By George Clarke
A Tongan outfit stacked with NRL talent survived a huge scare from Papua New Guinea to claim a 24-18 Rugby League World Cup win.
In the closest game of the tournament so far, Tonga had to wait until the 78th minute for South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi, who played a lengthy stint at hooker, to touch down for the match-winning try at Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEDT).
The Kumuls, whose hooker Edwin Ipape was named man of the match, would have felt hard done by to not get the two points after holding their own against a star-studded Tongan side.
PNG had only two established NRL players – fullback Alex Johnston (South Sydney) and centre Justin Olam (Melbourne Storm) – in their starting team but were more than a match for the Tongans. With two minutes to go, the scores were tied 18-18 in front of 10,409 fans.
PNG, who started the match as $12 outsiders, flew out of the traps with skipper Rhys Martin scoring after six minutes.
Tonga were under the pump but a Will Penisini try against the run of play sent the small legion of fans decked out in red into a frenzy.
Isaiya Katoa scores a try for Tonga in St Helens.Credit:PA
Moeaki Fotuaika and Isaiya Katoa both crossed to put Tonga in control with an 18-6 lead at half-time.
But PNG came out firing after the break, with Ipape sending halfback Lachlan Lam over.
And despite a try for winger Rodrick Tai being chalked off, the Kumuls kept pushing and got their reward when Tolutau Koula knocked on at a play-the-ball on the Tonga line. After being denied twice close to the line in the first half, Daniel Russell made no mistake on his third attempt, going over off a set play from a scrum.
Martin converted to square the game at 18-18.
Katoa missed the chance to put Tonga ahead with a 75th-minute penalty but, to his relief, his side didn’t need it. Pushing for a late try, the ball went through eight sets of hands and hit the ground four times before Siosiua Taukeiaho kicked a grubber through for Koloamatangi to touch down.
AAP
