Tonga scored a stunning 36-4 win over fierce rivals Samoa, but their rugby league Test ended in chaos on Saturday night at Penrith’s Centrebet Stadium.
Beaten by Samoa in their past two encounters, Tonga scored seven tries to one in front of a very vocal and enthusiastic crowd of 10,143.
Some did get a bit carried away, with a few invading the pitch after Tonga’s sixth try, but dozens ran onto the field after their seventh less than two minutes before the end.
Referee Matt Cecchin headed down the tunnel with time still left on the clock and the final conversion attempt was never taken as the clock ran down and play did not restart.
The final scenes took some gloss off an entertaining clash in which winger Mahe Fonua, centre Siuatonga Likiliki and five-eighth Samsoni Langi each scored two tries.
Langi also kicked four goals to finish with 16 points.
Knights centre Likiliki, who only recently returned from knee surgery, also supplied the final pass for a try to Wyong Roos winger Etu Uaisele, the only non-NRL club affiliated starter in either side.
Tonga shot to a 10-0 lead after Langi muscled his way over the line and converted, though he failed to add the extras after Likiliki’s first four-pointer.
Samoa pulled it back to 10-4 by the break after winger Daniel Vidot crossed for their only try.
Tonga proved too clinical after the break.
Likiliki went over for his second within two minutes of the restart and, although Samoa had some promising moments, they couldn’t capitalise.
One bad note for Tonga was Fuifui Moimoi being placed on report for an alleged late tackle on Samoan five-eighth Carlos Tuimavave.