Match Centre

Full Time at Cbus Super Stadium Samoa win 18-16 over Tonga. A strong crowd of 12 336 at the Gold Coast stadium were treated to a high quality test match between the pacific nations and they are showing their respect to the players by being extremely vocal. A match report will follow to detail this sensational test match. Thank you very much for your company tonight, good night.

Samoa 18-16

Tonga have run side to side and Sika Manu in an attempt to break the line from a Lolohea pass is brought down by three defenders 10m out. Eleven seconds to go and time is stopped. Murdoch-Masila is having to come off the field due to an ankle injury picked up in that play. Samoa will paly the ball 5m out.

Samoa 18-16

Hurrell is coming off the field and Tonga have 36 seconds and 1 tackle to produce points.

Samoa 18-16

Dominique Peyroux's shoulder made unintentional contact with Konrad Hurrell which wasn't illegal but will have hurt Hurrell. No penalty is ruled and Hurrell will be forced to play the ball once he receives his medical attention.

Samoa 18-16

In what is likely their last set Tonga reach the 20m line desperation football on fifth tackle. Konrad Hurrell has gone down and play is stopped. No penalty called but lets see what the video replay shows.

Samoa 18-16

Samoa kick the ball out to get a break and air in the lungs. One minute and 30 seconds for Tonga 70m away from the try line.

Samoa 18-16

Sam Kasiano comes off the field. Not injured, just extremely tired. A brilliant performance from the Canterbury Bulldog.

Samoa 18-16

Those two forwards showed masses of pride in their jersey and nation with that play. The video referee is ok with the play and Samoa will play the ball 20m out.

Samoa 18-16

Fonua was 10m left with an open tryline and he charges for the line in desperation. Coming to deny Fonua was a barnstorming Sam Kasiano and captain Frank Pritchard to sensationally stop the try and force Fonua out of bounds. It could possibly be ruled foul play as that is what the video referee will review.

Samoa 18-16

Tonga receive a penalty from 40m out and there's lots of confusion as to whether they chose a penalty goal or a kick to touch. Despite the 2 point margin Tonga decide to play on.

Samoa 18-16

Tonga have first tackle on the halfway line and they'll be tough to stop now.

Samoa 18-16

Only 30m were gained from Samoa as fatigue is showing. Sam Kasiano is left flat on the ground after Richie Fa'aoso put in a big shot. Video referee reviewed it but they well force Kasiano to play on.

Samoa 18-16

Big metres from Tonga in this set and Lolohea's low kick on fifth tackle is fielded by Sika Manu on the Samoa goal line.

Samoa 18-16

Tim Simona did stay on the field to play the ball but as much as he wanted to stay on he's been brought off the field moments later.

Samoa 18-16

The first play after the break was unfortunate as Albert Vete forces the ball loose and his chest beating fires up the Tongan fans.

Samoa 18-16

Tim Simona has been left holding his right ankle after it bent awkwardly in a tackle. 30m away from the Tongan line play is stopped. This may guarantee that he doesn't attempt another conversion kick this game.

Samoa 18-16

Taukeiaho for Tonga is penalised as he has jumped out from dummy half too early and knocked the ball away.

Samoa 18-16

The conversion kick was between halfway and the left touchline.

Samoa 18-16

Lolohea puts a bomb into orbit and Samoa wanted nothing of it even though it was in their own in goal. Fonua almost catches and plants the ball down but it was too difficult to catch. Samoa will get the ball 20m out.

Tonga 16-14

Feki gives all Tongan fans a heart attack as he drops the ball slightly backwards when fielding Samoa's fifth tackle kick deep into Tonga's half.

Tonga 16-14

A gain of 60m from Tonga on the first set after points. A short kick means Moga fields the ball on his 5m line and is tackled.

Tonga 16-14

Samoa are reeling now. Metres are coming at ease for Tonga and from 5m out underneath the posts Samoa are penalised for holding on to the tackled player too long.

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On fifth tackle a high bomb is expertly defused by Feki. Now Lolohea is in space, stepping two players and passing to Kata to gain 15m more metres. The game is opening up now.

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A long kick is required to gain field position for Tonga.

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The Samoan forwards are asserting their dominance, pushing players backwards.

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No try is ruled. The ball was knocked on short of the try line. Tonga will get the feed of a scrum 10m out.

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Michael Sio comes within 5m of the line and dives over next to the posts. The play is given to the video referee with the on field referee Ben Cummins thinking it's no try and a possible legal strip.

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Samoa are breaking tackles and dishing offloads. Tonga try to slow the play the ball down and are penalised. Sam Kasiano is very heated and ready to unleash on Tonga.

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Penalty to Samoa. Sauaso Sue is penalised for raking the ball but replays show it was a simple dropped ball. Regardless, Samoa with the ball 20m out and a full set.

Tonga 14-10

Daniel Vidot gains the football from a towering bomb on Tonga's fifth tackle. He takes the ball to the 20m line.

Tonga 14-10

Tonga have completed 6/8 sets in the second half and Samoa 1/2.

Tonga 14-10

A disappointing end to a great set. Leutele kicks straight into the arms of Lolohea from 10m out.

Samoa 10-4

Siosiua Taukeiaho charges at the line, spins and crashes over the line but he's lost it cold. Samoa rush to the 20m line to resume play.

Samoa 10-4

It's a penalty to Tonga. Three players in the tackle have ruled to have raked the ball out. Tonga in possession 15m out and six tackles.

Samoa 10-4

Joseph Leilua breaks a tackle and makes 10m on the right touch line. He drops the ball as well and that's a turnover.

Samoa 10-4

Tonga must have been told to run harder in the sheds at halftime. Three great runs to start. However on tackle four Sika Manu drops the football. Samoa get a scrum from 40m out.

Samoa 10-4

Both teams are now in position on the field and Samoa will kick off.

Samoa 10-4

It's been a tight first half on the scoreboard but the play from both sides has been rather free flowing. Samoa's decision to put their biggest forwards on and not worry about a specialist dummy half has produced some benefits. When Tonga have position in Samoa's 20m area they look dangerous and could put many points on in the second half. With the previous match between these two in 2013 resulting in Tonga winning 36-4, it's not likely to be a similar result. We're anticipating a close finish. Stayed tuned for kick off in approximately 5-10 minutes.

Samoa 10-4

That's halftime. Play will resume in approximately 13 minutes.

Samoa 10-4

On the first set after points finally Samoa produce a solid set to consolidate their points.

Samoa 10-4

Samoa on tackle two have quick ball movement to the left wing. Daniel Vidot had plenty of work to do but he makes it over the line. The play has been sent to the video referee to decide on grounding and a potential obstruction.

Samoa 6-4

Carlos Tuimavave uses the fourth tackle to place a kick in the corner and Lolohea is trapped there in the field of play. The next play results in Feki dropping the ball from 5m out but luckily Samoa also knock the ball on. A double knock on gives Samoa the ball in attack from 10m out.

Samoa 6-4

Tonga on fifth tackle had a 5 on 3 out left but a rushed Lolohea kick runs over the dead ball line. A big opportunity missed to score.

Samoa 6-4

Albert Vete personified a wrecking ball in making a line break in the middle of the field. Josh McGuire pulls him down and holds too long. He's lucky to still be on the field sometimes that is called as a 10 in the sin bin incident.

Samoa 6-4

Tautau Moga puts in a poor grubber kick on fifth tackle from 10m out. It gives Hurrell space to barge overe Tuimavave and makes 20m. Samoa defenders stay on him too long and are called for a penalty.

Samoa 6-4

Similarly to Samoa's first set after points Tonga disrespect the football and knock it on after making 60m in their set.

Samoa 6-4

The first set after points was sensational for all the wrong reasons. Frank Pritchard falls to the ground, gets up runs over halfway and puts a grubber kick in on third tackle. Turnover.

Samoa 6-0

As soon as I give Tuimavave a compliment he puts in a kick intended for the corner on fifth. It comes short for an uncontested catch for Feki but he drops it and forces a line dropout.

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Manu Ma'u charges right at the line on fifth tackle and a superb tackle from Carlos Tuimavave stops the front rower short. Carlos is showing as the best half on ground in the first 20 minutes.

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A half break from Joey Leilua is all for nothing after Kata recovers to knock the ball out from behind.

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Moga decides to leave a high ball and it bounces precariously towards the tryline. Feki comes close to retrieving the ball but it bounces out over the right touch line first.

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Both teams are feeling the effect of a fast first 17 minutes. It's one pass and a hit up from each team with a bomb on fifth tackle.

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Moga is tested with a bomb on fifth tackle and takes the ball whilst loosing his footing. On the goal line he's just makes it in the field of play.

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Feki looks comfortable under a Tuimavave high ball. Tonga to start their set from 80m out.

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On the first hit up Josh McGuire comes up with an excellent tackle to force the ball forward. Pressure released and Samoa will get the scrum.

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Tim Simona lands the drop out out of bounds on the full. Tonga gets the penalty from 10m out right in front.

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Last tackle for Tonga Lolohea juke past a couple of defenders and place a grubber kick into the in goal. Samoa are tackled in the in goal and the crowd are getting loud once again.

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Samoa quickly make their metres and Carlos Tuimavave takes on the line. Looming in support for a Tuimavave offload was Frank 'The Tank' Pritchard and he goes over the line untouched. The play was rightly ruled as obstruction because Sam Kasiano did interfere.

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Manu Ma'a tries to link up with Konrad Hurrell but the unexpected pass is dropped by Hurrell, Samoa with possession from 60m out.

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On tackle two Sam Kasiano attempted to be a five-eight and throws the ball too low for Pat Mata'utia and it rolls over the sideline.

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Tonga have conceded another penalty and that's number three in the first 8 minutes. From 35m out Samoa choose to run the ball.

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A grubber kick from 30m out by Joseph Leilua puts pressure on Jorge Taufua. He gets caught with the ball deep in his own half.

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No try for Tonga. Kata performed a double movement after being taken down short of the line by Carlos Tuimavave.

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Tonga go end to end in one set. Barnstorming runs gives Solomone Kata an opportunity to reach out and put the ball over the line for a try.

The play has been given to the video referee to review.

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Samoa are sending forward after forward at the line trying to barge their way over. Not result from the set though and Fonua takes it up for Tonga.

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Samoa's first entrance into Tonga's try line results in a penalty late in the count. Another set of six for Samoa from 10m out.

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Tonga make it back to half way on the fifth tackle. Lolohea's kick spirals into Kasiano's head and bounces over the sideline. Ruled not played at and Samoa get the scrum on halfway.

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Sam Kasiano and makeshift dummy half Josh McGuire have helped Samoa make 60m in their first set.

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Tonga are kicking off and we're underway!

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The anthems are finished, both teams have performed their haka, the crowd is loud and everyone is ready for some exciting rugby league.

The haka has really got the adrenaline pumping, we're expecting fireworks to begin the game.

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Good evening rugby league fans! We've got the second pacific test coming up with Samoa taking on their Tonga rivals. Both nations boast more current and future NRL stars than they've ever had which promises to make this an entertaining game. Kick off is approximately 10 minutes away at 7:40pm.

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