Tonga driven by bitter memories of 2025 Samoa shellacking

Forgetting last year’s Samoa-Tonga Pacific Championships game could be forgiven for most neutral fans. A lot has happened in rugby league since. But Tonga half Isaiya Katoa, returned from an ankle injury for tomorrow’s sold-out rematch at Commbank Stadium, can’t forget the 34-6 defeat at Suncorp Stadium.

He doesn’t want to, either, because his harsh critique of why it happened is driving Tonga’s 2026 World Cup campaign. “We were well aware of how disappointing we were last year and we just made a promise to each other that... ,” the erudite 22-year-old’s said, before correcting himself.

“Sorry, we didn't make a promise. We had a commitment to each other that we're never going to toss out performances like that ever again, whenever we pull this jersey on. We know that we've got to have so much more pride in how we perform than what we showed last year." Ask the Dolphins co-captain why it happened, and he’ll hint very strongly that those involved didn’t take the campaign - which also included a 40-14 loss to New Zealand - with the requisite seriousness.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Tonga XIII v Toa Samoa “Look, to be honest, you can't really put, I guess, a finger on one thing,” Katoa said. "I felt like there were a fair few things that we probably didn't get right in terms of our preparation and going into that camp and stuff.

“And the first thing we made sure to do was as soon as the (2026) NRL season was finishing... we all just made a commitment to make sure we come into camp fit and ready to go. "And it's always a big part because it shows how much you're doing away from the team and it shows how much you're actually committed to playing for Tonga.

“We know what our standards are and we need to make sure that we're holding everyone accountable to live up to those." Katoa was the maestro in the tournament-opening 30-12 win over England which, at time of writing, seemed certain to cost the men in white a semi-final spot for the first time in the tournament’s history.

“He actually debuted for Tonga in the 2022 World Cup, in the first game,” said coach Kristian Woolf. “He’s come a long way since then. He was a baby-faced kid at that stage and impressed us through training - that’s why he got that opportunity.

“That diligence that he shows in his game and the way he wants to improve his game, that's why he has the sort of performance he did (against England). “We needed him to kick really well, kick us out of trouble, put pressure on the opposition and really steady the ship and put our play together.

I thought he was exceptional in all those areas. He’s getting better and better. Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next England v Tonga – Round 1, 2026 “His Tongan experiences, in terms of playing big games and managing big games - he’s managed some big wins in that time - has been great for his development.

He’s getting more and move confident every year in the NRL.” But once more, the man himself is far from satisfied. “To be honest, I think I get the best learnings and experiences through this (team),” he said. “It's Test match footy.

It's obviously a level up to NRL and like Woolfy said, I started my NRL career in a World Cup. “So for me to get those experiences every time I get to put on the Tongan jersey... “And look, to be honest with you, I haven't been that happy with how I performed in a Tongan jersey - especially the last, maybe two years.

“So for me, I knew I needed to work hard coming in here. Obviously, I picked up an injury in the prelim (final). So a lot of my time off was about rehabbing my ankle and everything.” Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Isaiya Katoa Try Even a dominant performance Perth a fortnight ago is not good enough for Katoa.

“Yeah, I guess so... but I'm the first person to always look at myself and things that I need to work on - always. “And yeah, as much as I am happy about that performance, I know that that's only one game.” Tomorrow, on the other hand, is more than just a game to so, so many people.

And that’s another thing Isaiya Katoa definitely hasn’t forgotten.