Australia down Tonga 34-16 on landmark night for rugby league
THEY fell short on the scoreboard, but in front of a sold-out Tongan-strong crowd of 26,214, Mate Ma’a Tonga showed there is more than just the big three in the international game.
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AUSTRALIA won the game against Tonga 34-16 but the resurgence of international rugby league is now complete.
In front of a sold-out Tongan-strong crowd of 26214 people at Mt Smart Stadium, Mate Ma’a Tonga showed there is more than just the big three in the international game.
A week after being humbled by the Kiwis, the Australian side did enough to race in six tries to three and defeat a spirited Tonga.
Tonga let themselves down with poor handling at crucial times but did enough to show they could mix it with the world’s best.
Tom Trbojevic and Valentine Holmes crossed twice while James Tedesco won man of the match honours for his try, two line breaks and a try assist to complete a stellar season for the Roosters fullback.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said his young side had “learnt plenty out of this”.
“It’s a different kind of match,” Meninga said of Test football.
“I believe we picked the right players. We can only get better. There is some improvement in the footy team which is pretty exciting.
“We put ourselves under the pump. We have to learn to keep that intensity and standard of performance up.
“There is the lessons we learnt.- we make an error we get penalised.”
Meninga had flooded the Kangaroos team room in the lead-up to the game with quotes from Tongan players who had suggested the Australian side did not share the same passion.
Tonga won the second half 6-4 as they forced Australia to produce six line drop-outs, able to build patience which was not apparent in the opening half.
The signs looked ominous early for a Tongan side who failed to complete two of their opening three sets.
Australia’s first try happened after six minutes when Daly Cherry-Evans raced 35 metres having scooped a loose pass from Siliva Havili. Trbojevic crossed next five minutes later to have Australia leading 12-0 in as many minutes.
Tonga fought back through Tevita Pangai Jr before Andrew Fifita spilt the ball from the kick restart.
Holmes scored next to extend Australia’s lead to 12 before Tonga were kept in it when Daniel Tupou scored six minutes before half-time.
Any hope of a Tongan fightback was snuffed out when Holmes scored on the stroke of half-time – which resulted in a possible eight-point try after Pangai Jr was ruled to have kicked the Kangaroos winger as he dived over.
A Tyson Frizell error in the opening set of the second half saw Australia fail to touch the ball for the next 10 minutes with Tonga camped on the Kangaroos line. Eventually the defensive workload took its toll when Solomone Kata scored before Tedesco crossed for Australia’s only second half try.
Tonga suffered a blow when halfback Ata Hingano was forced from the field after 25 minutes with a shoulder injury.
Kangaroos skipper Boyd Cordner said he had never experienced an atmosphere like the one which greeted Australia. The streets were lined up with thousands of people anticipating Australia’s arrival.
“Normally when you see a crowd like that or an imposing crowd it’s not that nice,” Cordner said.
“We’re not used to it as football players. Normally it’s very hostile. You could see how happy they were.
“In Origin the crowd is more hostile. I don’t think I’ve experienced it in that way where they’ve been so respectful.”
AUSTRALIA 34 (V Holmes 2 T Trbojevic 2 D Cherry-Evans J Tedesco tries V Holmes 5 goals) bt TONGA 16 (S Kata T Pangai Junior D Tupou tries T Lolohea S Taukeiaho goals) at Mt Smart Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton
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