Group B of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup is one of the four groups in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, which began on 28 October and was completed on 11 November 2017. The group comprised New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland and Tonga. Tonga finished top of the pool while New Zealand and Samoa also qualified for the quarter-finals.
| Key to colours in pool tables | |
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| Advances to knockout stage and qualifies for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Tonga | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 110 | 44 | +66 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 |  New Zealand (H) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 134 | 42 | +92 | 4 | |
| 3 |  Samoa | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 40 | 84 | −44 | 1 | |
| 4 |  Scotland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 138 | −114 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 38–8 | Samoa |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Jordan Rapana (4') 1 Shaun Johnson (20') 1 Brad Takairangi (46') 1 Kodi Nikorima (52') 1 Issac Liu (55') 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (68') 1 Nelson Asofa-Solomona (72') 1 Goals: Shaun Johnson 5/7 (21', 53', 56', 69', 73') | Report [1] | Tries: 1 (37') Ken Maumalo 1 (80') Joseph Paulo Goals: 0/1 Peter Matautia 0/1 Tim Lafai |
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 17,857 Referee: James Child (England) Player of the Match: Joseph Tapine (New Zealand) |
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| Scotland | 4–50 | Tonga |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Danny Addy (62') 1 Goals: Danny Brough 0/1 | Report [2] | Tries: 3 (3', 20', 40') Michael Jennings 2 (26', 73') Daniel Tupou 1 (17') Jason Taumalolo 1 (23') Sika Manu 1 (38') Peni Terepo 1 (76') Ata Hingano Goals: 6/7 Sio Siua Taukeiaho (4', 19', 21', 24', 75', 78') 1/2 Ata Hingano (40') |
Barlow Park, Cairns Attendance: 9,216 Referee: Phil Bentham (England) Player of the Match: Jason Taumalolo (Tonga) |
Notes:
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| New Zealand | 74–6 | Scotland |
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| Tries: Te Maire Martin (32', 52', 76') 3 Pita Hiku (39', 58', 69') 3 Jason Nightingale (13', 23') 2 Kenny Bromwich (9') 1 Joseph Tapine (16') 1 Russell Packer (43') 1 Dean Whare (55') 1 Shaun Johnson (61') 1 Elijah Taylor (79') 1 Goals: Shaun Johnson 9/14 (11', 33', 44', 53', 56', 60', 63', 70', 80') | Report [4] | Tries: 1 (72') Oscar Thomas Goals: 1/1 Danny Addy (73') |
Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 12,130 Referee: Henry Perenara (New Zealand) Player of the Match: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand) |
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In the week leading up to the match there were several "vicious street brawls" between Samoan and Tongan supporters. [5] [6] This led to members of both the Tongan and Samoan teams calling for calm. [7] [8] 29 people were arrested for fighting after the game. [9]
| Samoa | 18–32 | Tonga |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Jazz Tevaga (17') 1 Ben Roberts (65') 1 Tim Lafai (73') 1 Goals: Tim Lafai 3/3 (18', 66', 74') | Report [10] | Tries: 2 (10', 29') Michael Jennings 1 (52') Peni Terepo 1 (60') Ben Murdoch-Masila 1 (77') Manu Ma'u Goals: 4/4 Sio Siua Taukeiaho (11', 28' pen, 30', 79') 2/2 Ata Hingano (53', 61') |
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 18,156 Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia) Player of the Match: Andrew Fifita (Tonga) |
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After the match, Tonga's victory was described as "the small island nation's greatest ever sporting achievement". During celebrations following the match, 53 Tongan supporters were arrested in Auckland. [11] [12]
| New Zealand | 22–28 | Tonga |
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| Tries: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (39', 72') 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (21') 1 Jordan Rapana (28') 1 Goals: Shaun Johnson 3/4 (30', 40', 73') | Report [13] | Tries: 3 (48', 59', 77') David Fusitu'a 1 (62') Tuimoala Lolohea 1 (65') William Hopoate Goals: 3/4 Sio Siua Taukeiaho (7' pen, 63', 66') 1/2 Tuimoala Lolohea (60') |
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 24,041 Referee: Gerard Sutton (Australia) Player of the Match: Tuimoala Lolohea (Tonga) |
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Notes:
| Samoa | 14–14 | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Junior Paulo (12') 1 Matthew Wright (49') 1 Young Tonumaipea (66') 1 Goals: Matthew Wright 1/3 (13') | Report [15] | Tries: 1 (5') Lewis Tierney 1 (28') Frankie Mariano Goals: 3/4 Danny Addy (6', 18' pen, 30') |
Barlow Park, Cairns Attendance: 4,309 Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia) Player of the Match: Danny Addy (Scotland) |
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The Tonga national rugby league team represents Tonga in rugby league football. They are currently the second ranked team in the world. The team was formed to compete in the 1986 Pacific Cup, and have competed at six Rugby League World Cups, starting in 1995 and continuing consecutively until the most recent tournament. Their best result was at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, where they were semi-finalists.
Samuela "Sam" Moa is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the FC Lézignan XIII in the French Elite One Championship. He is both Tonga and New Zealand international.
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