Tonga Stun England to Put Rugby League World Cup Hopes in Jeopardy

Posted : 17 October 2026

England’s Rugby League World Cup campaign has suffered a major setback after Tonga delivered a stunning victory in Perth, reviving memories of England’s semifinal defeat to Samoa in 2022. Tonga combined powerful defence, clinical attacking play and strong support from the crowd to upset their higher-ranked opponents and put England’s hopes of reaching the last four under immediate pressure.

England, ranked third in the world before the tournament, had been expected to overcome the fifth-ranked Tongans in their opening Group B-C fixture. Instead, Brian McDermott’s team struggled to turn possession and attacking opportunities into points, while Tonga capitalised on key moments to secure a memorable result.

The match turned during the first half when England came close to scoring but lost possession after Victor Radley was hit by a forceful challenge from Tonga captain Jason Taumalolo. Tonga quickly took advantage, with Isaiya Katoa producing an excellent inside pass that allowed Stefano Utoikamanu to break through the English defence and score.

Katoa added points from the kicking tee after England conceded penalties, extending Tonga’s advantage before the interval. Some of the decisions proved contentious from England’s perspective, adding to the frustration of a first half in which the team repeatedly failed to make its pressure count.

England returned from the break with greater urgency and finally found a breakthrough. A powerful run from Young helped create the opportunity for full-back AJ Brimson to cross the line, giving the English side renewed hope of mounting a comeback.

However, Tonga responded by tightening their defence and exploiting gaps in England’s back line. Haumole Olakau'atu scored after a dangerous kick created uncertainty close to the try line, before Tolutau Koula added another try to increase the pressure on McDermott’s side.

Young later crossed the line to give England another lift, but Tonga remained composed. Katoa again proved influential with his kicking game, setting up another opportunity for Olakau'atu to score his second try and help seal the victory. Tonga’s ability to convert crucial attacking moments into points proved decisive against an England side that struggled to find a consistent route through their opponents’ defence.

The defeat leaves England needing to regroup quickly ahead of their remaining group matches against France and Papua New Guinea. Under the tournament’s combined six-team Group B-C format, only the top two teams will advance to the semifinals, making England’s next fixtures particularly important.

Tonga, meanwhile, have given themselves a strong start to their campaign and demonstrated that they can compete with one of the tournament favourites. Their disciplined defence and attacking efficiency could make them a serious contender as the competition progresses.

In another Group B-C fixture on Saturday, co-hosts Papua New Guinea recorded a convincing 42-18 victory over Lebanon, adding further significance to the battle for a place in the semifinals.

Tonga Stun England to Put Rugby League World Cup Hopes in Jeopardy

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