‘Absolute chills’: Rugby league world loses it for Siva Tau-Haka madness

Five of the best minutes of rugby league this season had nothing to do with the play on the field after spine-tingling scenes out of New Zealand.

Incredible scenes before kick off. Photo: Fox Sports

New Zealand and Samoa have given five of the best minutes of rugby league this season before a ball was even kicked in their Test match at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon.

It was lucky as the 2022 World Cup finalists were annihilated by a ruthless Kiwi side, thumping the side 50-0, the biggest ever victory margin in matches between the nations.

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While it was far from a capacity crowd in the 50,000 seat Eden Park Stadium in Auckland, the Samoan flags were out in force as there were incredible scenes before kick-off.

As the Samoan anthem was sung, the crowd almost drowned out the singer, while the likes of captain Junior Paulo, Spencer Leniu and Luciano Leilua couldn’t stop the tears pouring down their faces.

While a debate has raged all week about the Aussie players not singing the anthem, it was clear some of the players may not have known the Samoan anthem or were too emotional to sing but it was no less a powerful rendition of the anthem.

The passion is phenomenal. Photo: Fox Sports

Luciano Leilua shed a tear. Photo: Fox Sports

Not to be outdone, the Kiwis were just as emotional with fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad barely holding back the tears after a beautiful rendition of the anthem sung loudly by the crowd.

“As it was last week, the pride and the passion very evident on the faces of the Samoans and also the Kiwis, tears streaming down the face of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad,” Smith said in commentary.

“It just gives you goosebumps, the emotion of Eden Park and players standing arm-in-arm, facing their families” Michael Ennis agreed. “The raw emotion just streaming from the players. It's good stuff.”

Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad barely held it together. Photo: Fox Sports

But the anthems were just the appetiser for a ferocious Siva Tau from Samoa, followed by the haka from New Zealand.

The Samoans went first as captain Paulo screamed orders. As the side rose as one, they got inches the faces of the Kiwis.

The Kiwis then followed suit, with Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Leniu starring each other down long after the haka finished.

“If you watch nothing else all weekend, you’ve had your fill,” Smith said.

“The last five minutes, we’ve rarely seen intensity like that.”

ABSOLUTE CHILLS.

Samoa and New Zealand were beyond intense before their game!

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— Fox League (@FOXNRL) October 21, 2023

Do they train more for the hakas or for the game itself? How good was it to watch that. #pacificchampionships#NZvSAM

— Simon (@simonferl) October 21, 2023

How good is it seeing two very proud nations play today… the emotions in all those players singing their national anthem is just 🥺🥺🥺🥺 #PacificChampionships

— NicccccD (@niccccccccd) October 21, 2023

Most emotional anthems I've seen in any sport #PacificChampionships

— Marg (@mkr790) October 21, 2023

The Siva Tau and The Haka. WOW!! #NZL#SAM#PacificChampionships

— Jake Michael Thompson (@JMThompson95) October 21, 2023

Samoa had to step back to complete the war dance. Photo: Fox Sports

The sides were truly face-to-face. Photo: Fox Sports

Leniu and Asofa-Solomona couldn't have got any closer. photo: Fox Sports

Unfortunately for the Samoans, although they started better than they did against Australia last week, the loss of Jarome Luai was obvious as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

With Eels back up half Daejarn Asi and Panthers back Stephen Crichton in the halves, the World Cup finalists were missing the three-time premiership five-eighth in Luai.

However, after a brutal and physical opening to the game, the Kiwis class came through, running up an 18-0 lead at the halftime break.

While an improvement for Samoa, who fell 22-0 behind against Australia after 15 minutes last week in the 38-12 loss, it shows the nation still needs to play together more often to become a true international powerhouse.

Samoa needed to come back to win to stay alive in the Pacific Championships but New Zealand piled on six unanswered tries to run up the half-century.

It was just the fifth time the sides had played each other, the last coming in 2017, but was the biggest victory margin, beating the 50-6 scoreline in the first meeting between the nations in the 2010 Pacific Test.