2021 RLWC (D) Wk1 - TON 24-18 PNG @ St Helens

[KingstonDD]

PNG robbed

 

[Wizardman]

I have deadset been behind PNG more than I have for the Tigers this year!!!! Our game is so f**king cruel!!! Tonga are so undeserving. Talent over effort this morning....which is sad. They have left 12 extra points at the ground this morning.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

That is f**king grim

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

It's crazy how when play breaks down like that and it becomes ad lib, rugby league players seem to be uniformly really good at finding space on attack but uniformly really bad at numbering up properly on defence

 

[KingstonDD]

Heartbroken for png

 

[Gobsmacked]

Great game
Tonga escape with a hard lesson learned!
These PNG players are demanding a contract! Doing thier nation proud

 

[Northern]

Great game. Very tough on the corner post no try try. Great performance by PNG. Rue the missed chances. Going to enjoy watching their next few games!

 

[Harrigan]

Could watch that game twice over.

Feel for the Kumuls but they left at least 12 points out there so were their own worst enemies. Cruel way to lose too with a scappy adlib try like that as well. Theyve built some chemistry over the past few years though and assuming they win the games they should, will give England a real test in the quarters.

 

[Wizardman]

Heartbroken for png

Im deadset shattered for them. They did enough to win that.

 

[Wizardman]

It's crazy how when play breaks down like that and it becomes ad lib, rugby league players seem to be uniformly really good at finding space on attack but uniformly really bad at numbering up properly on defence

Yep...ad-lib play though like that though is very hard hard to defend......but ad-lib in its nature relies on a LOT of luck.

 

[zombiebloodlust]

It's crazy how when play breaks down like that and it becomes ad lib, rugby league players seem to be uniformly really good at finding space on attack but uniformly really bad at numbering up properly on defence

It's like defenders momentarily lose their minds and start bum-rushing the ball.

 

[zombiebloodlust]

Cracking game. PNG should've won it but you feel Tonga can only improve after that

 

[Diesel]

That was a great game.

 

[gUt]

Great game, better team lost IMO.

 

[taste2taste]

For those that know the draw, assuming all results go to plan Tonga will face Samoa in the quarters

But who will PNG play ?

 

[magpie_man]

For those that know the draw, assuming all results go to plan Tonga will face Samoa in the quarters

But who will PNG play ?

England

 

[taste2taste]

For those that saw the full game ( I only saw the crappy highlights they put on YouTube ) how did Tonga look ? Will they be able to put up a fight against England in the semis ? Or will they suffer the same fate as Samoa?

 

[taste2taste]

England

Geee whiz, that's going to be a cracker!!!

 

[Matua]

Sheesh, Tonga are definitely considered a top team these days - all the marginal calls went their way.

 

[zombiebloodlust]

For those that saw the full game ( I only saw the crappy highlights they put on YouTube ) how did Tonga look ? Will they be able to put up a fight against England in the semis ? Or will they suffer the same fate as Samoa?

They weren't great but I think they're ahead of Samoa. The hooker position and Lolohea are a big worry, but Katoa was solid and can only improve, and Koula looked great aside from one error. Plus they have Taumalolo. They'll improve as the tournament goes on