After an electric first Pacific Test match between the Fiji Batis and PNG Kumuls (which PNG won 26-14), everyone at Campbelltown Stadium readied themselves for the second fixture between Toa Samoa and Mate Ma'a Tonga. Both sides featured many NRL stars, and the fans in Sydney's west were as loud as any crowd we have heard before ahead of the fixture. There was something that everyone was expecting to be brilliant following the Rugby League World Cup in 2017, the pre-match war crys. They were so much better than expected. MORE: Pacific Test: Jarryd Hayne 'should be ashamed' for 'embarrassing and uninterested' performance for Fiji Batis Samoa's Siva Tau and Tonga's Sipi Tau were simply breathtaking. The atmosphere couldn't have been more electric following the passionate war dances as both nations came face to face. Just look below to see for yourself. Absolutely incredible. War Cries don't get any more passionate than this. 👏 #PacificTest pic.twitter.com/lTIU6jdsec — Wide World of Sports (@wwos) June 23, 2018 The game was just as scintillating as the passion shown before kick-off. Samoa scored very early on through James Gavet, but then Tonga ran in three unanswered tries from Siliva Havili, Ata Hingano and Konrad Hurrell. Fans were going nuts for the speed, skill and power being shown on the field. It was clear that both sides were going for it with all they had, and neither nation was going to leave anything at Campbelltown.<doc-sep>TONGA V SAMOA - LIVE BLOG Tonga has survived a late scare at Campbelltown Stadium to prevail 38-22 over Samoa on Saturday night. Taking a 36-6 lead early in the second half, it looked as though the match was in Tonga's keeping. But tries to Tim Lafai, Tyrone May and Jorge Taufua in the space of just 13 minutes had the scoreline back to 36-22, with Samoa well and truly in the hunt with still another 17 minutes on the clock. Tonga held their nerve, however, with a Sio Siua Taukeiaho penalty goal at the 71st minute the final points for the night. James Gavet scored the first try after just two minutes of the match, with Samoa taking an early 6-0 lead. Seven straight tries to Tonga either side of half-time, scored by Siliva Havili, Ata Hingano, Konrad Hurrell, Robert Jennings, Will Hopoate, Daniel Tupou and Tevita Tatola, gave them a commanding lead that Samoa just couldn't peg back. 9:20pm: That's full-time! Tonga get home 38-22 over Samoa. 9:11pm: Taukeiaho is successful with a penalty goal attempt. Tonga in front by 16 now with eight minutes to go. It looks like the clock will beat Samoa tonight. Tonga lead 38-22. 9:07pm: Manu Ma'u leaves the field with a suspected eye socket fracture, and there's also concern around Ata Hingano. Worry for depressed fractured eye socket/cheekbone for Manu Ma’u. Fingers crossed that’s not the case, would likely be at least a 3-4 week recovery if confirmed #PacificTest pic.twitter.com/je6CoDC870 — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 23, 2018 Reported syndesmosis injury for Ata Hingano, will have scans to confirm come Monday. Even low grade sprain can require up to 4 weeks recovery #PacificTest — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 23, 2018 9:00pm: We have a game now! Lafai finds Jorge Taufua unmarked with a flick pass, and he scores in the corner. Samoa's conversion attempt is missed, which stalls their momentum slightly. Tonga lead 36-22. There's 15 minutes left. 8:51pm: Tyrone May also snares a try on debut, this time for Samoa. The grounding was checked with the bunker, but the green light has been given. Lino converts. Tonga lead 36-18. There's 23 minutes remaining. Is there life in this game yet? 8:44pm: Tim Lafai gets across the stripe for Samoa. Lino adds the two. Tonga lead 36-12. 8:36pm: Tonga resume where they left off in the first half. This time, it's Junior Tatola getting across in his first game for Tonga. He reaches out and slams it down under the posts, Matt Utai style! Taukeiaho adds the two. Tonga lead 36-6. 8:33pm: We are underway for the second half. 8:20pm: An update on Kasiano's injury. Reported PCL injury for Sam Kasiano, if confirmed general recovery: Gr 1 – 1-3 wks Gr 2 – 3-6 wks Gr 3 – 6-8 wks#PacificTest — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 23, 2018 8:17pm: Wow! That was frantic! The whistle is blown. Tonga lead 30-6 at half-time. 8:09pm: Joey Leilua hits Hingano with a bell-ringer of a tackle! 8:04pm: Now Tonga's Daniel Tupou has scored. This is an absolute onslaught! Hopoate involved again! He has three try assists to go with his own four-pointer. The conversion is missed, but this one looks to be all over seven minutes away from half-time. Tonga lead 30-6. 8:00pm: Silky smooth footwork from Hopoate, and he's over! Tonga are on fire here! Five tries in 20 minutes. Taukeiaho slots another two. Tonga lead 26-6. 7:53pm: Robert Jennings scores a fortuitous try for Tonga. Hurrell passes him the ball, and it lands at Jennings' feet. He accidentally kicks it forward and then grounds it in-goal. Conversion attempt waved away. Tonga lead 20-6 after 25 minutes. 7:43pm: Another one for Tonga! Hopoate finds Konrad Hurrell who takes advantage of an overlap to score. Conversion unsuccessful. Tonga lead 16-6. 7:40pm: Tonga score two in quick succession. Brilliant footwork from Jason Taumalolo, stepping and finding Will Hopoate, who turns the ball inside for Ata Hingano, going in under the posts. Taukeiaho adds the two. Tonga lead 12-6. 7:34pm: And Tonga hit back. Hooker Siliva Havili scoots over from dummy half, from just five metres out. Sio Siua Taukeiaho converts. Scores level at 6-all. TRY! Quick play of the ball and Tonga answer straight back. #PacificTest Watch LIVE: @Channel9 pic.twitter.com/4RGO6hvfpu — Wide World of Sports (@wwos) June 23, 2018 7:29pm: Kasiano leaves the field with a suspected knee injury. 7:26pm: James Gavet scores for Samoa in the third minute! A possible obstruction from Sam Kasiano was checked by Luke Patten in the bunker, but he gives it the green light. Mason Lino adds the two. Samoa lead 6-0. 7:23pm: Kick-off! We are underway at Campbelltown! 7:20pm: How good is this! Absolutely incredible. War Cries don't get any more passionate than this. 👏 #PacificTest pic.twitter.com/lTIU6jdsec — Wide World of Sports (@wwos) June 23, 2018 7:15pm: The atmosphere is electric ahead of this clash! PNG V FIJI - LIVE BLOG Papua New Guinea has secured a surprise 26-14 victory over Fiji at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday. The Kumuls, ranked 10th in the world, upstaged the Bati, who are ranked five spots above them. PNG led 26-4 at half-time before slowing down in the second half, but their winning position never really looked threatened. Fiji's Akuila Uate limped from the field with an ankle injury, in a worrying sign for Manly. 6:10pm: That's full-time. Papua New Guinea have defeated Fiji 26-14. 6:05pm: Fiji fire another shot, but they come up empty-handed. Only three minutes remaining. Barring a miracle, the Kumuls will get home and secure an upset win here. 5:57pm: The Bati are over. Hayne finds Kevin Naiqama, who links with Vunivalu, getting it down in the corner. Conversion successful from Sitiveni Moceidreke. There are 10 minutes left, and Fiji trail by 12. Is there still time? PNG lead 26-14. 5:50pm: Akuila Uate leaves the field with an ankle injury. Initial reports from Fiji medical staff indicate suspected syndesmotic (high ankle) sprain for Akuila Uate. If confirmed general recovery guide: Gr1: 1-4 wks Gr2: 4-8 wks Gr3: 8-10 wks #PacificTest #PNGvFIJ — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 23, 2018 5:44pm: Justin Olam leaves the field with a leg injury. There are 23 minutes remaining and the Kumuls still lead by 18. 5:40pm: Finally, the Bati are over! Hayne grubbers through, and after a few deflections, the ball sits up for Marcelo Montoya, who forces it in the corner. Conversion unsuccessful. PNG lead 26-8. 5:35pm: And a third disallowed try for Fiji in the space of 10 minutes. They can't take a trick. Lovodua grubbered through for Pio Seci who looked to have scored, but he was ruled offside by the bunker. 5:30pm: Fiji denied again, with a double movement ruled against hooker Joe Lovodua. 5:25pm: Near try for Vunivalu, but he puts his hand on the sideline as he goes to get the ball down in the corner. No change to the half-time score. 5:20pm: Back underway for the second half. 5:04pm: PNG might have just landed the knockout blow right on half-time. Segeyaro scoots from dummy half, breaks the line and finds fullback Justin Olam who scores. Martin converts, and he's now five from five. PNG lead 26-4 at half-time. 5:00pm: Rau is in again! His second for the game for the Kumuls! Martin lands a pearler of a conversion from the sideline! PNG lead 20-4. 4:58pm: A nasty one! 4:56pm: The Bati are back! Tyrone Phillips scores the try, dragging four players with him over the line. Conversion unsuccessful. PNG lead 14-4. Some footwork at the line and Phillips gets his side back in the game! @PNGKumulsRL 14 lead @fijirugbyleague 4 after 34 minutes.#PacificTest#NRL pic.twitter.com/JPLO5nEbRd — NRL (@NRL) June 23, 2018 4:50pm: Martin slots a penalty goal for PNG. This one is starting to get away from Fiji now. PNG lead 14-0. 4:46pm: Massive hit on Hayne! WHAT A HIT! 💪 Hayne gets crunched. #PacificTest pic.twitter.com/YFhani7FvA — Wide World of Sports (@wwos) June 23, 2018 4:43pm: Willie Minoga looked to have had PNG's third try, but it was disallowed by the bunker, after he deliberately batted the ball forward and then regathered in the lead-up. To the letter of the law, it was the right decision, but should the bunker really be getting in the way on a day like today? 4:38pm: Another one for the Kumuls. Luke Page strolls over under the posts for Papua New Guinea, after some impressive work from James Segeyaro. Martin adds the two. PNG lead 12-0. 4:33pm: PNG are over! Junior Rau gets past Vunivalu to score in the corner. The decision was referred to the bunker to check a possible obstruction on Hayne in the lead-up, but the all-clear has been given for the try. Conversion successful from Rhyse Martin. PNG lead 6-0. 4:25pm: Close, but no cigar for Fiji! Halfback Jarryd Hayne kicks over the top for Suliasi Vunivalu, who gathers the ball and nearly gets to the line but is forced to put a kick in and the ball goes dead. Still no score at Campbelltown after eight minutes. Hayne creating a little magic early on. #PacificTest Watch LIVE: @Channel9 pic.twitter.com/IBPv4AQfF5 — Wide World of Sports (@wwos) June 23, 2018 4:17pm: Kick-off! We are underway! 4:05pm: Fiji are ready for battle! Sensational. Amazing stuff from the Fijians. ❤️ #PacificTest pic.twitter.com/wAbZCXJLQb — Wide World of Sports (@wwos) June 23, 2018 3:25pm: Not long to go now until the first game at Campbelltown Stadium! PACIFIC TESTS PAPUA NEW GUINEA v FIJI, SATURDAY, 4PM, CAMPBELLTOWN STADIUM PNG TEAM 1 Justin Olam, 2 Junior Rau, 3 Thompson Teteh, 4 Willie Minoga, 5 Richard Pandia, 6 Lachlan Lam, 7 Watson Boas, 8 Stanton Albert, 9 James Segeyaro (c), 10 Luke Page, 11 Rhyse Martin, 12 Nixon Putt, 13 Rod Griffin. Interchange: 14 Kurt Baptiste, 15 Rhadley Brawa, 16 Enock Maki, 17 Ase Boas, 18 Nene McDonald FIJI TEAM 1 Kevin Naiqama (c), 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Akuila Uate, 4 Tyrone Phillips, 5 Marcelo Montoya, 6 Henry Raiwalui, 7 Jarryd Hayne, 8 Kane Evans, 9 Joe Lovodua, 10 Eloni Vunakece, 11 King Vuniyayawa, 12 Junior Salesi Fainga, 13 Tui Kamikamica. Interchange: 14 Pio Seci, 15 Sitiveni Moceidreke, 16 Pio Sokobalavu, 17 Pio Sokobalavu, 18 Junior Roqica TONGA v SAMOA, SATURDAY, 7.10PM, CAMPBELLTOWN STADIUM TONGA TEAM 1 Will Hopoate, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Konrad Hurrell, 4 Michael Jennings, 5 Robert Jennings, 6 Tuimoala Lolohea, 7 Ata Hingano, 8 Andrew Fifita, 9 Siliva Havili, 10 Addin Fonua-Blake, 11 Manu Ma'u, 12 Sio Siua Taukeiaho, 13 Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 14 Sione Katoa, 15 Joe Ofahengaue, 16 Peni Terepo, 17 Junior Tatola SAMOA TEAM 1 Anthony Milford, 2 Christian Crichton, 3 Joey Leilua, 4 Tim Lafai, 5 Jorge Taufua, 6 Tyrone May, 7 Mason Lino, 8 James Gavet, 9 Pita Godinet, 10 Sam Kasiano, 11 Michael Chee Kam, 12 Isaiah Papali'i, 13 Bunty Afoa. Interchange: 14 Dunamis Lui, 15 Josh Aloiai, 16 Ligi Sao, 17 Joseph Paulo, 18 Luciano Leilua<doc-sep>
Match result: Tonga’s argument for a rugby league Test against Australia is gaining strength, pushing their case with a 38-22 defeat of Samoa in Sydney. » Click here to read the full match report Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Reddit Email Share Final score Samoa 22 Tonga 38 Match preview: In one of international rugby league’s biggest rivalries, Samoa will be seeking vengeance against a resurgent Tonga. Can Mate Ma’a Tonga justify their world No.4 ranking or will Samoa cause an upset over their Polynesian rivals? Join The Roar from 7:10pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage. Matt Parish has overhauled his Samoan team to take on Tonga with only five players returning from the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. Parish has named eight debutants with the controversial inclusion of former Mate Ma’a Tonga winger Jorge Taufua in his 18-man squad. Despite having an inexperienced playing group, Samoa will be buoyed by the inclusion of Anthony Milford who is set to start at fullback with Mason Lino and Tyrone May linking up in the halves. Milford will form a crucial part of the Samoan spine and be their X-factor. Parish will be hoping Samoa’s forward pack can step up against a much heavier and more mobile Tongan engine room while their backline also lacks the skill and power that Tonga possess. It will be a tough ask for Toa Samoa, currently ranked world No.6, however they have proven in the past that they can match it with some of the best nations in the world. Mate Ma’a Tonga are coming off a stunning Rugby League World Cup semi-final finish in which they experienced heartache in the final moments against England. The tiny Pacific Island nation caused massive upsets topping the group of death which featured world No.2 New Zealand, then world No.4 Scotland and Samoa before defeating Lebanon to qualify for the final four. Star players Andrew Fifita and Jason Taumalolo have been named in Kristian Woolf’s 18-man squad with 14 players returning from last year’s World Cup campaign while Addin Fonua-Blake returns after playing for New Zealand. Three players – Moeaki Fotuaika, Robert Jennings and Junior Tatola – are in line to make their test debuts. Tonga will be looking to assert their dominance through the middle of the park with their big forward pack. Despite the absence of David Fusitu’a and Solomone Kata, their backline still offers plenty of speed and power through the likes of Michael Jennings, Konileti Hurrell and Will Hopoate. The biggest question lies with their halves pairing of Tuimoala Lolohea and Mafoa’aeata Hingano. The pair failed to complement each other in 2017 with both favouring a running game and will need to rectify that if Tonga are to become a legitimate threat to the big three. 20 games have been played between the two Pacific rivals with Samoa winning on eleven occasions. The last time the two nations met was in last year’s Rugby League World Cup when Tonga ran out 32-18 victors in Hamilton. Prediction Tonga’s star-studded side will continue their charge with a dominant win over Samoa. Tonga by 8. Join The Roar from 7:10pm (AEST) for score updates and debate in our live blog.