Tonga target Kiwis grudge match
Jason Taumalolo wants more tests against the Kiwis as Tonga coach Kristian Woolf urged rugby league’s power brokers not to waste the momentum generated by their stunning World Cup campaign.
Tonga’s fairytale run came an end in Auckland on Saturday with a controversial 20-18 semifinal defeat to England, their late, epic comeback denied when the referee opted not to use the video official to check what looked to be the matchwinning try.
An emotional Andrew Fifita, the man who had the ball stripped from his grasp as he charged to the line only for it to be deemed a loose carry, labelled Mate Ma’a the ‘‘people’s champs’’.
Who would argue with him as the Pacific Island nation, backed by their army of passionate fans, brought the tournament to life showing how competitive a tiertwo team can be when it has its best players available.
The challenge now for the Rugby League International Federation is to build on Tonga’s progress, as well as the rest of the tiertwo nations, to grow the international game.
Taumalolo said the way forward was simple. ‘‘With the amount of support we’ve had in New Zealand, I really think Tonga has earned the right to play more tests,’’ he said.
‘‘It would be great to come back here and play in Auckland. The majority of the Pacific Islanders are here in Auckland, and even if we get the Pacific test here, it would not only be a great game but a great atmosphere.’’
Much of Tonga’s success was built on Taumalolo and several of his team-mates’ decision to switch from New Zealand and Australia. While his late change of allegiance left the Kiwis’ preparations in disarray, it turned out to be an organiser’s dream. Tonga’s supporters rallied behind their team to set record a crowd in the win over the Kiwis in Hamilton and again on Saturday night.
Woolf says the introduction of an annual ‘‘grudge match’’ between the Kiwis and Tonga is a no-brainer. It seems he could be getting his way with New Zealand Rugby League in the process of organising a mid-year test in 2018 for the Kiwis, most likely against a Pacific island side.
‘‘I’ve got no doubt New Zealand would love to play us again to try and get one back over the top of us,’’ Woolf said.
‘‘The way we continue to progress is by playing more footy, being looked after a little bit better so we can attract blokes to play for Tonga and also playing high level games, which we means we need to play nations like New Zealand on a regular basis.’’
England coach Wayne Bennett has done it all in rugby league but said Saturday night’s atmosphere was as good as any game he had been apart of.
But the Brisbane Broncos mentor reiterated his belief that the eligibility rules needed to be tightened to prevent players switching between tier-one and tier-two nations when they pleased.
‘‘If a player doesn’t want to play for that team that’s the choice he has, and that’s fine.
‘‘But you can’t go and play for somebody else,’’ Bennett said.
‘‘If they want to go back then they do a three-year [stand-down period] out like they do in the Olympics.’’
If that was to be the case Woolf said it was time the tier-two nations were paid the same fivefigure tournament fees as England, Australia and New Zealand, instead of having to scrape by on a $30 per day allowance.
‘‘If they’re going to make those sorts of decisions, well make everything equal and then we’ll genuinely see who people want to play for,’’ the Tongan coach said.
‘‘What that does is just protect the tier one nations so they continue to be strong and the tier two nations don’t get an opportunity,’’ Woolf said.
While Taumalolo said it was too soon to make a call on his international future, he admitted that it would be hard to walk away from Tonga given what they had achieved.
‘‘Probably not,’’ Bennett said when asked if England could lift the trophy. ‘‘But we’ll be there next week - we’ll still go to the game.’’
Speaking with his tongue less firmly in cheek, Tonga counterpart Kristian Woolf felt England had every chance of World Cup glory, but had to be perfect.
Australia’s defence - with only three tries conceded all tournament - would be miserly, meaning England would have to follow suit.
‘‘They’re going to defend well, going to be very hard to score points against, and England were very tough to score points against tonight,’’ Woolf said.
‘‘I’ve had good looks at England and New Zealand (but) I really haven’t had a good look at Australia, except for what we’ve seen against Fiji last night - they were outstanding; they’re going to be very hard to beat and always are.
‘‘I’d certainly like to think England make it a real contest.’’
Bennett, keeping his cards close to his chest, also said he hadn’t spent much time watching Australia’s performances.
His side started off their campaign with a group-stage opening match against the Kangaroos and lost 18-4, but scored the game’s first try.