Tonga’s prop Stefano Utoikamanu is preparing for a potentially intense showdown with Samoa’s Francis Molo in their upcoming World Cup match on Sunday at CommBank Stadium in Sydney. The two forwards share a recent and contentious history after a violent collision during the 2025 Pacific Championships that left Utoikamanu sidelined early in the tournament.

Utoikamanu, who was making his debut for Tonga following appearances with other Pacific teams, was knocked out within the first two minutes of their previous encounter when Molo delivered a high-impact shoulder charge. The incident resulted in Utoikamanu missing the remainder of the competition, while Molo received a $390 fine but was not sent off during the game.

Reflecting on the incident, Utoikamanu expressed some frustration with the officiating but emphasized the unpredictability of such physical moments in rugby league. “I felt like it was a bit shoddy, refereeing wise and all that kind of stuff,” he said. “But I know in a game, you can’t really control that kind of stuff. Stuff happens in the game, but I was still disappointed because I was out for the rest of the campaign.”

Despite the past clashes, Utoikamanu downplayed focusing solely on his opponent as his primary motivation. Known for his competitive edge — notably igniting tensions during the 2025 grand final by openly challenging Broncos players — he said his mindset centers on dominating the forward pack as a whole. “Stuff like that is always a bit of motivation,” he noted. “I don’t think I really need to get too motivated going into most games. My mentality is to go out there and try to dominate the other pack, and that’s what I try to do every week at club land.”

Tonga coach Kristian Woolf has named Utoikamanu on the bench for the clash scheduled to kick off at 7:05 p.m. local time on Sunday, while Molo is set to start for Samoa. This selection means the two may not necessarily face each other directly at the outset, but the anticipation among fans for their renewed rivalry remains high.

Ahead of the match, Utoikamanu noted that tensions from their last encounter have eased, having shaken hands with Molo after the knockout incident. The match will be broadcast live on Kayo Sports and Channel 7.