Junior Paulo leads from the front as Toa Sāmoa crush Tonga in Brisbane

One of Toa Sāmoa’s leaders, Junior Paulo, delivered a commanding performance in Brisbane, earning the Player of the Match honour in a decisive 34-6 victory over the Tonga men’s XIII.

Despite a 90-minute weather delay with 20 minutes remaining in their Pacific Championships, the veteran prop showed no signs of slowing down, dominating both offensively and defensively against his Tongan opponents.

With over 263 appearances in the NRL, the Parramatta Eels forward had a major impact throughout the game, playing with intensity for 75 minutes from his position at lock.

The tone was set early as Paulo delivered a brutal one-on-one tackle that flattened Tongan interchange player Soni Luke, signalling the aggressive play that would define the rest of the match.

Now in his 13th NRL season, the Toa Sāmoa skipper looked sharper than ever at Suncorp Stadium, guiding his side with composure.

In the second half, Paulo helped send team-mate Payne Haas over for his first try in Toa colours in the 65th minute.

Fans and supporters in the stands at the Tonga XIII vs Toa Sāmoa game. Photo/NRL Photos/Photosport

Paulo was equally dominant in defence, as he and the Toa forward pack smothered Tonga’s attack from the opening whistle.

Among other standout performers, Jeremiah Nanai shone in attack, crossing for a double. His first try came from a perfectly executed high kick and chase by captain Jarome Luai, with Nanai stretching out one hand in a heroic catch of the ball, to beat the Tongan defenders and score under the sticks.

Showcasing his individual brilliance again, Nanai followed through on a kick to score in the 46th minute, even with team-mates in a better position outside him.

Tonga’s night was marred by two pivotal moments: an early injury blow to prop Stefano Utoikamanu, who failed a head injury assessment just two minutes into the match after a heavy tackle from Francis Molo, and a crucial denied try for Luke, whose kick-chase was well defended by fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

The match proved disappointing for Tonga, as discipline and handling were costly. They conceded five penalties compared to Sāmoa’s two and committed 18 errors throughout the match.

Unable to create a cohesive performance, Tonga finally crossed the line for a consolation try just before full-time when Tolutau Koula scored. Twenty-one-year-old Isaiya Katoa added the final points of the game.

After the unexpected performance, Tonga will look to regroup as they head to Auckland to face the Kiwis at Eden Park on Sunday, with kick off at 6.05pm (NZT).

In other Pacific Championship news, the Papua New Guinea Kumuls proved too strong for the Cook Islands Atiu, claiming a commanding 40-28 win at home.

While the visitors started strong, displaying physical defence and stopping an early chance from the Kumuls and then striking back through hooker Rua Ngatikaura, they were eventually worn down.

The Kumuls’ seven tries to five performance secured their place in the bowl final against a strong Fiji Bati side on Saturday, a match in which PNG have won the last two outings. Kick off for that game is set for 6pm (NZT).