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NRL fans call out blatant rule breach as New Zealand dudded in Pacific Championships against Tonga

The Kiwis were denied an obvious penalty that would have sent them into the final against Australia.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read

New Zealand rugby league fans are crying foul after they were denied a late penalty that would have given them victory over Tonga in the Pacific Championships on Saturday night. Tonga held on for an extraordinary victory to advance to next weekend's final against Australia, beating the Kiwis 25-24 in one of the great rugby league Test matches.

Tonga surged to a 24-0 lead in the first half and it appeared as though the Kiwis were dead and buried. But when Joseph Tapine scored a stunning try with 14 minutes remaining, things were back on level pegging at 24-24.

New Zealand and Tonga in their Pacific Championships clash.
Eli Katoa wasn't square at marker, but the officials missed the crucial call. Image: Channel 9/Getty

Isaiya Kaota nailed a field goal in the 76th minute to put Tonga back on top, before Jamayne Isaako missed a penalty goal and field goal attempt for New Zealand in the dying stages. But as many pointed out on social media, the referee and Bunker official missed the clear fact that Eli Katoa wasn't square at marker when Shaun Johnson had his field goal attempt charged down.

Johnson was rushed by Tonga defenders and eventually had his attempt blocked, before Isaako picked up the ball and sprayed his shot wide. Johnson challenged the result and referee Todd Smith sent it to the Bunker for an inspection, although Johnson appeared to be claiming he had his legs taken out illegally.

Eli Katoa, pictured here offside at marker.
There's no way in the world Eli Katoa was square at marker. Image: Channel 9

The challenge was found to be fine, but the officials missed the fact that Katoa was blatantly off-side at marker when he charged out to put pressure on Johnson. Katoa's efforts made Johnson step back inside before taking his attempt, which gave Jason Taumalolo time to charged down the ensuing kick.

Commentator Brenton Speed pointed out on social media that while the Bunker isn't allowed to rule on offsides for being inside the 10m, they are allowed to determine whether markers are square. Others described it as a 'joke' and 'farce' that the blatant indiscretion went unpunished.

The win marked Tonga's first over a tier-one nation in five years, and only the fourth in their history. The victory over New Zealand means the Tongans will face Australia in next Sunday's final at CommBank Stadium.

"This is unforgettable," Tonga captain Addin Fonua-Blake said. "We wanted to fight fire with fire. We knew New Zealand had a world-class front row and team. They came back, it shows how gutsy they are. They can hold their heads up high. It was a great game."

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Fonua-Blake scored one of four first-half tries for Tonga when he dummied and went through a massive gap, and ran for a whopping 214 metres in the game. Taumalolo had 188 running metres in a return to his barnstorming best, while Sione Katoa was damaging on the wing and crossed for Tonga's opener. Siliva Havili and Soni Luke also both scored out of dummy-half, with the Kiwis appearing out on their feet.

But the tide turned at the end of the first half, with Isaiah Papalii, Keano Kini, Phoenix Crossland and Tapine crossing for four-pointers. Eventually it was the Kiwis who cracked when the score was locked at 24-24, with Isaiya Katoa icing his moment to slot the game-winning field goal.