Tonga has reigned supreme in one of the greatest rugby league Test matches of all time, holding on to beat New Zealand 25-24 and qualify for its first-ever tier-one final.
New Zealand 24-25 Tonga
New Zealand
Tries: Papali’i 36′, Kini 51′, Crossland 59′, Tapine 67′
Goals: Isaako 37′, 52′, 60′, 69′
Tonga
Tries: S. Katoa 3′, Fonua-Blake 23′, Havili 27′, Luke 33′
Goals: Katoa 5′, 24′, 34′
Penalties: Katoa 13′
Field goals: Katoa 76′
In an Auckland epic that sent Tonga through to the Pacific Cup final against Australia, the visitors led 24-0 in the first half before the Kiwis drew level with 13 minutes to play on Saturday night.
Isaiya Katoa then nailed a 76th-minute field goal from 30 metres out to put Tonga ahead again, before the Kiwis missed several of their own chances.
The best of those opportunities came when Jamayne Isaako sent a penalty shot wide from 40 metres out before a Shaun Johnson field-goal attempt was charged down by Jason Taumalolo.
Isaako picked up the loose ball but missed another field-goal attempt, knowing a draw would have been good enough to send New Zealand to the Pacific Cup final.
In a moment of high drama, New Zealand challenged the play, but the bunker ruled Addin Fonua-Blake’s contact on Johnson’s leg in charging the ball down was legal.
The win was Tonga’s first over a tier-one nation in five years, and only the fourth in its history, sending it to next Sunday’s final in Western Sydney.
Soni Luke’s try helped Tonga to a 24-0 lead in the first half. (Getty Images: Hannah Peters)
“This is unforgettable,” Tonga’s captain Fonua-Blake said.
“We wanted to fight fire with fire. We knew New Zealand had a world-class front row and team.
“They came back. It shows how gutsy they are. They can hold their heads up high. It was a great game.”
The Tongans monstered New Zealand in the first half, with their pack playing the opening 30 minutes unchanged and running through the Kiwis with ease.
Keano Kini was terrorised at the back, while the likes of Fonua-Blake ran roughshod in the middle.
Fonua-Blake scored one of Tonga’s four first-half tries when he dummied and went through a massive gap as part of his 214 metres for the game.
Taumalolo had 188 metres in a return to his best, while Sione Katoa was damaging on the wing and crossed for Tonga’s opener.
Siliva Havili and Soni Luke also both scored out of dummy-half, with the Kiwis out on their feet.
But eventually the possession began to even out and Tonga suddenly appeared the more fatigued team.
After Sitili Tupouniua made Tonga’s first error in the 35th minute, Isaiah Papali’i breathed life into New Zealand when he went over on the right edge.
ABC Sport Daily podcast
Kini got his groove back and began slicing through Tonga’s left edge, while Johnson started to step up in attack and produced a crucial try-saver in defence.
The number seven put his fullback Kini over for one try, and backed up on a Peta Hiku break to send Phoenix Crossland over for another and make it 24-18.
Joe Tapine also produced a moment of brilliance, with the Kiwi prop toeing a loose ball ahead, regathering and stepping Sione Katoa to score and make it 24-24.
At that point a New Zealand victory appeared inevitable.
But Isaiya Katoa had other ideas, producing the biggest moment of his career and kicking Tonga to one of the greatest sporting victories in the nation’s history.
In Leeds, Dolphins star Herbie Farnworth scored two tries as part of a superb all-round performance as England secured a 2-0 series victory over Samoa, winning 34-16 at Headingley.
AAP/AAP
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source link
