NRL 2024 Pacific Championships: Kangaroos win 18-0 over Tonga, Jillaroos vs PNG Orchids 84-0
The Kangaroos have survived a scare to hold out a brave Tongan side, while the Jillaroos created history after dominating PNG in an 84 point massacre.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow set Suncorp Stadium alight as the scrappy Kangaroos escaped with a 18-0 win against Tonga to open the Pacific Championships.
Tabuai-Fidow produced a piece of magic before 33,196 in Brisbane on Friday night to get Australia back in the winners’ circle following last year’s dreadful 30-0 loss to the Kiwis.
In a changing of the guard, Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga blooded six Test debutants and it showed in a somewhat rusty performance by the world champions.
Seven of Australia’s 17 players didn’t play in the NRL finals at all and only four featured in the Storm-Panthers grand final.
But the Kangaroos did enough to win and now return to New Zealand to face the Kiwis next Sunday where they will look to avenge last year’s Championships final embarrassment.
“I’m very happy, the attitude, intent and we were defensively outstanding,” Meninga said.
“The big Tongan side came ready to play. They were desperate.
“We can play a bit better with the footy but we had a few debutants, particularly in the spine.
“It was really encouraging. Everyone’s defence was excellent.”
CENTRE STAGE
This was far from Australia’s most complete performance but the cream rose to the top when it mattered.
Tom Trbojevic opened scoring for the Kangaroos in the 13th minute when he intercepted a loose pass and raced 70m.
The game seesawed for the next 40 minutes until Tabuai-Fidow was given a sniff of the try-line and pounced.
The Dolphins speedster got the ball in motion and fended off rival centre Paul Alamoti before turning on the afterburners to score a try perhaps only he could have.
SPINAL TAP
Meninga fielded an entirely new spine from the Kangaroos team that was flogged by the Kiwis last year.
He all but ended the Test careers of Origin greats Daly Cherry-Evans and James Tedesco and ushered in a new halves pairing of Tom Dearden and Mitchell Moses.
Moses hadn’t played in 93 days due to a biceps injury and kicked out on the full while new fullback Dylan Edwards made some uncharacteristic errors.
Hooker Harry Grant was in the wars and looked gassed at times before taking a break with 20 minutes to go.
It was clear this spine – boasting two Blues and two Maroons – hadn’t played much footy together but they should improve in time, as Dearden showed with his 79th minute try to seal the win.
TENACIOUS TONGA
There was a sea of red in the Suncorp stands and Tonga did their best to impress their loyal fans.
Jason Taumalolo ran with vigour from the opening kick-off and had the most metres of any forward on the field at halftime.
Haumole Olakau’atu crunched Kangaroos prop Lindsay Collins with one of the hits of the year and was a menace all night.
While the Mate Ma’a lacked some class in key positions, they more than made up for it with their fierce attitude. They denied Trobjevic and Tabuai-Fidow more tries with desperate defence.
Trailing 14-0 with 14 minutes to go and down to 12 men after fullback Lehi Hopoate was sin-binned, Tonga were unlucky not to set up a grandstand finish when Keaon Koloamatangi narrowly knocked on in goal.
It was an unhappy night for halfback Isaiya Katoa, who produced three seven-tackle sets and sent two kick-offs dead on the full, putting Tonga under immense pressure.
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