Rugby League World Cup: State of Origin might no longer be rugby league’s pinnacle after Tonga v Samoa
Herald senior league writer Michael Burgess looks at the key talking points from the final round of group matches at the Rugby League World Cup
State of Origin has been surpassed
Can we forget the idea of State of Origin being the pinnacle of rugby league? If it was, which was always questionable, it certainly isn’t now. That was the takeaway from watching the incredible contest between Tonga and Samoa last Sunday. It was a clash of the titans, with the massive build-up lasting all week. And the action lived up to the hype, a thrilling contest of drama, skill, courage and resilience.
Origin is a special product, with an amazing history and the biggest marketing and financial success in Australasian sport. But this felt more special, with an unrivalled capacity to grow the game, given the Tonga and Samoan diaspora. And no one can argue that the Pacific forward packs, let alone the Kiwis, aren’t superior to anything the Blues and Maroons are able to field.
The only remaining question – as posed by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck during the Sky Sport coverage – is a simple one: please, can we have more of this?
Kiwis click into gear
If Tonga and Samoa laid down a marker on Sunday, the Kiwis produced their own special fare a day earlier in the 78-0 win over Fiji. It’s hard to completely assess the New Zealand performance, given the Bati were feeling the effects of their effort against Australia the previous weekend and the early loss of captain Apisai Koroisau was a huge blow.
But the Kiwis’ opening quarter was a stunning exhibition, as they thundered down the field in waves of attack, offloading at will. If Stacey Jones’ men can reproduce that quality and intent, they will be hard to stop.
The big toe – and the moment in time
In terms of fine margins, the missed try in the dying minutes to Samoa winger Sua Fa’alogo, after his big toe grazed the sideline, allowed Tonga to hang on for a 20-18 win and had ramifications for all four teams – a moment in time that reverberated across the competition.
First, it meant the two form sides, New Zealand and Tonga, will meet in a semi-final on Saturday night. Meanwhile, Australia have avoided a clash with Tonga – and a forward match-up that would have been difficult for the Kangaroos – but Samoa still present a tough challenge. Toa Samoa also get a chance to avenge their defeat in the 2022 final. The last four is a promoter’s dream. Australia and New Zealand are favoured but all remaining teams are genuine contenders, though the suspicion remains that the ultimate winner will emerge from the first semi-final.
Casey’s big call
In 2024, Casey McLean had a decision to make. Born and raised in Sydney, he was eligible for Australia and had already played for New South Wales at Under-19 level. But Stacey Jones was on the phone, asking the teenager if he wanted to represent the Kiwis. As he told the Herald last year, it was an easy choice.
“It came down to my family,” McLean said. “That’s a big factor as to why I play this game. I didn’t get the luxury of growing up back in New Zealand but I suppose my way of representing my family and my whole whānau was to represent where I come from.”
That decision was huge. He is a special talent, and a point of difference in the backline, shown once again last Saturday with his four tries. His balance, strength, footwork and deceptive speed are something to behold. The 20-year-old has seven tries in this tournament and 15 overall from seven Kiwis appearances, rapidly approaching Manu Vatuvei’s all-time record of 22.
Cruel fate for Chanel Harris-Tavita
Early in the second half of the Samoa-Tonga match on Sunday night, Chanel Harris-Tavita came up with one of the greatest plays of his career – arguably, one of the greatest plays of anyone’s career – as he flung the ball over his head while falling and facing the wrong way and found his winger Brian To’o to score a vital try.
It got forgotten, given the subsequent drama that night, and there was a sad ending for the Warriors’ playmaker as he strained his hamstring while attempting the subsequent conversion. It continues his terrible run at World Cups, after he was knocked out cold just after halftime in the 2022 final.
Hughes hots up
From a Kiwis’ perspective, one of the most welcome sights from the clash with Fiji was Jahrome Hughes getting an early mark. He was withdrawn after 50 minutes, with Te Maire Martin offering a nice cameo, with the job done.
Hughes has grown into the tournament. The halfback was impressive against Australia, given he hadn’t played for weeks, though not completely happy with his second-half execution. Fiji was the best yet, with a superlative display in the first 40 minutes, with his organisation, option-taking and three sublime assists. He is the Kiwis’ most invaluable player and vital to the chances of ultimate success.
French flair, sad failure
The clash between France and Lebanon was the tonic the tournament needed. It was a reminder of why the smaller teams matter and what they can produce on a level playing field. It was also a crazy finish, from Lebanon thinking they had all but wrapped it up in normal time, before France’s wild celebrations after their field goal in extra time.
But what were we doing in golden point? There is nothing wrong with a draw, as they tend to be memorable and rare. The single greatest memory from Sunday’s clash should have been the stupendous 40m field goal from French halfback Arthur Mourgue, a kick of incredible skill, poise and courage, and then both teams could share the spoils at 20-20, rather than his later brain explosion that condemned the Europeans to defeat.
Watch out for Papua New Guinea in 2030
The Kumuls could make big strides over the next four years and beyond. They already have the player base – as one of the few countries in the world where league is the national sport – and the presence of the PNG Chiefs from 2028 in the NRL should take things to another level, in terms of structure, organisation and development.
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.