Tonga, Samoa fans create carnival of noise, colour
Hamilton shook to its foundations as Tonga and Samoa united for one of the most special sporting atmospheres New Zealand has ever seen.
You got goosebumps just walking to FMG Stadium Waikato as the carnival of crazy noise grew louder with every step towards the ground for the Rugby League World Cup’s most anticipated match of the tournament – bar none.
A week of build-up marred by violence and ugly scenes in South Auckland raised fears for more potential clashes despite calls for calm and respect from concerned police and pleading Tongan and Samoan players.
But fans packed the stadium, they sang and prayed together, painting each other’s faces with their respective flags, and your spine tingled when Tonga and Samoa simultaneously performed the Sipi Tau and Siva Tau together as one before a buoyant crowd.
It was the players who decided on facing off together and it revved up the atmosphere to breaking point. There were tears in the stands as emotions ran high before the referee’s whistle first blew.
Such passions from fans who lived this game like they were on the field, wincing and grunting with every carry driven into defensive walls of raw steel.
Hundreds had braved wet weather yesterday morning for the Pasifika Parade in Hamilton and thousands then gravitated towards their seats as seas of red and blue started the party early.
Tongan red hugely outnumbered Samoan blue but the players relayed the message of peace between each nation by linking arms in prayer before smashing into one another in a typically fierce contest that Tonga won 32-18.
Music played non-stop for over an hour before the teams entered the arena, which was a white hot cauldron of noise ready to rumble before the match even kicked off.
Samoa prop Junior Paulo flattened his Tongan opposite Sio Siua Taukei’aho in the first half with a hit befitting the incredible intensity in the stadium.
It was the kind of tackle you felt from 100 metres away, a real ribtickler, but it was just your traditional Samoan hello on the rugby league field.
New Zealand doesn’t often host sporting occasions like this where tribalism between rival fans is so prevalent. Crowds in this country are typically timid and reserved and reluctantly yell and cheer when it suits them.
Tongan and Samoan fans never stopped – only going quiet for prayer – and the flags waved from the first whistle to the final hooter.
This was special. Tongans and Samoans opened their vocal chords and sang from the bottom of their hearts with the kind of passion that must have humbled each and every player.
The night belonged to Tonga as they backed up from hammering Scotland 50-4 in Cairns last Sunday by beating the Samoans with a more organised and controlled performance.
Samoa are still winless after losing to New Zealand 38-8 in Auckland last Sunday but all eyes will again switch to Hamilton next Saturday where Tonga face the Kiwis. It’s on in the ‘Tron’.