The Tonga–Samoa rivalry has delivered another major result, this time away from the rugby league field.
Australian television audience figures published on Monday show Sunday's World Cup clash attracted an average national audience of approximately 1.5 million viewers, reaching around 2.9 million Australians across its broadcast, according to media publication B&T.
On the field, Tonga defeated Samoa 20–18 at CommBank Stadium in front of 29,411 spectators. Both teams had already secured semi-final places, yet the contest delivered a dramatic finish.
For Pacific rugby league, the television figures raise a bigger commercial question. If Tonga and Samoa can attract an audience of this size during a group-stage match, what could a regularly scheduled international fixture achieve?
A dedicated annual contest could provide more opportunities for Pacific players to represent their heritage while giving broadcasters and sponsors a proven audience. That remains a proposal, not an announced competition.
The immediate focus is the World Cup semi-finals, where Tonga face New Zealand and Samoa meet Australia. The latest figures give decision-makers another reason to consider the future of this rivalry beyond the current tournament.
