Full Time
80:00
1:30am Mon October 31, 2022
Pool Matches - Week 3 - Riverside Stadium, Middlesborough - Crowd: 8342
80min

Conversion: Cook Islands
Kicked by Tinirau Arona.

Arona gets the farewell kick. He nails it. FULLTIME.

Tonga lead Tonga 92 - 10 Cook Islands
79min

Try: Cook Islands
Scored by Tinirau Arona. Kick to come.

INTERCEPT! Brad Takairangi snatches the ball and hands it off to Tinirau Arona to score in his final game.

Tonga lead Tonga 92 - 8 Cook Islands
78min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

Katoa converts from hi front.

Tonga lead Tonga 92 - 4 Cook Islands
77min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Talatau Amone. Kick to come.

Talatau Amone gets in on the scoring.

Tonga lead Tonga 90 - 4 Cook Islands
75min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

Katoa back at the tee. Must've felt lonely going a few minutes without a conversion. He lines it up. Nails it.

Tonga lead Tonga 86 - 4 Cook Islands
74min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Viliami Penisini. Kick to come.

Penisini just weaves past the defence and slams down his fourth.

Tonga lead Tonga 84 - 4 Cook Islands
71min

Takairangi passes it forward to Iro.

71min

CHALLENGE from Tonga about the kick and a knock on. INCONCLUSIVE CHALLENGE! Tonga will keep their use.

69min

Conversion: Cook Islands
Attempted by Steven Marsters.

Now he will step up to kick his own score. He hooks it.

Tonga lead Tonga 80 - 4 Cook Islands
69min

Try: Cook Islands
Scored by Steven Marsters. Kick to come.

GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Yes they will! Steven Marsters just got the ball in before he hit the sideline.

Tonga lead Tonga 80 - 4 Cook Islands
69min

VIDEO REFEREE! Steven Marsters might have broken the Cook Islands duck egg. Just checking the sideline.

68min

PENALTY COOK ISLANDS! Late hit.

67min

Esan Marsters kicks early in the count and earns a dropout.

66min

Cook Islands go short.. and get a result!

65min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

Katoa curls over another.

Tonga lead Tonga 80 - 0 Cook Islands
64min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Daniel Tupou. Kick to come.

Daniel Tupou finishes off a backline move and dances over.

Tonga lead Tonga 78 - 0 Cook Islands
60min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

Katoa from mid range. Converts.

Tonga lead Tonga 74 - 0 Cook Islands
60min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Viliami Penisini. Kick to come.

GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! The knock back is cleared. Lolohea speeds downfield and it looked like a try to a forward but Penisini has snatched it.

Tonga lead Tonga 72 - 0 Cook Islands
60min

VIDEO REFEREE! Penisini might've got a hat-trick now. We might go back and check the error from earlier.

59min

Conversion: Tonga
Attempted by Isaiya Katoa.

Katoa misses. Also this is NOW Tonga's biggest win in International Mens Rugby League.

Tonga lead Tonga 68 - 0 Cook Islands
57min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Tuimoala Lolohea. Kick to come.

Lolohea finishes off another Tonga score. It was a wonderful break from Daniel Tupou who tried to find his support man who was run down.Tui had the easy work to scoot over.

Tonga lead Tonga 68 - 0 Cook Islands
55min

Tesi Niu knocked on another good Tonga play. Feeling it might've come back for an obstruction.

53min

We've had a few sets without points. That is your update for now.

49min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

Katoa kicks another.

Tonga lead Tonga 64 - 0 Cook Islands
48min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Tesi Niu. Kick to come.

Hat-trick for Tesi Niu! Moses Suli broke through and Niu finishes it off.

Tonga lead Tonga 62 - 0 Cook Islands
45min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

Katoa steps up to convert his own try. Nails it.

Tonga lead Tonga 58 - 0 Cook Islands
43min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Isaiya Katoa. Kick to come.

Tonga have picked up where they left off. They go the power play on last then it is swung inside for Isaiya Katoa to add his name.

Tonga lead Tonga 56 - 0 Cook Islands
40min

KICK-OFF! Tonga launch it into the Middleborough sky and Cook Islands get first use.

40min

Your updater has done some finger stretches and is back for the second half! Both teams are also back on the field. Will the Cook Islands find the line? or will Tonga rack up more points.

40min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

Katoa fittingly will have the final touch of the half. He has a mid range kick. Converts. HALFTIME.

Tonga lead Tonga 52 - 0 Cook Islands
39min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Felise Kaufusi. Kick to come.

Yes they can! Felise Kaufusi runs a good line and just walks over.

Tonga lead Tonga 50 - 0 Cook Islands
39min

PENALTY TONGA! One final chance for something.

38min

Tetevano loses it in contact.

37min

PENALTY COOK ISLANDS! Offside.

35min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

Katoa from mid range. Two more.

Tonga lead Tonga 46 - 0 Cook Islands
34min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Tuimoala Lolohea. Kick to come.

Everything is coming off for Tonga! A kick to the right corner is tapped back, looked like everyone missed it, but Tui Lolohea stabs it ahead and chases through.

Tonga lead Tonga 44 - 0 Cook Islands
32min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

Katoa from in front, nails it.

Tonga lead Tonga 40 - 0 Cook Islands
31min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Viliami Penisini. Kick to come.

GREEN LIGHTS.. PENALTY TRY! Viliami Penisini is tackled without the ball when he wasn't far from the line. He joins the double party.

Tonga lead Tonga 38 - 0 Cook Islands
31min

VIDEO REFEREE! Hands from Keaon Koloamatangi who starts the move. Sione Katoa has eyes on the tryline then passes inside but his man might have been taken out. Klein called it a possible penalty try.

30min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

We are a broken record here. Katoa with the kick. As we pick up some fan noise on the mics. He might be getting a sore leg from all this kicking. He strides in, nails it.

Tonga lead Tonga 34 - 0 Cook Islands
29min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Tesi Niu. Kick to come.

Tonga are pouring it on! It is a break on the left side. The kick inside is swooped on by Tesi Niu for his second.

Tonga lead Tonga 32 - 0 Cook Islands
28min

Cook Islands have gone short on a few kick-offs. It doesn't work this time either. Tonga on the charge.

27min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

Katoa from the right side. He has been busy thus far. Mid range kick. He curls it over.

Tonga lead Tonga 28 - 0 Cook Islands
25min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Viliami Penisini. Kick to come.

Tonga are just styling now. A wonderful kick and Will Penisini scores!

Tonga lead Tonga 26 - 0 Cook Islands
24min

PENALTY TONGA! They are just rolling now.

23min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

Katoa has the tee again. He raises the flags again.

Tonga lead Tonga 22 - 0 Cook Islands
21min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Tesi Niu. Kick to come.

Tonga are flexing their muscle now. Fonua-Blake pops up the offload and it eventually finds it way to Tesi Niu who strolls over.

Tonga lead Tonga 20 - 0 Cook Islands
20min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

Another easy kick for Katoa and he salutes.

Tonga lead Tonga 16 - 0 Cook Islands
19min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Jason Taumalolo. Kick to come.

If his first four-pointer was power that was more luck. The ball hit the ground and the Tinga powerhouse is there to scoot over.

Tonga lead Tonga 14 - 0 Cook Islands
18min

PENALTY TONGA! High tackle.

17min

Cook Islands get the six again klaxon and once again are attacking the Tonga line. The kick from Takairangi is a bad one and the follow up from Iro isn't much better.

14min

Conversion: Tonga
Kicked by Isaiya Katoa.

Katoa has his second kick of the afternoon. Closer range this time and he slots it.

Tonga lead Tonga 10 - 0 Cook Islands
12min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Jason Taumalolo. Kick to come.

That was pure power from Jason Taumalolo. He just got up a full steam and just swatted away the Cook Islands defenders.

Tonga lead Tonga 8 - 0 Cook Islands
11min

PENALTY TONGA for a strip.

9min

Tesi Niu tries to sweep on a scrum play but spills it.

9min

RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! It is deemed to be playing at the ball by the video official. It will be NO TRY for a knock on.

9min

VIDEO REFEREE! Paul Ulberg streaks away with the ball but we need to check how Tonga lost possession.

8min

Sloppy end to the Cook Islands set there. The kick was touched back but there was nothing else on. Changeover.

6min

PENALTY COOK ISLANDS! Another easy piggyback for the Cook Islands side.

4min

PENALTY COOK ISLANDS! Offside.

2min

Conversion: Tonga
Attempted by Isaiya Katoa.

Isaiya Katoa has the kicking duties here. He misses.

Tonga lead Tonga 4 - 0 Cook Islands
1min

Try: Tonga
Scored by Daniel Tupou. Kick to come.

Tonga go the full length in the first set! Isayia Katoa who is back in the side slices through and positions Daniel Tupou for the score.

Tonga lead Tonga 4 - 0 Cook Islands

KICK-OFF! Here we go. Tonga with the first use.

Both the Pe'e and the Sipi Tau have helped raise the atmosphere here in Middlesborough. Now it's time for a big game in Group D.

Both teams are on the field and we're just hearing the wonderful anthems from each before we have the traditional dances and then it is rugby league time!

Good Morning! The middle game of Sunday World Cup action sees Tonga host Cook Islands! The big news for Tonga is the return of their captain, Jason Taumalolo, who is ready to rip and tear. Cook Islands will aim for the unlikely scenario of qualifying! Grab all your snacks and drinks and join us back here at half past the hour.

Referees & scorers:

Referee: Ashley Klein

Touch Judges: Kasey Badger, Aaron Moore

Video Referee: Robert Hicks

TONGA MEN (92)
Tries: Daniel Tupou (2), Isaiya Katoa, Jason Taumalolo (2), Tesi Niu (3), Viliami Penisini (4), Tuimoala Lolohea (2), Felise Kaufusi, Talatau Amone
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Isaiya Katoa (14/16)
Penalty Goals:

COOK ISLANDS MEN (10)
Tries: Steven Marsters, Tinirau Arona
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Steven Marsters (0/1), Tinirau Arona (1/1)
Penalty Goals: