Tonga and Samoa Reach Rugby League World Cup Semi-Finals With a Chance at a Historic Final

Tonga defeated Samoa 20-18 in the final group match of the Rugby League World Cup, and both Pacific island nations secured places in the semi-finals. The result also confirmed England's elimination from the tournament. Tonga will face New Zealand in the last four, while Samoa meet Australia in a repeat of the 2022 final.

A shifting balance of power

A Sky Sports opinion piece notes that Tonga and Samoa have grown into serious forces in the sport over the past decade. A change in eligibility rules helped, allowing a number of Australian and New Zealand-born players to represent the countries of their family lineage. Tonga's head coach is Kristian Woolf. At the previous World Cup, Samoa beat England in the semi-finals to reach their first final, despite having been heavily beaten by the English in their opening match.

England's position

England head coach Brian McDermott wants to stay in the job, though he had only three weeks and difficult circumstances to prepare the team. The commentary argues that England must review their investment in the international side, and that they need international competitions, camps and Tests. Several of England's most accomplished modern players are due to help map out a plan for the game's future, including a look at the whole pathway from grassroots to the national team.

A historic chance

Since the first World Cup in 1954, Australia have appeared in each of the 15 finals that followed, winning 12. New Zealand have won one, and Great Britain or England won in 1954, 1960 and 1972. If Samoa beat Australia, it will be the first final without the Australians since 1954. If both Tonga and Samoa win, the final could again be a Tonga–Samoa meeting. Tonga has a population of around 100,000 and Samoa roughly 200,000.