Tonga no ‘one-hit wonders’
Tonga’s supporters have already backed up their incredible showing from last year’s World Cup and now the team is ready to do the same.
Twelve months on from setting the stadium attendance record in the semifinal defeat to England, Mate Ma’a Tonga’s sea of supporters will again paint Mt Smart red for tomorrow’s sold out test against the Kangaroos.
It doesn’t matter what they are doing, where the team goes the fans follow. Thousands have shown up to welcome ceremonies and fan days over the past week, while Tonga’s King Tupou VI and and Queen Nanasipau’u will be attending the match.
It would be easy for the phenomenal support to get to the players’ heads but fullback Will Hopoate says there is a determination to prove last year’s tournament was just the start of something special.
‘‘I suppose outside noise will put expectations on us but within the playing group we still try to keep grounded,’’ Hopoate said.
‘‘Everyone says we made the World Cup but we didn’t win the World Cup. So we’re still trying to play our best footy and show what we’re capable of as a country, not just be one-hit wonders. We want to try and be a consistent force for the next X-amount of years.’’
This is the first time Tonga have faced the Kangaroos and Hopoate described it as a ‘‘surreal’’ experience.
Like many of his team-mates, he was born in Australia. His father, John Hopoate, represented the Kangaroos while the 26-year-old has made five State of Origin appearances for NSW.
The Bulldogs outside back knows Australia will be hurting after last week’s defeat to the Kiwis and dismissed suggestions they are vulnerable after farewelling so many experienced stars following the World Cup.
‘‘A lot of the boys here have played with or against the Aussie boys and we know that individually and as a team, they can blow anyone off the park on their day,’’ Hopoate said.
‘‘Everyone’s talking about the inexperience of their spine but you look at the calibre of their players, ‘Teddy’ [James Tedesco], ‘Cherry’ [Daly Cherry-Evans], [Luke] Keary and ‘Cookie’ [Damien Cook], they’re phenomenal players.
‘‘We expect them to bounce back and hopefully we’re at our best come Saturday.’’
It will be a huge occasion and Hopoate is hoping they have learned the lessons from last year’s agonising 20-18 defeat to England.
While all the focus after the match was on Andrew Fifita’s disallowed try, Tonga were left to rue a slow start as England jumped out to a 20-0 lead.
Do that against the world champions and they could be in for a long night. ‘‘We don’t want to be chasing points like we were against England,’’ Hopoate said.