Tonga face Lebanon at RLWC2026: injury blow tests England slayers
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Tonga meet Lebanon on Friday, October 23, at 8.05pm AEDT at CommBank Stadium in Sydney.
- Tonga beat England 30-12 last week in their first ever win over England. Lebanon lost 42-18 to Papua New Guinea.
- Star halfback Isaiya Katoa is out with an ankle injury. Latu Fainu starts in his place.
Tonga play Lebanon on Friday night in round two of the Rugby League World Cup. Kick-off is at 8.05pm AEDT (3.05pm PKT) at CommBank Stadium in Sydney.
Tonga chase a second straight win. Lebanon fight to stay in the tournament.
What happened
Tonga made the loudest noise of round one. They beat England 30-12 at HBF Park in Perth on October 17. It was their first ever win over England, according to Talanoa o Tonga.
That result turned Tonga into one of the teams to watch this month.
Lebanon had a much harder week one. They lost 42-18 to Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.
The score flattered no one. Lebanon now need a big lift to trouble a Tonga side full of confidence.
The two nations have met only once before at a World Cup. That was the 2017 quarter-final in Christchurch.
Tonga won 24-22 in a game that went down to the wire. Lebanon showed that night that they can push Tonga hard. Fans will hope for the same drama on Friday.
Team news: the injury blow
Tonga have a late problem at halfback. Isaiya Katoa is out with an ankle injury, NRL.com confirmed.
The star playmaker pulled the strings in the win over England. His loss is a real blow for the side.
Latu Fainu replaces him in the starting team. Fainu has just recovered from a pectoral injury of his own.
He will need to settle fast in a big game. Katoa is expected to return for the pool match against Samoa on November 1.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf has also shaken up the team. Tui Lolohea starts at five-eighth. Sione Katoa and Paul Alamoti come into the backline.
Stefano Utoikamanu starts at prop. Jason Taumalolo moves to lock, where his power can hurt Lebanon through the middle. Tyson Frizell gets a rest.
Lebanon have made just one change. Moustafa Dirani starts at hooker. Yehya Ayache moves to the bench.
Their spine keeps fullback Jacob Kiraz, winger Jason Saab and lock Alex Twal. All three will need big games if Lebanon are to compete.
Rugby league is a tough, physical sport. This match promises big hits in the middle of the field.
Lehi Hopoate starts at fullback for Tonga. He was strong against England.
Watch how he links with the big forwards. For Lebanon, eyes will be on Jacob Kiraz at the back. Kiraz must handle the kicks and start the attacks from deep.
Why this match matters: cousins collide
The best story of the night is a family one. Lehi Hopoate plays fullback for Tonga. His cousins Tony Francis and Tupou Francis play for Lebanon.
Tony starts on the wing. Tupou comes off the bench.
The boys grew up together in Sydney. They played junior football side by side.
Now they meet on a World Cup stage for opposite nations. Fox Sports reported the family banter has already started.
Tony Francis gave his cousin a warning. "I'm going to take his head off," he said. Lehi Hopoate laughed it off.
"I'm sure it's going to be fun," he told Fox Sports. Younger brother Tupou joined in. "Me and my brother are going after him," he said.
Their link is former NRL star John Hopoate. He is Lehi's father. He is also the brother of Tony and Tupou's mother.
John helped raise all three boys in the game. He took them to junior football from a very young age.
The Francis brothers' choice of Lebanon surprised their own father. Frank Francis said he never thought his sons would play for Lebanon.
The family is of Lebanese descent on his side. Coach Michael Cheika made the call that brought the boys in. Frank said his sons were full of joy when the chance came.
Tupou Francis made his international debut last week against Papua New Guinea. His father presented the jersey.
Tupou said he cried at the moment. "I can't put it into words," he said.
Now he faces his cousin for the first time in senior football. The family has split loyalties this week. Lehi said his family will cheer for both sides.
"I'm sure my family is going to be going for both teams," he said. That is the kind of story only international sport can give you.
What happens next
A second win would put Tonga in a strong spot. They would move closer to a semi-final place.
Then comes the big one. Tonga face Samoa on November 1 at CommBank Stadium.
Lebanon have less room to breathe. Another loss would hurt their hopes badly.
But they know they can trouble Tonga. The 2017 quarter-final proved it. Lebanon then face France on November 1.
The World Cup table is taking shape after round one. Australia beat New Zealand 24-22 in the opener.
Samoa beat France 78-4. Fiji beat the Cook Islands 40-12. Our look at the tournament opener has the full picture of week one.
If you want to watch every game live, our guide on how to watch the Rugby League World Cup lists the broadcast options.
Friday night also lets Tonga show the England win was no fluke. Tonga's 30-12 upset came from power through the middle and sharp kicking.
Lebanon must slow that down early. If they do not, the crowd in Sydney could see a long night for the Cedars.
Expect fireworks from the first whistle. A family rivalry, a World Cup race, and a team full of stars. That is a Friday night worth watching.
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