Samoa will have Junior Paulo for their Rugby League World Cup semi-final against the Kangaroos after the big prop escaped with a warning for his shoulder charge in Sunday night’s 20-18 loss to Tonga.
The match review committee graded the tackle on Tonga winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak a Grade 1 offence, Zero Tackle reported. As it is the first offence on his record under World Cup rules, that means only a warning, leaving him free to play.
Paulo was penalised and placed on report by referee Adam Gee during the first half at CommBank Stadium, but stayed on the field. Fox Sports also reported he would play in next Sunday’s semi-final after receiving only a warning.
“The shoulder is back! It is outlawed and boy oh boy it came from a blind spot for Watene-Zelezniak,” Andrew Voss said in commentary on Channel 7, as reported by 7NEWS.
Tonga edge Samoa in an epic
Tonga won a thriller 20-18 in front of 29,411 fans, the biggest crowd for a sporting event at CommBank Stadium, according to Fox Sports.
Read more: Tonga Beat Lebanon 36-0 to Set Up World Cup Showdown With Samoa
Addin Fonua-Blake scored with eight minutes left to put Tonga back in front, and Samoa thought they had snatched it at the death when Sua Fa’alogo got the ball down in the left corner. The try was ruled out after officials spotted a toe on the sideline.
Harris-Tavita blow for Samoa
Samoa look set to be without five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita, who limped off in the second half clutching his left hamstring.
Read more: New Zealand Crush Fiji 78-0 as Mulitalo, Wakeham Sent Off
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio said on Channel 7 that Harris-Tavita did not return from the dressing room to watch the rest of the game. “We’ve all been around the game long enough to know that’s a World Cup-ending hamstring injury,” Riccio said.
Ronald Volkman replaced him and crashed over to put Samoa ahead with 12 minutes left, and Fox Sports reported he is now in line to partner Jarome Luai in the halves.
Semi-final details
Australia meet Samoa at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Sunday, 8 November at 8.05pm AEDT, according to NRL.com. New Zealand play Tonga in the other semi-final in Newcastle on Saturday night.
Kiwis winger Ronaldo Mulitalo copped a match ban for a similar tackle against Fiji and is set to miss that semi-final, Fox Sports reported.
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