NRL Pacific Championships 2024: Tonga star Jason Taumalolo declares Mate Ma’a don’t fear Australian Kangaroos

A bitter feud is brewing ahead of the Kangaroos’ Pacific Championships clash, with Mal Meninga hitting back after Mate Ma’a Tonga star Jason Taumalolo declared his side don’t fear Australia.

A war of words has erupted between Jason Taumalolo and Mal Meninga.

A war of words has erupted between the Kangaroos and Tonga ahead of the Pacific Championships blockbuster after Jason Taumalolo declared the Mate Ma’a don’t fear Australia.

The Kangaroos and Tonga will clash on Australian soil for the first time at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

It will be the first encounter between the Test teams since Tonga shocked Australia with a 16-12 boilover victory in Auckland in 2019, elevating the Pacific nation to a genuine powerhouse of international rugby league.

The Kangaroos are coming off a 30-0 Pacific Championships humiliation to New Zealand last year and Mate Ma’a co-captain Taumalolo said Tonga didn’t fear Australia.

Tonga co-captain Jason Taumalolo has declared his side is not scared of the Kangaroos ahead of their Pacific Championship clash. Picture: Getty Images

“Not really to be honest,” the Cowboys forward said on Tuesday when asked if Tonga feared the Kangaroos.

“They’ve got a great team but so do we.

“It’s what we do on Friday night that matters the most.

“Competition at international level, not just from Australia and Tonga, but also the other nations has definitely improved over the last few years.

“It makes for a greater game of footy.”

Australia’s shocking loss to the Kiwis last year and the unavailability of a host of star players like Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster and Payne Haas has taken some of the shine of Australia’s Test team.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has hit back at Taumalolo, insisting Australia isn’t frightened either, and his side is coming for Tonga. Picture: Getty Images

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga will field six debutants against Tonga, including a new halves pairing of Mitchell Moses and Tom Dearden, and fired back at Taumalolo.

“That doesn’t worry us – we don’t fear them either,” Meninga said.

“It’s a game of footy. It is a battle. It’s international status.

“The last time we played against the Tongans they beat us, way back in 2019.

“It’s been a long time since the World Cup in 2017 when we last played at Suncorp.

“We’re coming ready to play and we’ll worry about ourselves.

“That’s pretty smart that they don’t fear us but we’re coming and we want to play our best footy.”

Australia suffered a humiliating loss to New Zealand in the Pacific Championship Final against the New Zealand Kiwis in 2023. Picture: Getty Images

Tonga coach Kristian Woolf has named a strong team with the likes of Addin Fonua-Blake, Felise Kaufusi, Haumole Olakau’atu and Eliesa Katoa in the starting pack alongside Taumalolo.

While Australia is understrength, Taumalolo said the Kangaroos had too many Origin stars to be vulnerable.

“I wouldn’t say they’re vulnerable,” he said.

“They’ve got a star studded team and we know what we’re in for.

“They are all Origin players and great rep players so it’s always going to be a tough game. They’re always going to turn up.

“They’ve got a few debutants who will be excited to play and we’ve got a few too.

“It’s the first time Tonga’s played Australia in a while and we’re looking forward to seeing a good crowd.”