It’s finally official: the Kangaroos will face Mate Ma’a Tonga in a historic end-of-season Test match this year.
The match wil take place at the ‘neutral’ ground of Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on Saturday October 20, 2018 – the week following the New Zealand-Australia clash.
It’s a game that has serious potential for a boilover, with Tonga – led by converts Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita – having gone within a whisker of facing off against Australia in last year’s Rugby League World Cup final.
“This is a fantastic result for all fans of Rugby League and the continued growth of the international game,” NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said.
“Many people have worked tirelessly right around the globe to ensure this match takes place.
“I’d particularly like to thank the NZRL for their efforts to ensure this match eventuated on New Zealand soil, along with the RLPA and the players.
“Tonga are the fourth-ranked team in the world and have fully earned their right to take on the World Champion Kangaroos.”
The match is a huge boon for international rugby league, which has somewhat struggled in recent years.
“This will be a great occasion and it is something I know the players are excited about,” Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said.
“This will be an important game not only for the Kangaroos but for the international game.
“As a game it’s important to capitalise on the success of the World Cup last year, and particularly the success of Tonga and the other Pacific nations.
“Tonga’s performances last year captured the imagination of so many people in the game and I’m sure the game in Tonga will grow even more with games like this taking place.”
The Tongan team are sure to be strongly supported, with Stuart Turner, Head of Major Events at Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED), pointing out that Auckland is home to a “sizeable Tongan community” that is “full of passionate and loyal league fans”.
Macho Jacko
Guest
If the Australian Kangaroos put 40 points to Nil in this game or Jason Tamololo and Fifita get injured or do not play, than its......"Houston? We have a problem"
Jacko
Guest
40% of NRL not Aus....50% of Australians born OS or have a parent born OS.....Life's like that....Not that I follow the Wallabies
Jacko
Guest
Enjoy your fake little match Terrence...Are you going?
terrence
Roar Rookie
..I'm actually really looking forward to this game..and I'm samoan..haha..time to bring back some excitement again to international league..go mate ma'a tonga!!
terrence
Roar Rookie
you paying for their entry?..like I said, you don't wanna watch it, stay home snowflake..go mate ma'a tonga!!
Jacko
Guest
Cheers for the insult...there is 110,000 Tongans living in Tonga and your 80k living in NZ is not true.....There are 23000 Tongans living in NZ...There are another 55K of Tongan decent but born in NZ and therefore NZ citisens....So what happens if tJT is injured? halve the crowd straight away and if Fafita goes down injured as well its a half empty stadium...and an absolute thrashing...unless the Refs manufactor the result of course...thats common in league
Nat
Roar Guru
14/29 current Wallabies born overseas.
terrence
Roar Rookie
you can stay home snowflake..the 80k tongans living in nz are over the moon..let's go mate ma'a tonga!!
jacko
Guest
brainstrust the problem is nothing to do with kiwi's wanting to play SOO then for the ABs...its the pathetic qualification rules that allow almost anyone to play for Qld or Aus in league......Why are kiwi's even allowed to play for Qld or Aus in league? maybe its because the Kiwi's make up 33% of the NRL because the scouts raid NZ schoolboys rugby because they dont have enough talent in Aus
Jacko
Guest
Spot on....Fake qualifying rules with fake reffing to "equalise" the game and fake teams playing in a country they dont come from.....total BS game and I wont be watching.....NZ has had 2 0r 3 games V Aus in NZ in the last 10 years yet Aus league has to rely on a non league country to provide enough fans to watch it so they can make money.....pity they dont give a toss about other countries and only play for their own benifit....IN SOMEONE ELSES BACK YARD........Do you know why its in NZ? Because the price of stadium hire in Aus is stopping it being profitable.....nothing to do with the game....all about the revenue NZ will provide..pathetic
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Auckland would be the biggest Tongan city population wise in the world. If they are playing the Kiwis there the week before as well. I would say the real clincher is Auckland would probably be paying for it, The problem is Kiwis now want to play for Queensland in State of Origin and the All Blacks in rugby.
Paul
Roar Guru
so I assume from your "comments" you won't bother to watch such a BS game?
peeeko
Roar Guru
words cant describe you
terrence
Roar Rookie
GO MATE MA'A TONGA!!!
Jacko
Guest
its rather scarry that NZ is the venue chosen for a game not involving a kiwi team.....or is it a Kiwi team?...Is Aus rugby league that desperate that they cant host the game themselves? No of cousre not its all about splitting up the Kiwi team so they arnt as competitive. This is BS and if Tonga want to play Aus then play them in Aus or in Tonga.......Would this draw a crowd in Aus? typical NRL.....all about themselves....Aus will thrash them and the concept will be done and dusted as 1 lucky WC and some crap reffing does not make Tonga an international league side
Paul
Roar Guru
Lets hope both teams put together sides suitable for a game of this importance and players aren't pulled out by their Clubs due to "injury". If both teams put together their best 17, it should be an absolute beauty.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
This could be a cracking game. Especially if the Aussies take Tonga lightly.
Matt H
Roar Guru
This is good news. Tonga need regular games to maintain their momentum. It sends the message to young Pacific Islander player that they have a choice. If they want to play for the country of their heritage instead of State of Origin then they will get quality games. I'd like to see this game played annually, with Australia and NZ alternating as the opposition.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
That’s fantastic news. The Tongans have an incredibly talented team and play with unbelievable passion. I’ve marked it don already