fifita came close to scoring but his fingers came off the ball in the last frame. It’s the second blown try in as many sets of six.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is hammered by Junior Paulo on the 10m line. The winger was bringing it back for the second hit up and copped a huge shot from the big prop.
There’s a bit of push and shove, but nothing comes of it. The referee simply awards a penalty to the Tongans for the shot.
Less than a minute later and Watene-Zelezniak puts a foot on the sideline and is denied a try. They didn’t even go up to the bunker. No try, but Tonga have arrived.
They’ll get another shot though as Chanel Harris-Tavita kicks out on the full from about 42m out from his own line. So it’s another golden opportunity for Katoa and Tonga to post first points. But Robert Toia drops it half-a-metre out from the tryline. They’re treatening.
Brian To’o through the middle! Samoa with a big linebreak but they cough it up. It looked like Jojo Fifita came up with a big tackle for Tonga to help deny the Samoans.
But it’s an early warning sign not to give To’o an inch.
We’re underway in Parramatta!
Samoa had a slight bobble from the kick-off but Connelly Lemuelu dropped it backwards and they managed to settle it down nicely. Eventually, they got over halfway for their opening set of six before Jahrome Luai got he kick away.
Samoa with the early running but they also come up with the opening mistake, as Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow drops it on Tonga’s 40m line.
Tonga’s Siva Tau is being performed out in the middle. Samoa are standing in a straight line on the 30m line. Tonga are up near halfway. The crowd are up for this. It’s special being here in Parramatta for this one.
Now, it’s Samoa’s turn. They’re in a huddle on the 30m line and performing their Siva Tau. Junior Paulo – the veteran captain – is in the middle. Now they break away and march towards the halfway line.
Kick-off is just seconds away now.
It’s a picture of blue and red here tonight in Parramatta.
There’s still some fans making their way to their seats, but it’s loud and colourful. It’s picture perfect.
This is what the Rugby League World Cup is all about.
We’ve just heard the two teams read out of the PA system and every player’s name was met with applause and excitement. It’s like a scene out of European rugby. But it isn’t. It’s quite something. There are thousands of flags being waved around CommBank Stadium.
The two teams are out in the middle. We’re ready for the national anthems.
