A 90-minute lightning delay couldn’t stop Toa Samoa from producing a dominant 34–6 victory over Tonga at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, 26 October 2025, securing their place in the Pacific Cup final and breaking a three-year Test win drought before more than 44,000 fans in Brisbane.
Highlights of the match
In one of the most dramatic contests of the 2025 Pacific Championships, play was halted in the 60th minute with Samoa leading 16–0 when lightning struck near the ground. Once the storm passed, Samoa quickly reasserted control, running in three more tries to close out a statement win that reaffirmed their standing among the Pacific heavyweights. The result means Tonga must now beat New Zealand by at least 17 points next week to reach the November 9 final.
Samoa’s victory was anchored by a relentless forward effort and the return to form of Jeremiah Nanai, who scored twice and was named best on ground. Payne Haas impressed on home turf, finishing with a try, seven tackle busts and 180 running metres according to NRL match stats, while Junior Paulo led with bruising defence, highlighted by a heavy hit on Soni Luke that drew cheers from the crowd.
Tonga struggled to find rhythm throughout, with handling errors and disciplined Samoan defence repeatedly stalling their attack. They were also left frustrated by a pair of contentious moments — a high shot by Francis Molo on Stefano Utoikamanu, who failed a Category 1 HIA, and a potential obstruction incident involving Roger Tuivasa-Sheck before halftime that went unpunished.
How it unfolded
Samoa started with purpose, setting the tone through bone-rattling defence and quick play-the-balls. A penalty goal from Blaize Talagi opened the scoring before Izack Tago finished off a sweeping movement for their first try. Nanai’s acrobatic take from a Jarome Luai kick extended the lead to 12–0 by halftime.
The second half followed the same pattern, with Samoa’s defensive line suffocating Tonga’s momentum. After the extended weather delay, Samoa kept their composure — Murray Taulagi crossed in the corner, Haas powered through a gap for a crowd-pleasing try, and Chanel Harris-Tavita capped the display late. Tolu Koula scored a consolation effort for Tonga in the dying minutes, but the result was long settled.
Pre-match analysis revisited
Pre-game expectations suggested the clash would hinge on Samoa’s ability to recover from their opening-round defeat to New Zealand and manage a depleted forward rotation. Those doubts were quickly dispelled. The inclusions of Terrell May and Jazz Tevaga stabilised the pack, while Luai and Talagi directed play with composure despite the stop-start conditions.
Tonga were expected to rely on early aggression and forward leadership in the absence of injured captain Jason Taumalolo. Without their talisman, they lacked the go-forward and cohesion needed to trouble Samoa’s line, with the Toa dominating collisions and territory for much of the match.
Stat check and key performances
- Score: Samoa 34 def Tonga 6
- Tries (Samoa): Nanai 2, Tago, Taulagi, Haas, Harris-Tavita
- Try (Tonga): Koula
- Best performers: Nanai (2 tries, 25 tackles, 80 metres), Haas (1 try, 7 busts, 180 metres), Tuivasa-Sheck (276 metres), Paulo (defence leadership)
- Attendance: 44,682 at Suncorp Stadium
Historical note
The victory was Samoa’s first Test success since their 2022 World Cup campaign, when they beat Tonga 20–18 in the Warrington quarter-final to reach the semi-finals. It ended a six-match losing run and underlined Samoa’s resurgence in the international arena. Tonga, who had won two of the previous three meetings, now face a must-win clash against New Zealand to keep their Pacific Cup hopes alive.
Published 27-October-2025
