Photo: Toa Samoa Facebook
Toa Samoa have booked their spot in the Pacific Championships final, overcoming Tonga - and the weather - for a 34-6 victory at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
With 60 minutes gone in the game an electrical storm hit Brisbane and the players left the field for what became a 90-minute delay.
Afterwards, it was Samoa who came out firing as they turned a 16-0 lead into a 34-6 victory.
Toa Samoa's head coach said the team started well - something that they improved on since their loss against the Kiwis the week before.
Ben Gardiner said test match footy is simple: put the ball in the corner and play territory.
"I thought we started really well - we probably missed the jump last week we thought, in the game against New Zealand," he said.
"It was something that we talked about through the week, about being better at the start of the game. But not only being better in terms of our physicality but just also our control with the ball and our choices at the start of the game."
Toa Samoa's co-captain Jarome Luai said the passion of the fans drives the team.
Photo: Toa Samoa Facebook
He said there needs to be more Samoa vs Tonga games to support the growth of the sport.
"A lot of credit to the fans, to the people," he said.
"It just goes to show how much we mean to our people and our community, and that's where the passion comes from - from seeing Samoans/Tongans all around the world, running their parades.
"We get so much motivation from all of that."
Photo: Tonga Rugby League Facebook
Tonga's coach Kristian Woolf said the occasion was outstanding but overall he was really disappointed.
"I just think we're a much better footy team that what we showed today," he said.
"For whatever reason we got beaten to the jump and right at the start there, and they came out a bit more physical and went after us a little bit more than what we were prepared to do and that sort of seemed to continue for the rest of the game."
He said Tonga had opportunities to score but failed to make the most of them.
But he also believes bigger consquences for foul play that puts players out of action should be considered.
Photo: Tonga Rugby League Facebook
Tonga was missing powerhouse forward Jason Taumalolo and suffered another early blow, when front-rower Stefano Utoikamanu was hit high by Francis Molo.
Molo was placed on report but Utoikamanu suffered a concussion that will rule him out of next week's encounter against the Kiwis.
Woolf said missing Utoikamanu did not lose them the game, but it's a big hit to future matches.
"You're [potentially] losing him for two games basically - that happened the first set of the game.
"It is something that needs to be looked at. It's not just that you just lose a player, you lose an interchange; it's you potentially lose him for two weeks and there's not much repercussion the other way."
Photo: Cook Islands Rugby League Facebook
In the women's matches at the weekend, the Australian Jillaroos thrashed Fetu Samoa 60-0, and Cook Islands Moana beat Tonga 42-24.
The Moana's win gives them the Pacific Bowl.
The PNG Kumuls had proved too strong for the Cook Islands Aitu on Saturday, winning 40-28.
