Rugby League World Cup: New Zealand, Tonga war dances were spine-tingling

THE pre-match war cries of Tonga and New Zealand turned personal when defector Jason Taumalolo was brutally singled out.

Spine-tingling stuff in Hamilton.

THE grudge match between New Zealand and Tonga at the Rugby League World Cup started in spine-tingling fashion as both sides performed their traditional pre-match routines with scary intensity.

It ended just as spectacularly as Tonga turned the entire tournament on its head with a historic first win over New Zealand in international rugby league.

Tonga came from 14 points down at half time to spring an epic comeback that took them to 24-16 with 10 minutes to play.

Kiwi superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck then single-handedly danced his way over the try-line to reduce the margin to two points.

With the game all set-up for a grand stand finish, Tonga had one last trick up their sleeve to put winger David Fusitua over in the corner with two minutes to play. Centre Konrad Hurrell attracted two defenders and then got a pass away to the unmarked Fusitua to spark incredible scenes of celebration in Hamilton.

The 28-22 victory has plunged the tournament into chaos with Tonga now set to top their group — dumping New Zealand into Australia’s half of the draw from the quarter-final stage onwards.

It is the first time a tier-two country has beaten a tier-one country in a rugby league world cup.

It means Tonga will likely play Lebanon in the quarter-finals for the chance to likely tackle England in the semi-finals.

New Zealand is now on a semi-final collision course with the Kangaroos — if they beat Fiji in the quarter-finals.

However, the day wasn’t about New Zealand’s loss. It is about Tonga’s win. Jason Taumalolo’s win. The incredible scenes of celebration from the players shedding tears and the fans losing their minds in the crowd demands that this contest is remembered for the men in red’s unbelievable comeback.

Jason Taumalolo in tears. What a moment#RLWC2017 https://t.co/2znkt6XqM2 pic.twitter.com/evasatBm9p

— FOX SPORTS NRL (@FOXNRLLive) November 11, 2017

SCENES!#NZLvTON #RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/X5EoF4J6Cf

— RLWC2017 (@RLWC2017) November 11, 2017

What you are hearing is the grinding of Rugby League's tectonic plates.

This is extraordinary.#NZLvTGA#RLWC2017

— David Middleton (@Middleton_David) November 11, 2017

People, the game just changed!! Massively. The World Cup will never be the same. This will start something massive in international Rugby league and tier one and tier two will be a thing of the past. Watch out the next few world cups this is just a start

— Dean Widders (@Deanwidders) November 11, 2017

Fu’u ikuna lahi Tonga!!!@RLWC2017 @7RLWC

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) November 11, 2017

ROAD TO QUARTER-FINALS#RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/YRgL4IicXu

— RLWC2017 (@RLWC2017) November 11, 2017

The match was ready to explode right from the moment the national anthems finished.

Following the anthems the Kiwis unleashed a fearsome version of the Haka — led by skipper Adam Blair. Blair was holding an object of cultural significance — which looked like a wooden baseball bat — as the men in black tried to intimidate their opposition.

Playing in Hamilton the home team got its fans all excited as it marched forward in unison, approaching the Tongans who were standing arm in arm. But Tonga fought fire with fire, advancing to meet the Kiwis as the players got right up in each others’ grills.

The New Zealand stars all pointed at the Tongan line-up just before the Haka ended, and you could be forgiven for thinking they were all pointing at Cowboys forward Jason Taumalolo.

The big bopper stunned the rugby league world by defecting from the Kiwis to represent Tonga shortly before the Kiwi squad was announced.

The shock move made him public enemy No. 1 in New Zealand and he was desperate to prove himself against the country whose jersey he’s worn 10 times.

It’s kicked off.

As a final act, bench forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona rubbed his head against Cronulla and NSW front-rower Andrew Fifita, holding it there for effect before eventually breaking away to join his team.

Tonga’s war dance was just as impressive as what the hosts dished out. The team gathered in a huddle, surrounding Taumalolo as he stood in the centre before the rest of his teammates knelt around him.

If there was any doubt about Taumalolo’s commitment to Tonga over New Zealand, surely this erased it.

Former Kiwi captain Benji Marshall told Channel 7 at half time he was shocked to see Taumalolo leading the Sipi Tau for the first time.

“He’s usually the most quiet guy in camp so he must have taken that challenge personally,” he said.

The crowd continued to go nuts as the Pacific Island nation sent the Kiwis a message in no uncertain terms they weren’t about to back down.

Rugby League commentators have pointed out the war cries appeared personal for Kiwi enforcers Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Asofa-Solomona, who singled out controversial Fifita and Taumalolo.

The bad blood almost boiled over when Asofa-Solomona clashed with Fifita and Waerea-Hargreaves gave Taumalolo an enormous stare down.

.@NZRL_Kiwis V @tongaNRL: The most intimidating cultural clash yet at the @RLWC2017. Live on @7mate and the free 7Live app. #RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/HxboAu38u6

— 7RLWC (@7RLWC) November 11, 2017

That pre-game was absolutely amazing

— Dean Ritchie (@BulldogRitchie) November 11, 2017

The tension.. the drama - this is personal! Phenomenal atmosphere here in Hamilton 🙌🏽 @tongaNRL @NZRL_Kiwis @RLWC2017 @7RLWC @7Sport @7mate @7NewsSydney @7NewsBrisbane @Y7News @espn #RLWC2017 https://t.co/pT1X32cJQs

— Liam Cox (@LiamCox_TV) November 11, 2017

Couldn’t help but shed a tear during the Tongan anthem #MMT #TONGA 🇹🇴 @RLWC2017 @TonganNRL @NZRL_Kiwis #RLWC17

— Willie Mason WMM (@mase21) November 11, 2017

Realise UK viewers unable to watch live but the pre-match war cries for #NZLvsTON were spectacular. Nelson Asofa-Solomona got right up into Andrew Fifita’s face before Kiwi defector Jason Taumalolo led the Tongans #RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/uOtCs7ScY8

— Gareth Walker (@garethwalker) November 11, 2017

Tonga carried their fire into the early exchanges with wreckingball forward Taumalolo targeted by the Kiwis in defence.

Tonga stunned the home side by taking an early 2-0 lead through a penalty goal to Sio Siua Taukaiaho before New Zealand eventually seized control of the contest.

Unanswered tries to Dallin Wetene Zelezniak, Jordan Rapana and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck gave New Zealand a 16-2 lead at half time.

Tonga had a try disallowed late in the half when winger Daniel Tupou picked up a messy half volley and dived over the try line only for the pass to be ruled forward.

Nobody could have predicted what was about to unfold in the second half.

Tonga ran in four tries to snatch the lead with David Fusitua crossing for the first two tries before Tuimoala Lolohea and Will Hopoate also crossed the stripe.

Fusitua then completed a 30-minute hat-trick by icing the game in the 78th minute.

SAMOA AND SCOTLAND DRAW

Josh Papalii was a big-facotr in Samoa’s performance.

SAMOA has progressed through to the quarter-finals of the Rugby League World Cup following a dramatic 14-14 draw against Scotland in Cairns.

Samoa players were left to hold their breath as Scotland twice attempted long-range field goals in the dying minutes to steal the result and move through to the final eight.

The draw was enough for Samoa to move through based on their superior for-and-against.

They will play Australia in the last eight.