The new-look Kangaroos lacked international experience but they stepped up to repel a powerful challenge from Tonga at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Australia have a bright future ahead of the 2026 World Cup, but Tonga proved they can make the finals in a few years, just like Samoa did last time out in the UK.
And they could win it all. They are getting that good.
But this time the Kangaroos won 18–0 and avenged their 16–12 defeat in Auckland when these two teams last met five years ago.
Somehow the bookmakers had the Tongans installed as $5 long shots for this match, although with several star Kangaroos injured there was no major difference in the level of talent in either line-up.
And after an entertaining first half, the Australians managed to hold off their Pacific rivals in a Test that could have gone either way until the final minutes.
Australia can qualify for the Pacific Championships with a win over New Zealand in Christchurch next Sunday to reclaim the trophy from the Kiwis in next month’s final in Sydney after a 30-0 defeat in last year’s decider.
Mal impressed with Rusty team’s hit-out
Kangaroo coach Mal Meninga described his team’s forward defense as “very special”, but admitted that their attack was poor as it was their first match together and many of his players had not suited up for several weeks.
Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses missed more than three months with a torn biceps muscle, while most of the team’s players missed the second half of the finals series.
He said of his team, “The attitude, the intent, defensively excellent, I thought, against that big Tongan team that was ready to play.”
“I’m not quite sure how many tries they blocked, but they were desperate. We could be playing a bit better with the footy, but we’ve got some players there, especially down the spine, so I’m really happy with the performance.
“It’s really encouraging as far as improvement over the next game or two.
“Except for the grand final team, a lot of players have not played for at least three weeks. I am really happy even considering the short preparation period. We had two real serious sessions and the captain’s race. So, I’m really pleased with our defensive effort to hold them to zero. “That’s what we get out of it.”
He indicated that it would be difficult to drop a lot of players as he rotates his team for the second game of the tournament.
“We will see how everyone comes out of this game. I know the guys who missed out have been training really well and performing very well during the camp. We will take these tough decisions later.”
need more test footy
After the Tongans upset Australia in Auckland in 2019, there were calls for more Test footy against the emerging Pacific nation.
No one would have thought it would take five years for Mate Ma’a to play a match against the Kangaroos on Australian soil, a delay largely caused by a global pandemic.
Now this needs to happen more regularly.
Tonga is the box office. They brought the proverbial “sea of red” to Suncorp Stadium on Friday night and anticipated an entertaining contest for players and fans alike.
With young halfback Isaiah Katoa developing into one of the NRL’s best playmakers, Tonga now have the skills to complement their undoubted power forward.
“We have seen the emergence of a special talent,” Immortals halfback Andrew Johns said on Nine commentary as Katoa held on for the Kangaroos.
The 20-year-old Dolphins playmaker is still far from the finished product, twice being completely ruled out from the restart, but he also made a number of attacking raids that were only extinguished by some top-quality scrambling from the locals.
And young fullback Lehi Hopoate announced himself on the international stage with stellar performances in the Tongan number 1 jersey, saving tries and keeping the Australian defense on the backfoot on several occasions in the 19-year-old’s impressive debut for Manly.
Hamiso Tabui-Fido scored a try. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Nerves abound throughout the game
The match was like a test as it was the first match for each team in a tournament.
Both sides appeared confused and struggling to cope. But both of them were intense and full of intentions.
The Australians scored seven times in the first half, with Tonga having 54–46% possession, but the home team only managed to score a point.
Tom Trbojevic attempted to run 65 continuous meters at full speed without his hamstring pinching an interception by Tui Lolohea.
The sound you heard from the direction of Sydney’s North Island Peninsula was the collective sigh of Manly’s long-suffering fans.
There was a different kind of noise coming from Suncorp Stadium midway through the first half when Haumole Olakauatu crushed Lindsay Collins’ ribs with a powerful strike of Pacific power.
Hamiso Tabui-Fido almost doubled their 6–0 lead just before the break, but to the surprise of the crowd of 33,196 the Kangaroo center was stopped on the line by four defenders.
Trbojevic also looked set to add a second four-pointer early in the second period, but debutant Manly fullback, Hopoate, his successor, denied him with a last-ditch tackle.
The Hammers finally hit the nail on the head when the Dolphins paceman fired past Penrith opponent Paul Alamotti in the 54th minute to make it 12-0 as Trbojevic fired around to feed his center partner into the left corner. Was held scoreless to score.
Australian forward Cameron Murray came close to scoring just before the hour mark, but was thwarted by another Hopoate try-saver. However, he committed a professional foul by not standing at the marker as he wanted to close out the next play and was sin-free.
In a sign of respect for the Tonga defence, the hosts kicked a penalty goal to go 14–0 up and missed a golden chance to go ahead when Trbojevic failed to clear a put-down in the corner amid a more desperate defence. Gave.
Tonga had reduced the deficit when Keon Kolomatangi touched down, but he also had a case of dropsy as he tried to clear Steeden with a grubber with no one around.
Tom Dearden celebrated a brilliant start when he outwitted a tiring Tongan defense in the closing stages to push the final margin to 18 which was not a true reflection of the closeness of this clash.
red cloth to a shepherd
Todd Payten should let Jason Taumalolo wear his red Tongan jersey under his North Queensland uniform next year.
The veteran Cowboy looked like an unstoppable version of the last decade when he was the undisputed best forward in the game on his way to a Dally M medal.
He burst holes in the defense with a barnstorming first down and it was no coincidence that Australia finally managed to take the lead when Taumalolo was benched during the middle stages of the competition.
With Olakau’atu, Adin Fonua-Blake, Kolomatangi and Olakau’atu riding alongside Taumalolo, the Tongan pack is as formidable as any rugby league side can offer in 2024 and as painful as a lot of the Australians Have left an impact. Injuries from their attack and defense.
Beginners show they belong on the test stage
Meninga is ushering in a new generation on the Test side and his six debutants have shown they are ready to step up.
Dearden was normally busy at five-eighth to complement key playmaker Mitchell Moses, who in fairness is making his debut for the Kangaroos but has eight tests on his resume for Lebanon.
Zach Lomax continued his breakout 2024 on the wing, while Xavier Cotedt had his moments on the other flank.
Mitchell Barnett was one of Australia’s best meter-eaters off the bench, while the last of the new players, Raiders second-rower Hudson Young, suffered only a late setback but, as usual, did not step back.
It was not just the debutants who kept Green in the Green and Gold side, no Kangaroo had more than eight Test appearances.
But with Isaiah Yeo leading by example and young stalwarts like Trbojevic, Murray and Harry Grant also lending a steady hand, the Australians were never comfortable throughout the contest but thoroughly deserved the win.
“Our best football is still ahead of us, which is exciting,” Yeo said.
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