Tonga 24–18 Papua New Guinea — Group D, 2021 Rugby League World Cup

18 Oct 2022 · Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens, England · Attendance: 10,409

Data last verified: 11 August 2026.

2021 Rugby League World Cup ▾

Group D, 2021 Rugby League World Cup: Tonga 24–18 Papua New Guinea, at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens, England on 18 Oct 2022.

Scoring timeline

6′	Papua New Guinea — try, Martin · Martin kicked
14′	Tonga — try, Penisini
35′	Tonga — try, Fotuaika
37′	Tonga — try, I. Katoa
41′	Papua New Guinea — try, Lam · Martin kicked
68′	Papua New Guinea — try, Russell · Martin kicked
78′	Tonga — try, Koloamatangi

Tries in order scored, with the conversion kicked/missed alongside each one where our source data lets us match a kicker to that specific try. Sources don't record exact minutes for missed kicks, so misses are matched by elimination (attempts left over once every made kick is accounted for), not sequenced by time. Standalone penalty goals are shown separately below, not attached to a try.

Scorers

Tonga	Tries: Penisini 14'; Fotuaika 35'; I. Katoa 37'; Koloamatangi 78' Goals: I. Katoa (4/5) 16', 36', 39', 79'
Papua New Guinea	Tries: Martin 6'; Lam 41'; Russell 68' Goals: Martin (3/3) 7', 43', 69'

Teams

Tonga			Papua New Guinea
20	Tolutau Koula	Fullback	Alex Johnston	1
2	Daniel Tupou	Wing	Rodrick Tai	20
19	Mosese Suli	Centre	Nene MacDonald	3
4	Will Penisini	Centre	Justin Olam	4
5	Sione Katoa	Wing	Dan Russell	15
24	Isaiya Katoa	Stand off/Five eighth	Kyle Laybutt	6
7	Tuimoala Lolohea	Scrum half/Half back	Lachlan Lam	7
8	Addin Fonua-Blake	Prop forward	Wellington Albert	8
12	Keaon Koloamatangi	Hooker	Edwin Ipape	9
16	Tevita Tatola	Prop forward	Sylvester Namo	10
11	Felise Kaufusi	Second row	Nixon Putt	11
15	Haumole Olakau'atu	Second row	Rhyse Martin	12
10	Siosiua Taukeiaho	Loose forward/Lock forward	Jacob Alick	13
Substitutes
14	Soni Luke		Watson Boas	23
17	Moeaki Fotuaika		McKenzie Yei	16
18	David Fifita		Emmanuel Waine	17
3	Siosifa Talakai		Keven Appo	18

Kristian Woolf		Coach	Stanley Tepend

Match officials

Kick-off	19:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Referee	Liam Moore (England)
Touch judges	James Child (England), Belinda Sharpe (Australia)
Player of the match	Edwin Ipape (Papua New Guinea)

Previous World Cup meetings

1995 Rugby League World Cup (Group B): Papua New Guinea 28–28 Tonga
2000 Rugby League World Cup (Group C): Papua New Guinea 30–22 Tonga

Sources

← 2021 Rugby League World Cup — full match archive

← 2021 Rugby League World Cup