Utoikamanu Torn Between Tonga and Samoa as Semi-Final Showdown Looms

For Stefano Utoikamanu, Sunday's showdown between Tonga and Samoa at CommBank Stadium is about far more than a Rugby League World Cup semi-final place. In the red corner stands his father Kava, and in the blue corner his mother Esther. The 26-year-old Melbourne Storm enforcer has played for both Pacific powerhouses, featuring twice for Samoa in the 2023 Pacific Championships before debuting for Tonga in last year's 34-6 loss to Samoa. On Sunday, his loyalty lies firmly with his Tonga teammates as they chase a place in the last four, and he has promised to do everything in his power to lead the red army through. He is not sure his mother will even wear her Samoan jersey on the night. Teammate Tyson Frizell understands the dilemma better than most: the 35-year-old played for Wales in the 2013 World Cup, for Australia in 2017, and now, after a four-year absence from the Kangaroos, has been selected for Tonga at his third and final World Cup. Utoikamanu insists that once the full-time whistle blows, he will be embracing his Samoan brothers. Until then, though, he will be going at 100 miles an hour for Tonga — family loyalties, for eighty minutes at least, put to one side.