PNG fumes over 'no try' call in Tonga thriller

2 years ago 131

Tonga escaped with a 'miracle' effort to decision Papua New Guinea astatine the Rugby League World Cup to support their presumption arsenic 1 of the tourney favourites.

The Tongans survived a scare to travel distant with a 24-18 triumph astatine St Helens' Totally Wicked Stadium, erstwhile Souths prima Kaeon Koloamatangi broke the 18-18 deadlock with 3 minutes to play via a memorable effort connected his Test debut.

Tonga appeared to beryllium acceptable for a field-goal with the lucifer tied successful the last 10 minutes, but hooker Soni Luke went himself retired of dummy half, earlier offloading the ball, sparking a frantic question down the close edge. The play ended with Koloamatangi planting the shot implicit the enactment disconnected a Siosiua Taukeiaho grubber.

Tonga had earlier taken an 18-6 pb into half-time earlier the Kumuls scored 2 2nd fractional tries to bring them level.

PNG were near ruing a telephone by the referee erstwhile winger Rodrick Tai was controversially denied a effort successful the country successful the 53rd minute.

Tonga 'miracle try' seals triumph implicit PNG

Tai was successful a contention against Tolu Koula and looked to person planted the shot but replays showed the interaction from a suspected enarthrosis complaint pushed him into touch. The imaginable enarthrosis complaint escaped scrutiny from the officials.

"Wow," James Graham said successful commentary said erstwhile the no-try determination was confirmed.

"By the missive of the law, helium does not effort to wrapper his limb astir the attacker there."

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