Samoa and Tonga amaze fans with incredible war dance confrontation at Rugby League World Cup

Samoa has billed itself as footy’s Kings of the Pacific, beating Tonga 20-18 in a fierce Rugby League World Cup encounter that was preceded by a hair-raising war dance made possible just seconds before kick-off.

The win means Toa Samoa has booked a semi-final against the hosts (AEDT) on Sunday morning – but they may have to do without two of their key players: skipper Junior Paulo and Joseph Suaali’i.

Both men have to wait nervously to see if they will be suspended from the crunch clash for separate incidents, in what was a fiery – but not hateful – clash.

The scene was set in Warrington as the two Pasifika countries confronted each other during their war dances prior to the match.

Hairs on the back of the neck rose as the Tonga team performed their Sipi Tau as the Samoan players gathered for their Siva Tau.

The two teams gathered separately and knelt before Paulo and his captaincy Siliva Havili as they led the Samoan and Tongan teams respectively.

The sides then converged in the middle of the field, arguing as they continued their whirling war dance within inches of each other.

The spectacle was made possible when the two sides reached a last minute agreement to perform their war dances simultaneously, something the Samoan captain believed would unite the two island nations.

“When we went to the toss, there was talk about who would go first,” Paulo . said Fox Sports.

‘I just spoke to Jase’ [Taumalolo] and threw out the question if we wanted to do it together, thinking it’s a good sign of unity between the two nations and the support for rugby league in general.

“It’s a very proud moment, also for myself, my partner is Tongaan and my children are half and half, so it will always be a difficult conversation about who to support. But I think that’s the best thing about celebrating both cultures,” Paulo said.

After the fierce encounter, both sides and their support staff gathered in a large prayer circle after the match.

The scenes were widely praised by footy fans, who were excited not only by the showdown, but also by the intensely physical 80 minutes of action that followed.

However, Samoa’s thrilling two-point win could have brought a prize.

Superstar fullback Suaali’i was given a report for lifting his knees as Felise Kaufusi tried to tackle him in the first half.

It’s not the first time the Roosters star has gotten into trouble for the dangerous act; he received a relevant deed in the NRL earlier this year.

However, the World Cup match judging committee will not take into account that previous violation and it is not yet known whether he will face disciplinary action or be suspended.

If Samoan coach Matt Parish has anything to do with it, he won’t.

‘I’d be surprised if anything comes of that’ [Suaali’i’s high knees],’ said Paris after the match.

“He was incredible, wasn’t he for a 19-year-old boy. He has been incredible to our group for a young man. He is well-educated and well-educated.’

Parish will also have to wait nervously to see if his captain, Paulo, also faces a possible suspension. He was reported late in the game for an alleged forearm to the throat while attempting to tackle David Fifita.

The Samoan coach seemed stunned that Paulo was even facing a sanction.

“Not really, I was quite surprised about it and the punishment in general,” Parish said after being asked if he was afraid his skipper would be suspended because of the alleged forearm.

Either way, Samoa will need a major turnaround when they face England next Sunday morning at the famed Emirates Stadium after the hosts embarrassed them 60-6 in the opener.

Easy wins against Greece and France followed, before the heart-pounding win against Tonga in front of a rowdy crowd of more than 12,000 secured their place in the semi-final.

They started impressively, hitting the front foot early as Jaydn Su’A, Dragon’s rear rower, slid through a hole cleared by Felise Kaufusi, before scoring the opening game of the match after four minutes.

A spiral cut-out pass from Tongan fullback Will Hopoate found Daniel Tupou on the left wing for an easy try in response.

Tonga was stifled for territory, and it didn’t help that the veteran Tupou threw a speculative offload back into his own in-goal, which put more pressure on his side with a lunge on the goal-line.

Premiership-winning Panther Jarome Luai waltzed into the next set, with Samoa unlucky not to extend their 12-4 advantage further.

A shrewd bettor from Tonga’s substitute hooker Soni Luke for Siosiua Taukeiaho then narrowed the gap to 12-10 at halftime.

Both teams exchanged back-to-back penalty goals early in the second half, before Suaali’i a stunning 40m run saw him break six tackles, sending winger Brian To’o into the corner.

Samoa was starting to gain the upper hand – and Tonga needed a spark.

They found it in the form of attacker Keaon Koloamatangi, who picked up a Luai grubber on his own line and charged to the 40m line.

Another massive run from Moses Suli followed, before supporting winger Sione Katoa scored under the posts and fourth with a joyous downdown.

Isaiya Katoa then converted to make it 20-18 to Samoa with only 10 minutes left, but unfortunately the brave warriors in red couldn’t make the match-winning game and had to yield a two point defeat.

Tonga didn’t disappoint anyone in their World Cup campaign and will no doubt be better off for the experience and injection of world-class NRL talent.

Samoa, meanwhile, head to the training paddock as they try to recover from the 54-point shellacking they faced in their last game against England.

The semifinals will take place on Sunday at 1.30am (AEDT).