LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
After a 28-point defeat against Samoa, Tonga's situation has worsened with the announcement that star front-rower Stefano Utoikamanu will miss the critical match against the New Zealand Kiwis.
Utoikamanu, who was making his debut for the international team, had a short-lived appearance as he lasted only three minutes before having to exit the game. He suffered a concussion following a heavy tackle from Samoa's Francis Molo, who has been placed on report and may face scrutiny from the match review committee.
Due to the Category 1 Head Injury Assessment (HIA), Utoikamanu is ineligible to participate in the upcoming match against New Zealand because of the mandatory 11-day concussion protocols.
Tonga needs to secure a victory against the Kiwis by at least 23 points to reach the final of the 2025 Pacific Championships. In this challenging situation, the team is hopeful for the return of Jason Taumalolo, who is currently racing against time to regain fitness.
Taumalolo, the co-captain of Tonga, missed the Samoa match as he is recovering from a knee cleanout procedure. While there were hopes for his return, he is still in the healing phase post-surgery.