Rugby League World Cup: NZ-based Samoan community celebrates incredible semi-final upset over England

New Zealand's Pacific neighbours are celebrating a huge victory overnight, after Toa Samoa upset England in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.

The result has spurred wild celebrations in the islands and right here in Aotearoa.

From Auckland to Apia, they're dancing in the streets - this is how it feels when your team reaches its first ever World Cup final.

"I'm looking at my wife, and she looks like she's going to have a heart attack or something," said Otara Scorpions general manager Willie Maea. "Even the high fives were muffled, so we didn't wake up the kids, but in the end, we started yelling and didn't care who we woke up."

Toa Samoa celebrate their victory over England at the World Cup
Toa Samoa celebrate their victory over England at the World Cup. Photo credit: Getty Images

The result capped a miraculous turnaround for Toa Samoa, after being eviscerated 60-6 by England in poolplay. The 27-26 semifinal upset was achieved courtesy of centre Stephen Chrichton's golden-point field goal.

"I guess, in context, the last time that the whole nation celebrated was when Peter Fats and his team made history in the Rugby World Cup," said Maea. 

The win brought back memories of Manu Samoa's famous run into the last eight at the 1991 Rugby Union World Cup, but both games are different now, with social media flooded with footage from back home and the streets of Otara.

"It was just great in Otara," said Maea. The fireworks happened not long after the final whistle and those firworks kept on going.

"Cha-hooing... you could hear the neighbours across the road. We came together this morning."

The plan now? Off home to rewatch the game for a FOURTH time.

"You know, there's a whole lot of Samoan kids that were born in New Zealand," said Maea. "Now they've experienced what being proud of their flag, of their home nation is about.

And the party isn't over yet... now for the big dance.

Catch the Rugby League World Cup live on Spark Sport and free-to-air on Three