World-beating Tonga’s pride spills on to streets
The moment the final whistle blew on Saturday evening, tears of joy streamed down Talaiasi Taufa’s cheeks.
He had just witnessed his beloved Tongan rugby league team, representing an island nation of just over 100,000 inhabitants, take down the world-champion Australian side.
“Everyone was in tears. We were just so happy and proud,” Taufa said.
“Tonga, small island nation, on top of the world.”
Taufa was at Eden Park with his wife Talaiasi and their children, along with her brother and his family. They were joined by 25,000 other fans in a sea of red, who watched Tonga triumph over the Kangaroos 16-12.
After the game it was onto the streets of ta¯huhu to celebrate, where the main road was closed off to allow for festivities.
Taufa said it was a “long night of celebrating”.
On Sunday the atmosphere was a little more subdued, but many houses and vehicles were decorated in Tonga flags and messages of support — including Taufa’s family car.
“It is just a way to show support, and that we are proud of them. They are not playing for money, but playing for their country and their heritage. We are very proud of them.”
Auckland is home to nearly 50,000 people who identify as Tongan, and a large proportion live in and around ta¯huhu.
“We call it Nuku’alofa, after the capital of Tonga, because there are probably more Tongans living here than back home,” Taufa said.
Taufa is a former league player himself, and three of his children have taken up the sport.
“It is a very passionate sport, and we are very passionate people. It is in our blood.”
A dozen Tonga flags tower above Toloa Kakaı¯o’s Otara home.
He put them up about four months ago and, after last night’s historic victory, said they were not coming down any time soon.
“I will leave them there until they are ripped off by the wind.”
Kakaı¯o was at the game with his wife and their two daughters’ families.
“It was maybe a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Tonga is a tiny dot on the map of the world, so to beat big countries like Australia is incredible.
“I’ve lived more than half my life here in New Zealand, I am a Kiwi, but inside I am Tongan, and I am proud.”
International rugby league is back — and who knows how far it can go?
It wasn’t long ago the game seemed to be withering away but Saturday’s triple header in Auckland suggests the 2021 World Cup in England will be the most competitive in history.
Tonga’s stunning 16-12 win over the Kangaroos was one of the most significant results in decades. Tonga should only get better in the buildup to the World Cup, and Saturday night’s win is another step, rather than the climax, in their journey.
The Kiwis’ gritty 12-8 win over Great Britain was also significant. It was a result that wouldn’t have been possible a couple of years ago, but this team is made of sterner stuff under coach Michael Maguire.
They had no Jesse Bromwich, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Issac Liu or Tohu Harris. Long-time enforcer Martin Taupau has swapped to Samoa, and the Tongan muscle they used to rely on, headed by Jason Taumalolo, is no longer an option.
Regular captain Dallin WateneZelezniak was scratched through injury and first choice hooker Brandon Hooker was absent after a breach of team protocol.
To illustrate the experience void in the team, there were only two survivors from the famous 2015 Anzac test win over Australia, and one of them, Kieran Foran, was gone through injury after six minutes.
But they battled, fought and scrapped their way to a tough victory — a benchmark that confirmed the Kiwis are on an upward curve.
The Lions have yet to click on this tour but England will be formidable on home soil in two years and are developing more NRL talent.
And don’t forget Fiji. They are constantly overlooked, despite reaching the semifinals of the past three World Cups. They were massive underdogs on Saturday, with a contingent of State League players against an NRL-laden Samoa. But they smashed them 44-18, and with more games between now and the World Cup, who knows what is possible?
Samoa are an enigma. They have plenty of talent but have yet to put it all together. They didn’t look united at the 2017 World Cup and it was the same on Saturday. They need more preparation time and match opportunities but that wasn’t an excuse for the lack of commitment.
They have so much potential. Maybe Sonny Bill Williams is the man to galvanise them in two years.