Stefano Utoikamanu is heading into Sunday night's all-Pacific clash with a clear memory of what happened the last time he wore Tonga colors. Last year, in his Tonga debut, he was knocked out inside the opening minute by Francis Molo in the Pacific Nations Championships, a moment that left him angry at the time but even more motivated for the rematch.
The Tonga bench player said it was a strange start to what should have been a special night, explaining that he was so excited to play for Tonga that the opening minutes hardly went to plan. He also said the high shot was one the officials missed, and while he was frustrated then, the incident is now part of the past.
Now, Tonga and Samoa will meet again on Sunday night in a sold-out World Cup clash at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta. For Utoikamanu, it is a chance to line up against the same opposition after a year of reflection, and to do it in front of a packed crowd with real stakes attached.
A rematch with bigger stakes
The winner of the match is likely to face New Zealand in a semi-final in Newcastle next Saturday, while the loser is likely to remain in Sydney for Australia next Sunday. That adds another layer to a game that already carries plenty of history and physical edge.
Utoikamanu, who previously represented Samoa before switching to Tonga, said he is simply excited to get back into the contest. He described the Samoans as a team that likes to play a bit of footy and said they have a very strong pack, similar to Tonga's. He made it clear he is ready for the battle.
"I’ll go out and do what I do best, which is run hard and try to get at someone," Utoikamanu said. "Whoever is in front of me, I’ll do what I can to try and get over them."
The motivation is not only about last year's knockout, either. Utoikamanu said he is happy to wear the red jersey and was driven to get into this squad after a difficult club season. He said Tonga's best is good enough to beat any team, and he wants to be part of that again on Sunday night.
"We didn’t have much success in clubland this year, so a big motivation for me was trying to get into this team because I know when we’re at our best, we can beat any team," he said.
That is what makes Samoa vs Tonga more than just another international fixture for him. It is a rematch, a measuring point and, after last year's opening-minute blow, a chance to reset the story on a bigger stage.
