Rugby League World Cup finishes up with Pool D action featuring Tonga v Cook Islands, where the Cook Islands are an outside chance of qualifying for the knockout stages in the Rugby League World Cup’s tightest group..
Our Group D Tonga v Cook Islands Match Centre has a preview, stats, team lists before the game and a summary of the match afterwards. More than you could ever need or want.
If you want more information on all the squads – follow this link here.
Tonga v Cook Islands Match Summary
Tonga have sealed top spot in Group D with an absolute thrashing of the Cook Islands 92-10 as a team passes 90 points for the second time in a sorry weekend for the competitiveness of the Rugby League World Cup.
No offence intended to Tonga, who lived up to the pre tournament dark horse status.
Full Match Summary to come.
Tonga v Cook Islands Final Score
TONGA 92
Tries: Daniel Tupou 0′ Jason Taumalolo 12′ Jason Taumalolo 19′ Tesi Niu 21′ Will Penisini 25′ Tesi Niu 28′ Will Penisini 31′ Tuimoala Lolohea 34′ Felise Kaufusi 39′ Isaiya Katoa 43′ Tesi Niu 48′ Tuimoala Lolohea 57′ Will Penisini 60′ Daniel Tupou 63′ Will Penisini 74′ Talatau Amone 77′
Goals: Isaiya Katoa 14/16
COOK ISLANDS 10
Tries: Steven Marsters 68′ Tinirau Arona 79′
Goals: Tinirau Arona 1/2
Tonga v Cook Islands Stats
Tonga v Cook Islands Teams
TONGA
22 Tesi Niu
2 Daniel Tupou
4 Will Penisini
19 Mosese Suli
5 Sione Katoa
24 Isaiya Katoa
7 Tuimoala Lolohea
8 Addin Fonua-Blake
14 Soni Luke
17 Moeaki Fotuaika
11 Felise Kaufusi
12 Keaon Koloamatangi
13 Jason Taumalolo
6 Talatau Amone
16 Tevita Tatola
18 David Fifita
21 Ben Murdoch-Masila
COOK ISLANDS
1 Kayal Iro
2 Paul Ulberg
4 Esan Marsters
22 Geoff Daniela
5 Steven Marsters
6 Brad Takairangi
7 Johnathon Ford
8 Makahesi Makatoa
9 Aaron Teroi
10 Tepai Moeroa
11 Dominique Peyroux
12 Brendan Piakura
13 Zane Tetevano
14 Tevin Arona
15 Tinirau Arona
20 Davvy Moale
24 Dylan Napa
Tonga v Cook Islands Preview
TABLE – W/D/L/F/A/FA/Pts
| Tonga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 24 | 32 | 4 |
| Papua New Guinea | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 40 | 10 | 2 |
| Cook Islands | 1 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 44 | -10 | 2 |
| Wales | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 50 | -32 | 0 |
Tonga are just about safe, and should progress as top of the table, but Group D is proving the most competitive, and perhaps there is a twist to come. It would take the Cook Islands beating Tonga by 22 points and PNG beating Wales, but Tonga could be knocked out.
That’s all just fantasy as it is hard to see Tonga getting beaten that handsomely by Cook Islands, although that’s no slight on the Cook Islands team, who have been competitive in both their games so far and made good progress as an international team.
They currently have four of the top 15 players at this World Cup for run metres. Two players that have particularly impressed for the Cook Islands – Anthony Gelling and Kayal Iro – are third and fifth for run metres. The two players are second and third for post contact metres and top six for tackle breaks. So Tonga won’t have it all to themselves.
But looking at the above table, Tonga have only outscored PNG by six points this World Cup despite having a lot more NRL star talent. So the question is whether this is the game where Tonga come alive, or will they continue to battle in Group D.
Lack of points isn’t a big factor however when you have the powerful forward pack of Tonga. Addin Fonua-Blake is in the top 15 for run metres and post contact metres this World Cup and has laid a good platform for his side. Hopefully the Keaon Koloamatangi hooker experiment won’t return and the Rabbitohs can stay out wide. Soni Luke is an excellent hooker anyway.
So on paper it should be Tonga and comfortably, but Group D still has a feeling of a surprise or two left.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
WE wonder is this is the game where David Fifita blows everyone away. Perhaps Tonga may consider starting with the big Titans forward. Fifita is in the top ten for tackle breaks this tournament despite coming off the bench.
Also Tolutau Koula should return to fullback. That’s nothing against Tesi Niu, who was good against Wales, but Koula gave them an extra something from fullback in game one.
For Cook Islands Anthony Gelling and Kayal Iro right at the top of the stats charts, and really doing a job for Cook Islands.
PREDICTION
Tonga 28 Cook Islands 14
Tonga v Cook Islands Pre Match Stats
AVERAGE STATS @ RLWC2021 SO FAR
H2H AND PREVIOUS WORLD CUP STATS
