In a heart-stopping rugby league Test match that will go down in history as one of the greatest ever played, Tonga emerged victorious against New Zealand with a nail-biting 25-24 scoreline. The Auckland epic, which secured Tonga’s spot in the Pacific Cup final against Australia, had fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
A Dominant First Half
Tonga came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, catching the Kiwis off guard with their relentless intensity. The visitors’ pack, playing unchanged for the first 30 minutes, ran roughshod over their New Zealand counterparts. Captain Addin Fonua-Blake led by example, scoring a try and amassing an impressive 214 meters throughout the game.
“This is unforgettable,” Fonua-Blake said post-match. “We wanted to fight fire with fire. We knew New Zealand had a world-class front row and team.”
Jason Taumalolo was equally dominant, racking up 188 meters in a vintage performance. Winger Sione Katoa also crossed for Tonga’s opener, while Siliva Havili and Soni Luke both scored from dummy-half as the Kiwis struggled to contain the onslaught. By halftime, Tonga had raced out to a commanding 24-0 lead.
The Kiwi Fightback
However, the tide began to turn as possession evened out and fatigue set in for the Tongans. After Sitili Tupouniua’s 35th-minute error, Isaiah Papali’i sparked the Kiwis’ comeback with a try on the right edge. Fullback Keano Kini, who had struggled early, found his groove and began slicing through Tonga’s left-side defense.
Halfback Shaun Johnson also stepped up, setting up tries for Kini and Phoenix Crossland to bring the score to 24-18. Joe Tapine then produced a moment of individual brilliance, toeing ahead a loose ball, regathering, and stepping past Sione Katoa to level the scores at 24-all with just 13 minutes remaining.
A Dramatic Denouement
With momentum firmly in New Zealand’s favor, a Kiwi victory seemed inevitable. But Tonga, and particularly halfback Isaiya Katoa, had other ideas. In the 75th minute, Katoa calmly slotted a 30-meter drop goal to put Tonga back in front 25-24.
The final minutes were a frenzy of activity as New Zealand frantically searched for a winning score. Jamayne Isaako missed a long-range penalty attempt, before Johnson’s field goal attempt was charged down by Fonua-Blake in a moment of high controversy. The Kiwis challenged the play, but the bunker ruled the contact on Johnson’s leg to be legal.
“They came back, it shows how gutsy they are,” Fonua-Blake said of the Kiwis. “They can hold their heads up high. It was a great game.”
Making History
The 25-24 triumph marked Tonga’s first win over a tier-one nation in five years, and just their fourth in history. More significantly, it propelled them into their maiden tier-one final, where they will face reigning champions Australia next Sunday at CommBank Stadium.
For the Kiwis, it was a heartbreaking end to a campaign that had promised so much. But for Tonga, and indeed for international rugby league as a whole, it was a watershed moment – proof that the gap between the established powers and the emerging nations is closing rapidly.
As the dust settles on this instant classic, attention will quickly turn to next weekend’s final. Can Tonga, buoyed by their historic victory, go one step further and topple the mighty Kangaroos? Or will Australia’s big-game experience prove too much? One thing is certain: after the drama and emotion of Auckland, anything seems possible.
