The World Cup's final four is settled, with Tonga's gripping victory over Samoa providing a fitting finish to the pool stage.
New Zealand delivered their strongest warning yet, Australia's fullback debate intensified and England's campaign ended despite winning two of their three matches.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the third round of the Rugby League World Cup.
Tonga have the composure to match their firepower
Tonga have now beaten England and Samoa in the same World Cup campaign. Their credentials are becoming increasingly difficult to question.
Sunday's 20-18 victory over Samoa demanded more than physical dominance. After surrendering a 14-4 advantage and falling behind late, Tonga had to find a response against an opponent carrying all the momentum.
Addin Fonua-Blake supplied it, powering through for the decisive try before Isaiya Katoa's conversion restored their lead.
Tonga then survived two late Samoa threats to finish the pool stage unbeaten and secure a semi-final against New Zealand.
Their defensive effort was just as consequential as Fonua-Blake's intervention. Lehi Hopoate and Haumole Olakau'atu's desperate effort to deny Benaiah Ioelu on the line helped keep Tonga ahead during Samoa's second-half surge.
Rob Toia's opening try also demonstrated the individual quality available outside their imposing forward pack, with the centre beating Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Sua Fa'alogo after receiving an Olakau'atu offload.
The encouraging sign for coach Kristian Woolf is that Tonga can win through different means. They have defended under sustained pressure, produced tries from individual brilliance and recovered when a close contest appeared to be slipping away. Those qualities give them a genuine chance against the Kiwis.
Samoa's threat is real, but the margins matter
Samoa's defeat offered evidence of both their attacking danger and the details they must improve before facing Australia.
Having fallen 10 points behind, they scored three consecutive tries to take an 18-14 lead. Even after Tonga regained the advantage, Samoa created opportunities to steal the match.
Their ability to generate chances against a defence as committed as Tonga's should encourage coach Ben Gardiner. But four tries to three was not enough: Samoa converted only once, while Katoa landed all four of his attempts, including a penalty goal.
There is also an injury concern in the halves. Chanel Harris-Tavita hurt his hamstring while attempting a conversion and is awaiting scans, leaving his availability for the semifinal uncertain.
Ronald Volkman made an immediate contribution after entering the contest, scoring the try that briefly put Samoa ahead. His performance provides encouragement, should a change be required.
Samoa have enough attacking quality to trouble the Kangaroos. Turning that threat into a place in the final will require greater accuracy in the moments that decided Sunday's contest.
New Zealand's biggest statement comes at a cost
A week after Fiji pushed Australia, New Zealand dismantled the Bati 78-0.
The comparison comes with context. Fiji lost Api Koroisau and Semi Valemei during the first half, significantly weakening their resistance. Even so, the Kiwis' execution was emphatic: They led 48-0 at halftime and never allowed the contest to recover.
Casey McLean scored four tries, taking his remarkable international record to 15 in seven Tests. Keano Kini added two tries, 260 running metres and seven tackle breaks, while Jahrome Hughes supplied three try assists.
New Zealand's forwards created the opportunities and their backs repeatedly converted them.
The major setback was Ronaldo Mulitalo's dismissal for a high tackle on Ronald Philitoga. He has since accepted a one-match suspension and will miss the semifinal against Tonga.
Losing an established winger immediately before a knockout match is an avoidable complication. It also reinforces the importance of discipline for a side whose playing strength otherwise gives it every reason to believe it can reach the final.
Walsh strengthens his case, but Walters keeps his options open
Reece Walsh gave Kevin Walters plenty to consider with a try and five try assists in Australia's 66-6 victory over the Cook Islands.
Restored at fullback after James Tedesco's impressive outing against Fiji, Walsh supplied the attacking spark as Australia completed an unbeaten pool campaign. Tom Dearden also contributed two try assists alongside Cameron Munster in the halves.
Walters nevertheless maintained after the match that his semifinal side remained undecided, keeping Tedesco and Sam Walker in contention.
Jack Bostock and Tom Trbojevic both finished with hat tricks, while Tino Fa'asuamaleaui crossed twice in Australia's most comfortable victory of the tournament.
The opposition must be considered when assessing those performances. Samoa will apply considerably more pressure and offer fewer opportunities to recover from mistakes.
Still, Walsh made a persuasive case to retain the jersey. His ability to create space for the players around him could be particularly valuable against a side capable of matching Australia's attacking firepower.
Walters now has to settle on the combination he trusts to deliver when the tournament becomes sudden death.
England's exit exposes more than an unforgiving format
England's elimination will fuel debate over a tournament structure that sent them home with two wins from three matches.
Their opening defeat to Tonga left them dependent on points difference and results elsewhere. A 34-12 victory over Papua New Guinea ultimately left them needing Tonga to beat Samoa by at least 47 points - an outcome that never looked realistic.
But England also had opportunities to improve their position and failed to take them.
Four tries in the opening 21 minutes against the Kumuls suggested a substantial win was possible. Instead, England finished with 20 errors, conceded twice after halftime and lost the momentum required to build a much larger margin.
Papua New Guinea deserve credit for responding, particularly after trailing 24-0 at the break. For England, however, it was another instance of promising attacking passages giving way to poor execution.
The format left little room for recovery. England's inability to sustain their best football made that task harder still.
Lebanon's finish shows why these games matter
Neither Lebanon nor France could reach the semifinals, but their meeting produced one of the most dramatic finishes of the tournament.
Arthur Mourgue's late two-point field goal forced extra time before France had an apparent winning field goal disallowed for obstruction.
The contest was eventually settled in the 85th minute when an Alex Conti penalty attempt from 48 metres fell short, into the arms of France fullback Arthur Mourgue, who inexplicably attempted a kick and chase ten metres out from his own line. The ball had barely left his boot when it was plucked from the air by Abbas Miski, who raced away to secure Lebanon's 24-20 victory.
Amid the extraordinary finish, Conti's performance offered the Cedars another reason for encouragement. The halfback scored their opening try, supplied two try assists and earned player-of-the-match honours.
For Lebanon, the win provided a tangible reward after defeats in their opening two matches. For France, it was a painful ending to their most competitive performance of the campaign.
The match also demonstrated the value of closely matched international fixtures. Both teams had opportunities to win, their playmakers faced meaningful pressure and the result remained in doubt until the final play.