Thank you for the pleasure of your company this afternoon as the Jillaroos and the Kangaroos seal the Pacific Championships.
Keep an eye out for Billie Eder’s match report live from Commbank Stadium on today’s action with the Kangaroos doing enough to stop a tough Tongan team who wouldn’t stop fighting back all afternoon.
A great advert for international rugby league and there will certainly be an appetite to see these two teams going against each other in the near future.
What a game, the Tongans just refused to go down without a fight, but ultimately the Kangaroos do enough to win this 20-14 and seal the Pacific Championships.
You couldn’t have got a better advert for international rugby league. A loud crowd, a game filled with skill and huge physicality and a packed stadium. More of it please.
The Kangaroos end the season to join the Jillaroos in lifting silverware at Parramatta. Tonga made the Kangaroos work every inch of that field and really played their part in a great final.
Tom Dearden of Australia makes a break Credit: Getty Images
Eliesa Katoa crashes over for a try over two Kangaroos, despite the referee originally ruling it no try for losing the ball, but he got it down perfectly.
Isaiya Katoa just hits the post to miss what could be a crucial conversion.
Amazing stuff. The crowd is absolutely bouncing. This Tonga team will just not give up.
Kangaroos 20 Tonga 14
Tonga are throwing everything at the Kangaroos here to set up a pulsating finish.
The crowd are back into this and are desperate for another try from a team that has given so much not only in this game, but throughout the Pacific Championships.
Let’s see if they can muster up a last roll of the dice.
Kangaroos 20 Tonga 10
Keaon Koloamatangi of Tonga runs the ballCredit: Getty Images
A wonderful stabbed kick through from Tuimoala Lolohea which is collected perfectly by Haumole Olakau’atu to give Tonga some hope in this game.
A great fightback and the crowd respond with a wall of sound.
The conversion is good from Isaiya Katoa. This game is far from over.
Kangaroos 20 Tonga 10
Jason Taumalolo of Tonga is tackled Credit: Getty Images
A wonderful break from Sione Katoa who makes a break to motor up the field before getting caught by five Kangaroos in defence.
He hops and skips and the Fox Footy comms team says he’s paying credit to Raygun with his inorthodox routine in attack.
Sadly the great work comes to nothing and a rare chance for Tonga goes begging.
Tonga still are trying to attack here and are asking questions of the Kangaroos defence.
Kangaroos 20 Tonga 4
Tom Trbojevic of Australia celebratesCredit: Getty Images
What an afternoon for Tom Trbojevic.
Two tries, now three tries rubbed out for the day after a tip on that is ruled to have gone forward.
It gives the Tonga a long overdue reason to cheer and they have found their voice.
Can this be the moment to respond?
Kangaroos 20 Tonga 4
Angus Crichton of Australia is tackled by Eliesa KatoaCredit: Getty Images
Turbo may have been denied twice late in the first half, with Tom Dearden once again the architect for the try with Trbojevic just having to run on the inside and finish it neatly.
Zac Lomax converts straight in front.
Australia have certainly responded very early in this second half and they will be very difficult to catch now for Tonga.
You sense the Kangaroos have another few gears to work through in Parramatta.
Kangaroos 20 Tonga 4
Tom Trbojevic of Australia makes a breakCredit: Getty Images