Tonga claimed a landmark first victory over England with a commanding 30-12 triumph in their Rugby League World Cup opener in Perth, putting themselves in a strong position to reach the semi-finals.
Inspired by two tries from Haumole Olakau’atu, Kristian Woolf’s side overcame sustained English pressure before unleashing a decisive second-half scoring burst that effectively settled the contest.
Leading 10-0 at halftime, Tonga briefly lost momentum as England mounted a comeback, but successive tries from Olakau’atu and Tolu Koula restored their dominance before a late Olakau’atu effort sealed the result.
A passionate crowd of 18,302, overwhelmingly supporting the Pacific nation, celebrated a victory that also provided redemption for Tonga’s narrow defeat to England in the 2017 World Cup semi-final. Captain Jason Taumalolo praised his teammates’ commitment and the extraordinary backing of Tongan supporters, while England now face a difficult route to the knockout stages, needing victories over France and Papua New Guinea alongside favourable results elsewhere.
