Tonga hold on to beat New Zealand in Auckland epic
Tonga have 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 their first ever tier-one final.
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 75th-minute field goal from 30 metres out to put Tonga ahead again, before the Kiwis missed several chances to win and draw level.
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.
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 marked Tonga’s first over a tier-one nation in five years, and only the fourth in their history, sending them to next Sunday’s final at CommBank Stadium.
“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.
Jason Taumalolo also 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.
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.
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 No.7 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 their nation’s history.
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