RLWC2021 – Tonga v Samoa: Team news, how to watch on TV & predictions

Josh McAllister 04 Nov 2022 2:29 PM

Everything you need to know – Tonga v Samoa.

Tonga meet Samoa in the final quarter-final of the weekend, with the winner set to face either England or Papua New Guinea at the Emirates Stadium, London, in the semi-finals.

The clash promises to be one of the best fixtures of the tournament, with ticket prices from £25.

Match details

Tonga v Samoa
Date: Sunday 6th November
Kick-off time: 2:30pm
Venue: Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Quarter-finals

Tonga v Samoa

Tonga 19-man squad: 1. Will Hopoate, 2. Daniel Tupou, 19. Moses Suli, 4. Will Penisini, 5. Sione Katoa, 24. Isaiya Katoa, 7. Tui Lolohea, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Siliva Havili, 17. Moeaki Fotuaika, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Keaon Koloamatangi, 13. Jason Taumalolo, 14. Soni Luke, 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 18 David Fifita, 21. Ben Murdoch-Masila, 16. Tevita Tatola, 6. Talatau Amone.

Samoa 19-man squad: 1. Joseph Suaali’i, 2. Taylan May, 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Brian To’o, 6. Jarome Luai, 7. Anthony Milford, 8. Josh Papali’i, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Ligi Sao, 12. Jaydn Su’a, 15. Royce Hunt, 16. Spencer Lui, 17. Martin Taupau, 20. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 22. Kelma Tuilagi, 23. Oregon Kaufusi, 25. Tim Lafai, 26. Ken Sio.

What the two camps are saying

Following their win over Cook Islands, head coach Kristian Woolf said: “It was important for us to come up with a really good performance. We’ve had plenty of things that we’ve wanted to work on.

“We gave a bit of a glimpse of what we’re capable of and the quality that we’ve got.

“I say a bit, because we’ve still got more in us and we’re going to be better. We’re going to improve off the back of that.

“What that performance gives us a lot confidence and a lot of momentum going into what we know is going to be a really tough quarter-final.”

Samoa boss Matt Parish said: “We wanted to improve from week one, we did in week two and we did again tonight (against France) and we’ll have to improve again further for next week.”

How can I watch the game on TV?

Every game across the men’s, women’s and wheelchair World Cup tournaments is being broadcast by the BBC.

Tonga v Samoa will be live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

READ: How to watch every Rugby League World Cup game on the BBC

Odds and predictions

It’s the closest quarter-final clash of the men’s tournament; and possibly the tournament. Tonga are slight favourites with Planet Sport Bet at 8/13, while Samoa are priced 6/4.

It’s a hard one to call, and the office is split on this one. But I’ll back Tonga – just.