Fusitu’a predicts ‘crazy’ crowd for semifinal clash
Tonga’s free-scoring winger David Fusitu’a is from Auckland and he expects the joint to be jumping for next week’s Rugby League World Cup semifinal.
The Tongans booked a berth against either England or Papua New Guinea in next Saturday’s showdown at Mt Smart Stadium where Fusitu’a plies his NRL trade with the Warriors.
The 23-year-old bagged a double in last Saturday’s 24-22 quarterfinal victory over Lebanon in Christchurch - and has now snared five tries in his last two games.
More than 60,000 people of Tongan descent live in New Zealand, leading Tongan coach Kristian Woolf to predict that Mate Ma’a fans would pack out Mt Smart Stadium - capacity 30,000.
‘‘It will be crazy, man,’’ Fusitu’a said.
‘‘I get behind our people, they are massive for us, going forward.
‘‘ I’d love to see them out in numbers next week
‘‘It’s been a big moment for us, and for our nation.’’
Fullback Will Hopoate added: ‘‘The more red we see, and the more singing we hear, the better’’.
It’s been an historic World Cup for Tonga, who have won their first four games, beaten arch rivals Samoa, achieved their first win over a Tier One team (New Zealand), made the quarterfinals and are now in a semifinal - just one game away from a maiden World Cup final.
Hopoate said he was enjoying his first World Cup and felt it was a ‘‘huge achievement’’ to make the semifinals.
‘‘But we don’t want it to stop there.’’
Fusitu’a has warned Tonga can get even better.
He said they had some improvements to make because ‘‘our game management wasn’t too good’’ against Lebanon. ‘‘When we were in front, we didn’t put the foot on the throttle.’’
Fusitu’a made two line breaks and carved off 117m. He scored his first try in the 18th minute and dotted down for Tonga’s crucial fourth try in the 34th minute after soaring high to clutch a crosskick by Warriors clubmate Ata Hingano.
He was keen to deflect attention away from his own individual effort and towards the team’s achievement of qualifying for their first World Cup semifinal.
Fusitu’a admitted ‘‘it wasn’t the best year for us at the Warriors’’, but said: ‘‘Coming into this [Tonga] team is a different feeling.
‘‘The pride you feel when you’re playing for a small nation like Tonga, and the pride of our people, is massive. I know a lot of the boys draw a lot of energy out of that.’’
Fusitu’a was expected to play for the Kiwis and was training with David Kidwell’s team before making a late call to join Tonga.
He had made his international debut for Tonga in a Pacific Series game against Samoa in May 2016, but played two tests on the Kiwis’ end of season tour to Europe.
Explaining his decision to plump for Tonga, he said: ‘‘I had already started training with [the Kiwis]. But there were a few little things I couldn’t control that were out of my hands [and] that played a little bit of a part with my decision [to join Tonga] being late.
‘‘There’s a few things I can’t take back now. I know I could have done a lot of things better, especially with the timing of my decision.
He said the aspects he had to weigh up were ‘‘more professional things’’ than personal issues.
‘‘Nothing was really clear going forward. Then the phone starting ringing and I had to make my decision.’’
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