Tonga stun England 30-12 in Rugby League World Cup opener
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Tonga beat England 30-12 in Perth in the World Cup opener.
- Isaiya Katoa kicked 14 points and set up key tries.
- England must now win their next two group games.
Tonga beat England 30-12 in Perth on Saturday. The game opened the Rugby League World Cup. It was Tonga's first win over England in history.
England were ranked third in the world. Tonga were ranked fifth. The rankings did not matter on the day.
Tonga were stronger, faster, and sharper when it counted.
The win puts Tonga in a strong spot. England now face two must-win games. One more slip could end their World Cup early.
What happened
Tonga led 10-0 at half-time. England scored no points in the first half. Tonga scored one try and kicked three goals from the boot.
The first big moment came after 22 minutes. Victor Radley knocked the ball on near Tonga's line. The knock-on came after a big hit from Tonga captain Jason Taumalolo.
Tonga won the ball back.
Two minutes later, Tonga scored. Isaiya Katoa passed inside. Stefano Utoikamanu ran through a gap.
He crossed the line for the first try.
A try is worth four points in rugby league. A goal after a try is worth two points. A penalty goal is also worth two points.
Katoa kicked the goal after the try. He then kicked two penalty goals. Tonga led 10-0 at the break.
England had chances in the first half. George Williams and Hugo Savala both came close to the line. But Tonga's defence held firm.
Time and again, Tonga stopped England short.
England also had trouble under high kicks. Katoa kept kicking high balls at Zach Eckersley. Eckersley was under pressure all night.
Tonga kept winning that battle.
Tonga lost a key player early. Latu Fainu left the field after 17 minutes. He had a pectoral strain.
A pectoral strain is an injury to the chest muscle. Early reports said staff were hopeful it was not serious.
England came out fast after the break. AJ Brimson scored in the 46th minute. Williams put Savala through a gap.
Savala linked up with Brimson. Brimson cut the lead to four points. The score was 10-6.
England looked in charge for a short time. Then the game turned again.
Tonga scored two tries in three minutes. Haumole Olakau'atu scored first. He poked at a blocked kick from Katoa.
The ball came back to him. He crossed the line.
Tolutau Koula scored next. Tui Lolohea kicked a neat grubber kick. A grubber kick is a low kick that rolls along the ground.
Koula chased it and scored.
Katoa kicked the goal and added a penalty. Tonga led 24-6 with 19 minutes left.
England hit back once more. Dom Young scored in the 63rd minute. Williams and Savala set him up again.
The score was 24-12. England had hope again.
But Katoa had the last word. He set up Olakau'atu for a second try. The try came from another Katoa grubber kick.
It put the game to bed with about ten minutes left.
The final score was 30-12 to Tonga.
Katoa was named player of the match. He scored 14 points with the boot. He kicked three goals and four penalties.
He also set up tries with his passing and kicking.
For Tonga, Olakau'atu scored two tries. Utoikamanu and Koula scored one each. For England, Brimson and Young scored one try each.
Savala kicked two goals.
The crowd at HBF Park in Perth was 18,302. Many fans backed Tonga. The noise lifted the Tonga team all night.
Why it matters
This was a huge win for Tonga. They had lost their last six games against England. Now they have beaten England for the first time.
The win also sends a warning to the big teams. Tonga are not just a fun side to watch. They are real contenders for the World Cup.
Their defence was strong. Their attack was smart. Their kicking game was the best on the field.
Tonga built the win on defence. England had lots of the ball in the first half. But Tonga kept a clean sheet for 40 minutes.
A clean sheet means no points conceded. That takes huge effort.
Then Tonga struck fast when their chances came. Two tries in three minutes broke England. That is what good teams do.
They punish mistakes.
For England, this was a bad start. Head coach Brian McDermott had just taken charge. This was his first game in the job.
His team made too many errors. They lost the ball at key times. They chased the score late in the game.
That led to more errors.
McDermott was honest after the game. He said England must win their next two games. He said there were positives to take.
But he said England must stop losing the ball.
England were also wasteful near the line. They reached Tonga's end many times. They scored only twice.
Against a top team, that is not enough.
The result also matters for the group table. England now sit behind Tonga. They cannot afford another loss.
The pressure is on from the very first week.
In the day's other group game, Papua New Guinea beat Lebanon 42-18. That result also shapes the group. England must now keep pace with the early winners.
The Rugby League World Cup opened with Australia and New Zealand earlier this week. Tonga have now added their own big story. The tournament is wide open.
Fans can follow the rest of the games. Here is how to watch the Rugby League World Cup. England fans will want to watch the next game closely.
What happens next
England play France next Saturday. The game is in Perth again. England must win it.
A loss would leave them in deep trouble.
After France, England play Papua New Guinea. That is their last group game. They need to win that too.
The group works in a simple way. England are in a combined six-team group table. The top two teams reach the semi-finals.
England must finish in the top two.
Tonga play Samoa on November 1. That game is at CommBank Stadium. It is already sold out.
It could decide who tops the group.
England also need some help from other results. If Tonga beat Samoa, that helps England. But England must first do their own job.
They must win two games in a row.
McDermott said his team can fix the errors. He said the team stood toe-to-toe with Tonga for most of the game. He said England must cut out the mistakes.
The next two weeks will test that claim.
Tonga can now play with calm and belief. They have beaten a big team. They know their plan works.
Their defence is strong. Their kicking game is sharp. Their stars deliver in big moments.
Katoa will be the man to watch. He ran the game against England. His kicking set up tries.
His goals kept the scoreboard moving. If he keeps this form, Tonga can go far.
For England, the next game is the biggest of the year so far. Win it, and the World Cup dream stays alive. Lose it, and the road home starts early.
Tonga came to this World Cup to make history. On Saturday in Perth, they did just that. England now have two games to save their campaign.
The next chapter comes fast.
Related stories
Why Is Altitude Sickness Worse for Some People?
Altitude sickness hits some people harder because of genetics, ascent speed, and prior history, not fitness level. Here is what raises risk
Why Do You Get Blisters When Hiking and How to Prevent Them
Friction plus moisture plus heat equals a blister. Learn why hiking breeds all three, and the boots, socks, and tape system that keeps
How to choose hiking boots for beginners: fit, features, and break-in
Beginners should buy for fit first: snug everywhere, tight nowhere, with a thumb's width at the toes. Here is how to size, test,