The Australian Kangaroos accounted for Tonga 34-16 on Saturday night, but the long term winner from the game will undoubtedly be rugby league.
A capacity crowd of over 26,000 people at Mt Smart Stadium, compared to a dismal crowd last weekend for Australia vs New Zealand. A sea of red, more Tongan flags than you could imagine and a carnival atmosphere all contributed to a great event.
Despite the scoreline, Tonga are not that far away from Australia and most of the reasons for this gap can be easily addressed.
Andrew Fifita leading the Sipi Tau was a fantastic way to start the game. After that, the Tongan team was always going to start the game with great passion. However, Tonga’s composure cost them early, with a completion rate of just over 60 per cent in the first half seeing Tonga behind 12-0 inside the first 10 minutes and 30-10 down at half time.
Tonga actually won the second 40 minutes.
You can’t blame the Tongan team for being a little unprepared, perhaps even overawed, early in this historic match. They hadn’t played as a team since the June Test win over Samoa, and before that, the World Cup last year.
The Kangaroos, on the other hand, were full of more recent big game experience through the Prime Minister’s XIII clash against PNG and the test match last weekend.
James Tedesco of Australia on the charge during the International Test match against Tonga. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
Tongan rugby league has arrived and the big three, Australia, New Zealand and England, need to welcome them inside. A few ideas have been floated around over the past few weeks and I think a regular Pacific tri-series would be a great addition to the representative season.
You would have two tiers, Australia, New Zealand and Tonga in Tier 1 and perhaps Samoa, Fiji and PNG in Tier 2. A promotion/relegation system would be in place each year. With regular matches under their belt, there is no reason to believe that Tonga would just be relegated one year and promoted the next. Whilst Australia would likely start favourites, any one of those three teams could win.
Tonga’s edge defence was also vulnerable last night, with Valentine Holmes and Tom Trbojevic both scoring a couple of tries. Rather than being just a fitness issue through lack of match practice, these defensive issues would also likely be mitigated via more games together and the building of defensive combinations.
If Tonga had a Johnathan Thurston or a Cooper Cronk playing for them, they would be close to unstoppable. Instead, Tuimoala Lolohea and Ata Hingano lead Tonga around the park. The loss of Hingano after 25 minutes made this role even tougher.
The Tongan team forced five drop outs compared to none for Australia, suggesting that their short kicking game is classy enough. However, there were a number of times when the Kangaroos looked short on the edge and the halves didn’t give their backs enough quality options.
You wouldn’t have many occasions in rugby league where a team that lost by three converted tries made 300m more in go forward than the opposition. This happened on Saturday night. It is also Kristian Woolf’s biggest challenge.
The addition of Tonga, as a real competitor to the big three, is the best thing to happen to international rugby league in many years. It is now up to Australia and New Zealand especially to ensure that Tonga’s place on the rugby league calendar is a very regular one.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Perhaps due to the fact ,Kiwi players play in the NRL.That's where they gain their experience .Just like some Pommies play in the NRL. And also players of Polynesian descent ,make up a fair % of NRL players. As long as you have sufficient players of quality,population has little bearing.That's the beauty of the rugby codes, many players are from these backgrounds.
Republican
Guest
.......the Ozzies look ordinary. Good on ya Tonga but I am bemused that a nation of 24 mill that plays a code of apparent high status here, firstly loses to NZ where the game is barley niche and the population is around 5mill, as well as struggles against a passionate but under resourced Tongan outfit again, where the code is not especially strong. Perhaps someone can enlighten me?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Good to see you continue to publicly display not only your various aliases Bernie, but your predictable ignorance. On 2nd June 2018 the champion Tongan 1st Div rugby league club(Mua Saints)travelled to Samoa defeating Apia Barracudas in the Polynesian Club championship. In Tonga approx 12 -1st Div and 7- 2nd Div clubs.Player numbers about 1,500. I propose the King has some local knowledge of the club scene and his support for the national team, evident in Auckland.
Moala
Roar Rookie
Mate fiji has played more top teams than Samoa and tonga put together.Fiji will always be a tier 2 nation.In the years they have played Australia they have learnt nothing same goes with PNG.I can guarantee tonga will be better next time.
Not Bernie
Roar Rookie
How is he eligible for Italy?? Haha
The Barry
Roar Guru
Well, geographically speaking the ACT is in NSW...
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
The response to your constant drivel says it all.
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
So perhaps you can explain the Origin aspect if its where you played your first game but ACT is now part of NSW???
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
The King of Tonga maybe there trying to get the game played in Tonga? you know like home and away like other codes...
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
See you later!
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
They need to find not only quality halves, but a some depth in the half/utility department to become consistently competitive on the international stage
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Just referred you to the mods pookie. See you later!
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
When’s the new Id pookie?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Seriously Bernie or whatever the latest alias devised is, if you detest rugby league so much and don't want to contribute to the actual substance. How about letting people who are prepared to do so, in fact do so, without the inane comments. If you think it's a flag of convenience ,you'd better have a chat with the King of Tonga and the population of that country, and the people who created such an amazing atmosphere at Mount Smart, they'll soon put you on your backside metaphorically
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
This comment has been removed for breaching The Roar's comments policy.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
I said that to him a year ago. It makes no difference. The mods really need to fix this for his own good.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Annoying complete strangers by constantly, mindlessly and ignorantly tearing down what they enjoy and you don’t care about, for no reason other than you can is not happiness. If you genuinely get joy from doing this day after day, you’ve got serious problems. No jokes, no insults. You have issues. Get help, get better, live your best life.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
That’s a lot of bile to include in one post even for you!
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
He’s been doing this for so long under so many ids he is beyond help. That game last weekend was a beauty and just what the code needed. Thus his response.
The Barry
Roar Guru
You cant be that dmb so you are clearly just being deliberately obtuse for pest value. Either way you make zero meaningful contribution. On any subject. It’s not nation of convenience. There are eligibility rules that players must meet. Just like every other sporting comp in the world. It’s just not that hard to understand. Under eligibility rules players can qualify for state of origin and they can qualify for international football. Again, it’s very easy to understand. I don’t know why you struggle. If you dislike league, why waste so much of your time and energy commenting on things you make no effort to understand. It’s a pathetic way to live your life just raining on things that other people enjoy. Find a positive outlet and live your best life.