Australia has been stunned by the Tonga Invitational team tonight, going down 16-12 at Eden Park in New Zealand.
After Australia had wrestled back control going into half time, most thought the Kangaroos would get away in the second half.
The reality was completely different however, with the Tongan forward back outplaying Australia and the halves pairing of Tuimoala Lolohea and Kotoni Staggs overshadowing their more fancied rivals.
Second-half tries to Tevita Pangai Junior and Michael Jennings were reflective of their dominance and Tonga deserved their win tonight.
It was the first time in history that the Tongans have beaten Australia after only meeting them in a Test for the first time last year.
They are only the fifth team to defeat Australian in a rugby league Test, joining New Zealand, England, Great Britain and France.
It’s the first time in 41 years that the Kangaroos have lost to a side that wasn’t one of those first three.
A few of the Australian players shouldn’t be pulling on a Kangaroos jersey for a long time.
Latrell Mitchell’s kick at the ball in the last 10 minutes was a soft play, while both Cam Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans had really poor games.
The Australian pack was also underwhelming, with the starting props in David Klemmer and Josh Papalii outshone by the bench.
Big issues for Mal Meninga to solve going forward but, simply, Tonga wanted it more tonight.
Rather than being disappointed by an insipid Australian performance, we should be celebrating a great night for international rugby league.
Tonga are no longer a Tier 2 nation – they have just beaten the world’s best.
Australia 12
Tonga 16
Josh
Roar Rookie
the commentators all agreed that the first australian try would have been called up in the nrl. i thought the pangai jnr try looked forward, the hopoate forward pass call was a bit tough in the first half. also tonga very unlucky with kotoni staggs call, fullback does not head high tonga scores, definition of penalty try imo. i also think player would have been sent off if the jerseys were changed.
Short Memory
Guest
Roos were flat and Tonga played their hearts out. But still needed some charitable refereeing to get them over the line. Hopoate try wouldn't have happened if Lolohea hadn't been allowed to move off mark at play the ball - taking Cook out of play at marker. Taukeaho deadset facing sideline to get quick play the ball for final try (after obvious forward pass in previous play). Identical strips ruled penalty against Australia, and play on for Tonga - at a point where Roos were inside their 10m. Great result for international game. But just a teensy bit dodgy.
Ken Lloyd
Guest
Surprise No. The South Pacific Islanders have been performing well in the last decade in the NRL. And not enough credit has been given to the way they beat Australia in game on the weekend.If trend continues ,we will see the NRL comp.with a lot more South-Pacific-Aussie Players. Sava
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Weak response.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Seriously Rowdy grow up. Wasting your time making a goose of yourself here is unhealthy.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Go find something useful to do. Post on an afl thread. Get a life.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
CC, scared of a drink? Scared of meeting me in person? If you are ever Lismore I’d be happy to be man enough to meet you and thrash it out over a few and chips. Reciprocate?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
JK, you are very condescending. It shows you can’t handle the issue so you go for the jugular. That truly is immature.
Republican
Guest
......it is great for the growth of the code in the Pacific and internationally, to be sure. Conversely, because the NRL clubs are scouting these nations more and more to fill spots at the elite 'domestic' tier, a dearth of home grown talent indicates that parity needs to be addressed. Traditional GR are less represented in the code and as such young aspirants don't see a pathway in the code, given the growing profile of these O/S players at the elite level? The 'Australian' international standard will plummet if this continues but perhaps that's not as important as the entertainment value expressed by supporters of the game here?
baz
Roar Rookie
Not much difference between the codes. http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2019/09/09/foreign-born-raised-players-at-rwc-2019/?fbclid=IwAR1Hceu4fbUjV_oA0-qIdlZh5_3q9R8QRi9wXoNi8l5_kZJBU85Pv8nxpyU
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Agree if tall Turbo was there ,you'd at least have a first class goer , who comands respect from any opposition.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
JK .When it comes to rugby league forums this gent ,has shown he is very persistently "rowdy".Digs himself a deep hole, and is now trying everything possible to get out of it.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Still writing in a rugby league forum? Insecure much! Afl fanboys are so predictable.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Still defending your superiority by deigning to say what I didn't mean?
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I noticed the incorrect play the ball and so did the refs. It's just another example of the power refs have to influence the result of games. In this case it didn't worry me too much but you never really know which breach they are going to ignore and which minor breach they are going to pull up. That's why the coaches constantly ask for consistency because it is all over the shop at times. The commentators in the Pommies game mentioned the sloppy play the ball but failed to notice the marker manhandling the player as he was trying to play the ball. It went on all game but not one penalty.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Not till you turn 18.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Come to Lismore I'll buy you a beer.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
He’s special isn’t he CC. Like so many other insecure afl fanboys. Pokes out his chest but delivers nothing. Insecure. So insecure.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Afl fanboy spends all day on a rugby league discussion making a goose of himself. Hilarious.
JohnB
Guest
That was like watching the Broncos for most of the last couple of years. Plenty of effort, no structure, no direction, errors constantly relieving any pressure and a bit of one-out individual brilliance from one of the young forwards or an error from a kick the only likely ways of scoring.