A pre-match drama involving forward Eliesa Katoa could attract further scrutiny after Tonga bowed out of the Pacific Championships with a 40-14 loss to New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland, on Sunday.

The result means the Kiwis will meet Samoa in the tournament decider at CommBank Stadium next Sunday.

Tonga were already behind the eight-ball before the game kicked off, after a 34-6 thrashing from Samoa seven days earlier left them needing to beat the Kiwis by at least 18 points to reach the final.

Those hopes appeared to have suffered a major setback during the pre-game warm-up, when Katoa copped an accidental shoulder flush to the head from teammate Lehi Hopoate.

The Storm back-rower appeared dazed, but he took his place for the national anthems and in the starting line-up for kick-of

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