Plenty of people picked Tonga as their tournament roughies, and that faith appears justified as the big red machine bashed their way to a 30-12 win over England in front of their passionate fans.

It means England no longer control their finals hopes after they were outclassed by Tonga in a World Cup result nine years in the making.

Tonga announced themselves on the global stage at the 2017 World Cup with a heartbreaking semi-final loss against England, but they finally have their revenge after a gutsy win in the west.

Kristian Woolf’s side had been in a slump but made a statement on Saturday night with one of his Dolphins stars playing a pivotal role against an English team that offloaded well but lacked an attacking spark in the spine.

Tongan No.7 Isaiya Katoa took his chances and set up the opening try of the night for Stefano Utoikamanu with a lovely short ball before he knocked over four penalty goals to keep the scoreboard ticking.

They relied on their monster pack nine years ago, but it’s their outside backs who shone on Saturday with Lehi Hopoate safe under the high ball, while Robert Toia made a couple of big breaks down the right.

And then there was veteran winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who switched his international allegiance and made it count with three huge kick chases that won two penalties and forced an error.

HOLY MOLE

Haumole Olakau’atu was in tears during the anthem, he proudly led the spine-tingling Sipi Tau, and then scored two crucial second-half tries to get his side home.

All four moments were special for the barnstorming back-rower, but the tries have his country on the verge of reaching the semi-finals.

He reacted quickly to a scrappy Katoa grubber and toed it through for himself to score, with Sea Eagles teammate Tolu Koula then pouncing onto a grubber two minutes later to blow the game wide open.

And he then put the icing on the cake when he raced through to ground another Katoa grubber to clinch the famous win.

The result means they control their destiny and will make the finals if they beat Lebanon and Samoa.

DESTINY’S CHILD

England could beat France and PNG and still miss out on a spot in the semis after going down in Perth.

They played with a lot more enterprise than we saw in last year’s Ashes where Australian fans who got up early struggled to stay awake because of England’s dull tactics.

They moved the ball around in this one and looked good whenever Herbie Farnworth touched it, but their halves failed to take control of the opportunities with Dolphins-bound playmaker George Williams outclassed by future teammate, Katoa.

It took a big break from Hugo Savala to set up fellow NRL star AJ Brimson for their first try, but the comeback was shut down fairly quickly.

INJURY BLOW

Injuries have been the big story of the opening week of the World Cup, with Tonga five-eighth Latu Fainu the latest star to go down.

Fainu had come up with some bruising shots in defence but was forced off after 16 minutes with a suspected pec strain, although early reports are that it’s not serious.

It’s a blow to Tonga and for the young playmaker who was hoping to stake his claim for a starting spot at the Tigers next year after struggling for opportunities.

The injury also wreaked havoc with the bench after they made the call to start boom back-rower Salesi Foketi over Soni Luke at dummy-half.

Tui Lolohea came on in the halves, with Foketi continuing his amazing 2026 by getting the job done in an unfamiliar role.

Originally published as Holy Haumole: Tonga gets revenge nine years later thanks to scary second half as England now need a miracle to make the semis