New Zealand has returned to the action of the international rugby league in good style, defeating Tonga by 26-6 and sending a warning shot to Australia before the 2022 Rugby League World Cup in October.
A capacity of 27,000 spectators flocked to Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium to watch one of the most anticipated league matches of the year. But since the vast majority were from Tonga’s huge New Zealand community, they would have been disappointed that the Kiwis had advanced 12-0 after just seven minutes.
Kiwis coach Michael Maguire was a happy full-time man, and described the performance as “really impressive”.
“That’s been three or four years in the process. I know we’ve had a two-year break, but seeing how the guys came in directly and took control … they were able to be very strong.”
First Jahrome Hughes moved from close range, before Jordan Rapana finished a long-range move to dive under the posts.
On their credit, the Tongans took advantage of the only real opportunity in the half, with Sione Katoa centering in the corner after a good job of preparation from Viliami Penisini. But that simply inspired the Kiwis to close the door, with an aggressive defense of the media strikers barely allowing the Tongans out of their half.
Captain Jesse Bromwich said he was not surprised by the quick start. “We came up with a game plan and we wanted to put a lot of energy into our defense. We pressed very early, we kept building and we ran away with that. “
The break saw the Kiwis take a 20-6 lead after Rapana threw a penalty goal before Dylan Brown threw a nice ball outside for Ronaldo Mulitalo to score the try of the match. Both debutants had solid games, but the real highlights were Jesse Bromwich and Joseph Manu, who dictated the game in both attack and defense.
With 62 minutes played, Isiah Papali’I nearly put the visitors another one up as he broke through in the middle and fired from just outside the box, but his shot passed just over the bar.
Despite Tonga’s unusually flat performance, the crowd was in full voice, with Mt Smart once again becoming a sea of Tonga’s red flags. This was really the only highlight from his perspective, with stars like Jason Taumalolo and Addin Fonua-Blake well contained and Kotoni Staggs and Talatau Amone struggling to get anything in halves, with Tonga unable to force a single one. goal line descent. -out.
The 398-meter running back Joseph Manu was the statistical culmination of the match, but Maguire quickly praised the efforts of the entire team.
“Throughout the park, the strikers established a very solid base. (Tongans) are not a small team, they are coming into contact with you. All the players signed up for each other … and I know we can improve a lot, so I’m really looking forward to the World Cup. “
Bromwich reflected on the last two years of inaction in the test rugby league, saying it was a real honor to play the first game in New Zealand. “Many of us have not been able to return home in the last two years. But to get out into that atmosphere, there’s nothing like it, ”he said.
Earlier, the Kiwi Ferns resumed where they left off with a dominant 50-12 victory over Tonga in the test of their women’s rugby league.
Led by pair of midfielders Raecene McGregor and Laishon Jones, the Kiwi Ferns went to a point one minute after the first 15 minutes, then threw a three-try blitz before the break to end the game as a competition despite Jones he only got three conversions. of his eventual 11 attempts.
Center Page McGregor, Raecene’s little sister, crossed just four minutes after he found a large hole in Tongan’s defense. Madison Bartlett and Katelyn Vaha’akolo followed in quick succession as NRLW’s experience at the Kiwi Ferns became apparent at Mt Smart Stadium.
Most of the team has played in the fast-growing NRLW, and their superior physique was always going to make this a tough battle for the Tonga team that was drawn primarily from local club competition. Auckland.
After the 30-0 deficit at halftime, the attack continued from the Kiwi Ferns in the second half. Kararaina Wira-Kohu crossed after just a couple of minutes of the restart, then Bartlett got the second just three minutes later.
However, the greatest joy was for the two Tongan trials, with China Polata approaching from close range and then Haylee Hifo escaping shortly before full time. The enthusiastic reception from the large crowd saw Tongan flags waving and was the perfect way to start the men’s match that followed.