Tonga beat England 30-12 in their men's Rugby League World Cup opener at HBF Park in Perth, Australia, on October 17. The NRL described it as Tonga's first victory over England, with Haumole Olakau’atu scoring twice. The result gives the Pacific nation a winning start and leaves England under pressure in the race for the semi-finals.
International Rugby League's official match record confirms that Tonga led 10-0 at half-time. Stefano Utoikamanu scored their opening try, while Isaiya Katoa's kicking extended the advantage, according to Sky Sports. England created attacking opportunities but failed to score before the interval, as Tonga repeatedly held out against their opponents' pressure.
England responded after the break through AJ Brimson, with Hugo Savala converting to reduce the deficit to 10-6. The NRL reported that Tonga then scored twice in three minutes through Olakau’atu and Tolu Koula to move 22-6 ahead. That sequence reversed England's recovery and gave Tonga a substantial cushion in the second half.
Dom Young scored England's second try, but Olakau’atu's second secured Tonga's victory. The official record lists four Tongan tries against England's two. The NRL linked the result to Tonga's narrow defeat in the 2017 World Cup semi-final, when England won by two points; this time Tonga converted their defensive resistance into a decisive success.
England's next match is against France in Perth on October 24, according to Sky Sports. BBC Sport reported that England also face Papua New Guinea on October 30 and need wins in both remaining games to retain a realistic chance of progressing. The opening defeat therefore places immediate importance on their response, while Tonga can build on a landmark result.
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