2023 England v Tonga Test Series

[The Greenhouse]

Welcome to our coverage of the second Test in the series between England and Tonga. Kick off is at 12:30am AEDT. Broadcast live on Fox League from 12:15am. We will have live scores right here. Please join in with your own commentary.

Here is the final England line up, with Raiders forward Elliott Whitehead taking his place in the second row.

[The Greenhouse]

[The Greenhouse]

The temperature in Hudderfield is 9C right now, wet, cold and a bit foggy.

The teams are out on the field now, not the best of crowds. Now for the national anthems. Siliva Havili leads the Sipi Tau.

[The Greenhouse]

England kick off, we are underway at Huddersfield.

[Postman Pat]

How does Kaufusi pullout of that?

[The Greenhouse]

7th min TRY ENGLAND to winger Matty Ashton in the corner. For some reason they went to the video referee, but not a hint of a problem with the grounding. It is off the back of a penalty, good shift to the right. Tonga looks like they are lacking intensity. Harry Smith converts.

England 6-0

[The Greenhouse]

There is a lot of niggle in this game from England. The ruck speed is again very slow as well.

[The Greenhouse]

22nd min ERROR ENGLAND Elliott Whitehead throws a pass that is very close to forward, then the next was a long way forward.

Now Suli drops the ball cold in a good attacking position on the left edge. Also taken out over the sideline in the corner not long ago... which ended up in a dust up.

[The Greenhouse]

25th min PENALTY ENGLAND for a strip on John Bateman.

PENALTY GOAL ENGLAND for Harry Smith.

England 8-0

[The Greenhouse]

32nd min ERROR ENGLAND Great tackle from Havili on Ashton forces the dropped ball.

[The Greenhouse]

33rd min Blatant off side play from England on the last tackle, on the goal line. Leads to an intercept. The officiating is really poor in this match, again.

[The Greenhouse]

35th min TRY ENGLAND to Matty Ashton chasing the Mikey Lewis kick to the corner. The video referee has cleared the grounding. Harry Smith on the sideline... fails to convert.

England 12-0

[The Greenhouse]

HALF TIME

England 12
Tonga 0

The rain really coming down now.

[The Greenhouse]

The teams are back on the field, raining heavily still. This will not suit Tonga, but it will suit England.

Tonga kick off to start the second half.

[The Greenhouse]

47th min PENALTY ENGLAND in front of the posts for a strip. England just bombed what would have been a spectacular try, kick ahead, knocked on with the line open. But then Tonga lost the ball on their own line.

PENALTY GOAL ENGLAND to Harry Smith

England 14-0

[The Greenhouse]

50th min Great run from Katoa on the last tackle, but Tonga cannot capitalise.

[The Greenhouse]

52nd min PENALTY ENGLAND for holding back by Koula. So England will attack from close to the red zone. The set ends with Matty Ashton knocking the ball on, with the line open.

[The Greenhouse]

54th min PENALTY TONGA for off side. Should have been a sin bin, definitely a professional foul in a try scoring situation. Now another penalty for blatant off side. Surely a sin bin is coming?

[The Greenhouse]

56th min TRY TONGA to Tolutau Koula, great pass from Will Hopoate to set it up. No conversion from the sideline.

England 14-4

[The Greenhouse]

63rd min ERROR ENGLAND John Bateman throws the ball over the sideline on the last tackle, near half way.

[The Greenhouse]

65th min PENALTY ENGLAND while Tonga were in possession in the red zone. Contact to the head of the marker.

[The Greenhouse]

68th min Tonga just don't have enough spark and threat in attack to trouble England. And they are starting to look like they're out on their feet.

[The Greenhouse]

England winger Matty Ashton named man of the match.

[The Greenhouse]

FULL TIME

England 14
Tonga 4

after England led 12-0 at half time.

MATCH REPORT: England clinch series win over Tonga



England clinched a series win over Tonga with a game to spare by winning a rain-soaked second Test. Matty Ashton scored two first-half tries on his second England start as Shaun Wane's dominated early on to lead 12-0 at the break.

Tolutau Koula's second-half try in the left corner briefly raised hopes of a Tonga fightback. However, England held firm to triumph in another bruising encounter in Huddersfield.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/67250912

[RedRaider]

Nice write up on Morgan Smithies from England Coach Wane and a suggestion he is in the frame for a call up for the final Tonga match. Also a lot of praise for EW in this article.

Morgan Smithies' double delight after England call-up and big-money Canberra switch



Morgan Smithies has completed his big-money move to Canberra Raiders and been called into the England squad for Saturday’s clash with Tonga. The rugged Yorkshireman, noted for his aggression and remarkable work-rate, could feature along with Warrington rookie Josh Thewlis for the third Test at Headingley.

England boss Shaun Wane said: “We had a few niggles in training from the first Test, and I thought the second Test would be brutal so if we came unstuck with a few players, we were in trouble. Morgan and Josh have come in as a back-up but they were both really keen when I rang them. They’re ready to play.”

Read more: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... r-31327781

Morgan Smithies and Josh Thewlis join England squad ahead of Headingley showdown: https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62 ... y-showdown

[The Greenhouse]

2023 Test 3: England v Tonga

England v Tonga
Saturday 4 November, 2:30pm local
Sunday 5 November, 1:30am AEDT
Headingley, Leeds
Broadcast: Fox League, commences 1:20am

Women’s Test: England v Wales, Saturday 4 November, 11:00pm AEDT, Fox League

England

Matty Ashton (Warrington Wolves), John Bateman (Wests Tigers), Tom Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Daryl Clark, Ben Currie (both Warrington Wolves), Tyler Dupree (Wigan Warriors), Chris Hill (Huddersfield Giants), Tom Johnstone (Catalans Dragons), Matty Lees (St Helens), Mike McMeeken (Catalans Dragons), Robbie Mulhern (Leigh Leopards), Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos), Harry Smith, Morgan Smithies (both Wigan Warriors), Josh Thewlis, Danny Walker (both Warrington Wolves), Jack Welsby (St Helens), Elliott Whitehead (Canberra Raiders), George Williams (Warrington Wolves)



Tonga

1. Isaiya Katoa 2. Felise Kaufusi 3. Moeaki Fotuaika 4. Tuimoala Lolohea 5. Latu Fainu 6. Tolutau Koula 7. Haumole Olakau'atu 8. Eliesa Katoa 9. Tyson Frizell 10. Viliami Penisini 11. Moses Suli 12. Will Hopoate 13. Konrad Hurrell

14. Siliva Havili 15. Keaon Koloamatangi 16. Hame Sele 17. Tevita Tatola

18. Siua Wong 19. Junior Tupou

[greeneyed]

Whitehead and Smithies named for England squad for third Tongan Test





England Head Coach Shaun Wane has named his 19-player squad for the third – and final – fixture of the three-game series against Tonga at Leeds’ Headingley Rugby Stadium on Saturday (4 November, 2.30pm).

George Williams is set to return to the side after serving a two-game suspension, the Warrington Wolves halfback returning to the role of captain in place of stand-in skipper Jack Welsby. Morgan Smithies and Josh Thewlis – who were both called up earlier this week – are also named in the squad.

Read more: https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62 ... nga-tussle

England 19-player squad

Matty Ashton (Warrington Wolves), John Bateman (Wests Tigers), Tom Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Daryl Clark, Ben Currie (both Warrington Wolves), Tyler Dupree (Wigan Warriors), Chris Hill (Huddersfield Giants), Tom Johnstone (Catalans Dragons), Matty Lees (St Helens), Mike McMeeken (Catalans Dragons), Robbie Mulhern (Leigh Leopards), Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos), Harry Smith, Morgan Smithies (both Wigan Warriors), Josh Thewlis, Danny Walker (both Warrington Wolves), Jack Welsby (St Helens), Elliott Whitehead (Canberra Raiders), George Williams (Warrington Wolves)

[The Greenhouse]

Welcome to our coverage of tonight’s third Test between England and Tonga at Headingley, Leeds. England going for a clean sweep after disappointing outings for Tonga so far. Kick off at 1:30am. Broadcast on Fox League from 1:25am. Live scores right here. It’s the final Test match ever in England colours for Canberra Raiders captain Elliott Whitehead. New Raiders recruit Morgan Smithies is 18th man for England so most likely will not play.

Final teams:

[The Greenhouse]

England has won the women’s Test against Wales 60-0 at Headingley. They led 20-0 at half time.

[The Greenhouse]

Tonga out there first. England is to be led out by Elliott Whitehead, followed by captain George Williams. He comes out onto the field to a warm reception from the crowd at Leeds. Not a sell out, the cheaper seats/the terraces are packed. Not a bad crowd all round.



It is presently 8C at Leeds, a bit damp.

The Last Post is played for Remembrance Day on 11 November.

Now the national anthems.

[The Greenhouse]

The huge flags are taken from the field and now for the Sipi Tau. It is led by former Raider Siliva Havili.

Now for the football. Tonga kick off to start the match.

[The Greenhouse]

14th min TRY ENGLAND to centre Ben Currie. Whitehead passes, then Burgess puts Smith into a gap and sets up the four pointer with a great pass. England have looked the stronger over the opening 15 minutes. Harry Smith converts from in front.

England 6-0

[The Greenhouse]

27th min TRY ENGLAND to winger Matty Ashton in the corner. Bateman offload and a great pass from Newman sets it up. Harry Smith converts from the sideline. Lovely kick.

England 12-0

[The Greenhouse]

33rd min PENALTY GOAL ENGLAND to Harry Smith.

England 14-0

[The Greenhouse]

35th min SIN BIN ENGLAND for prop Matty Lees, for hair pulling on the player tackling him. He was holding the Tongan player down on top of him.

SIN BIN TONGA for Kaeon Koloamatangi as well for being third man in, in the ensuing dust up.

PENALTY TONGA