England (0) 12
Try: Brimson, Young Goal: Savala 2
Tonga (10) 30
Tries: Olakau’atu 2, Utoikamanu, Koula Goals: Katoa 3 Penalties: Katoa 4
Four years ago, England were left shocked and shattered by Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.
Now in 2026, Tonga – another Pacific island nation – have done the same with a victory to put England’s Australian campaign in immediate jeopardy.
Tonga combined classy attacking play with staunch defence, mixed with a pinch of luck – while being cheered on by a ferociously partisan crowd in Perth – to cause a major upset.
It was expected that Brian McDermott’s team – ranked third in the world – would have enough to open their Group B-C campaign with victory over opponents ranked fifth.
But they will now have to pick themselves up for coming group games against France and Papua New Guinea to try to secure a top-two finish in the combined six-team group table and secure a semi-final spot.
England’s day came apart amid seemingly endless mistakes, wastefulness and a few dodgy refereeing decisions.
Arguably the turning point came on 22 minutes, when England got to within a few yards of the opposition line but Victor Radley knocked on after an absolute boneshaker from Tonga captain Jason Taumalolo.
The ball was turned over, and the Tongans scored two minutes later. Stefano Utoikamanu streaked through after Isaiya Katoa’s superb inside pass cut out George Williams and Kai Pearce-Paul, to the delight of the massed Tongan fans in Perth.
For England, it seemed as if the universe was against them.
The impressive Katoa converted two penalties given following debatable calls. First, Harry Smith was penalised for obstruction when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ran into him. Then, Herbie Farnworth conceded a sloppy penalty on the verge of half-time when accidentally tripping Watene-Zelezniak off the ball.
England badly needed half-time, and they came out refreshed.
Their first flowing move of the home game led to a try for full-back AJ Brimson after being set up by a sensational driving run from Young, holding off two tacklers over 20 metres.
Waves of England attacks began to crash on the Tongan defence, but Tonga stood firm and benefited from a moment of fortune as Haumole Olakau’atu pounced after his sketchy first grubber kick was kicked on behind the England line.
And with England wobbling, Tonga landed a one-two punch when Tolutau Koula drove over the line.
Young went over in the corner to give England false hope, but in front of their delirious fans Tonga scored their fourth try as Katoa’s grubber kick exploited defensive gaps for Olakau’atu to touch down.
In the day’s other men’s game – also in Group B-C – co-hosts Papua New Guinea defeated Lebanon 42-18.
