NRL star labelled ‘hog’ for burning teammate in Kangaroos’ Pacific Championships win
The Kangaroos have claimed victory in the Pacific Championships final, but one NRL star has been criticised by fans for butchering tries.
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The Australian Kangaroos have defeated Tonga 20-14 to win the Pacific Championships final and get redemption after being hammered in last year’s final.
Tonga opened the scoring through a superb finish from Sione Katoa in the corner, but the Kangaroos led 14-4 at halftime thanks to early tries to wingers Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Xavier Coates.
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But their lead could have been even bigger if not for two tryscoring opportunities missed by Tom Trbojevic in the dying stages of the first half.
Trbojevic scored his first try in the 35th minute when he got on the end of a Tom Dearden pass after the Kangaroos five-eighth split open Tonga’s defence with a trademark dummy.
Trbojevic had a chance to score again just a few minutes later when he tried to barge his way over the line, only to be held up by Tongan centre and Manly teammate Tolutau Koula.
The Manly superstar could have passed the ball to Kangaroos winger Zac Lomax, who had a bit more space in the corner.
Barely a minute later, Trbojevic again decided to try to score himself, but he was held up by Koula and Lehi Hopoate while Lomax stood in the corner with his hands outstretched.
Fox League’s Andrew Voss said in commentary: “His Manly teammates have done it. No mates out here. Tom denied twice.”
Fans were adamant Trbojevic should have passed to Lomax, who has been one of the better finishers in rugby league this year.”
One fan wrote on X: “Come on, Turbo you hogged that. Should have let Lomax go for it.
A second said: “Mate Tommy, I love you. But Zac scores for all money.”
A third added: “Trbojevic hogs it and bombs a certain try by not passing to Lomax.”
Another commented: “Does turbo not know how to pass. Lomax wide open.”
The two missed opportunities mattered little in the end, with Trbojevic crossing for his second in the 42nd minute after Dearden once again made a line break.
‘Tommy Turbo’ nearly had a hat-trick, but his attempted third try was disallowed for a knock-on in the lead-up.
It was a banner day for Manly’s international stars, with Haumole Olakau’atu scoring a try for Tonga midway through the second half as he got on the end of a grubber kick.
The Tongan fans had reason to cheer when Eli Katoa snuck over for a try with five minutes remaining.
Tongan centre and Panthers grand final hero Paul Alamoti came off the field with a dislocated elbow early in the second half.
It’s a welcome victory for the Kangaroos after they were outclassed 30-0 by New Zealand in last year’s Pacific Championships final.
The crowd of 28,728 was overwhelmingly in support of Tonga, with red and white flags draped around Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium and deafening cheers every time Tonga had the ball.
Earlier, the Jillaroos defeated New Zealand 24-4 to win the women’s Pacific Championships.
Originally published as NRL star labelled ‘hog’ for burning teammate in Kangaroos’ Pacific Championships win
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