KIWIS 26 TONGA 6
FULLTIME
80mins - Niukore looks to be over for the try but is he held up? It looks like it! The Kiwis shifted left and the centre showed the ball before putting his head down but just couldn't quite get the ball down. Manu is hit hard and Tonga will have the scrum for the final few seconds. They kick the ball before the Kiwis knock on but the hooter has sounded! Fulltime.
78min - Hughes shows great feet before putting in a little grubber and Tonga are forced to smother the ball for the line dropout. Hughes has really controlled this encounter.
76min - The Tongan fans are willing their team on for one final flourish but Luke drops the ball with nobody around him and the Kiwis will now look to counter.
74min - Tonga with plenty of dummy runners as the visitors work their way inside the Kiwis 30m. The do finally kick but Manu does what he's done all night and gathers it in with ease.
72min - Hiku guilty of running a bit too across field and is caught inbetween two minds as his pass hits the deck between two support runners.
70min - Fisher-Harris makes another good run, he's had a great game. Kiwis finally kick as Suli puts his head down and tries to eat some metres.
68min - Foran on the field now. Kiwis upto halfway now before Hughes kicks on the fourth and Tuipulotu runs it back. The game has really slowed down and you can't blame them.
66min - Tonga trying to hit back now and work their way inside the Kiwis 10m. It almost opens up for Amone but he's hit hard and coughs the ball up. He's still down.
64min - Bromwich runs the Tongan kick-off back before Manu makes another enterprising surge up the middle but loses the ball in contact.
62min - KIWIS TRY PAPALI'I
New Zealand finally cross in the second-half through Isaiah Papali'i. The Kiwis showed great composure, before Papali'i does well to be strong in the tackle and extend the arm to score the try! Great finish.
60min - Manu causing lots of problems for the Tongan defence and attack. He shows great feet once again, not long after difusing an earlier high ball.
58min - Manu somehow beats the Tongan tackler and he's away! He sees a support runner and grubbers through but Tonga do well to scramble and force the dropout.
56min - Tonga's forwards really struggling to get go-forward ball as they a forced to kick around halfway again. Rapana is hit hard but does well to not lose the ball.
54min - Tonga's defence well to keep the Kiwis inside their own half for their set and force Hughes to kick long. They try and counter but Smith makes a great tackle and forces the knock-on. Errors aplenty.
52min - The Kiwis can see an overlap to the right, Manu tries to loop a cutout ball to Rapana, who does well to gather it in but can only slide over the touchline.
50min - Another unforced error from the Kiwis as Tonga look to build from the back. Niukore absolutely nails Amone and forces the knock-on! What a hit.
48min - Leota tries to play the ball quickly as the Kiwis quickly work their way inside the Tongan 10m but fumbles it and we'll have a scrum. Slower, more error-prone start to this half than the first.
46min - Kiwis defence fronting up well and combine to drive the Tongans back in the tackle. Staggs goes high and long with the ball and seemed to have been taken late but no whistle.
44min - Brown does well to clean up a poor pass from Smith before Hughes tries an attacking kick over the top down the middle. Tongan defenders do well to re-gather.
42min - We're back underway! Kiwis work their way up just inside the Tongan half before Hughes goes high with the bomb. Tuipulotu does well to field the ball with the NZ defence right on him.
HALFTIME
40min - Tonga showing great defence on their own try line with Staggs coming up with another beauty around the ankles. Kiwis go high and Suli does well to take it in the air.
38min - Tonga again making some metres down the right wing. They seem to have an overlap but Katoa can't gather in the pass and fumbles it over the touchline.
36min - Tonga finally find some success through their set and a bomb somehow finds the grass but bounces favourably for the Kiwis.
34min - Hughes goes high with the kick and it almost spills to Hiku on the right wing but he can't take it in before crossing the sideline. Kiwis are penalised! Some relief for Tonga.
32min - KIWIS TRY MULITALO
The rain is starting to bucket down! The Kiwis know they have the overlap and shift left to Mulitalo, he does well to take in a pass behind him before a dotting down with a sensational leap in the corner to score a try on his debut!
30min - The ball spills free and Rapana is away down the right wing! He's just got Staggs to beat but the half makes a try-saving tackle right before the chalk. Tuipulotu tries to help smother Rapana but is penalised and sin-binned!
28min - Suli does well to beat one Kiwi tackler as he gathered in the pass. Tonga not making a ton of metres with their last couple of sets as Amone kicks long.
26min - KIWIS PENALTY RAPANA
Rapana makes no mistake from the sideline and extends the Kiwis lead through the penalty goal.
24min - Brown does well to shrug off a tackler before Tonga concede the penalty. Hughes points to the sticks. A welcomed breather for the two sides.
22min - Leota makes a strong carry before Manu sprints from dummy but the ball spills free for Papali'i to clean up! The Kiwis put the grubber through but Tonga do well to field the low kick.
20min - Bromwich almost spins out of the tackle before Smith has another crack from dummy. Hughes goes cross field with the kick and Tuipulotu does very well to beat a jumping Rapana to the high ball.
18min - Tonga playing with their tails up now! They're only 20m out before Manu fields the bomb and returns with interest after beating a couple of Tongan tacklers. Fisher-Harris is through a hole! He's got no support, bumps off another defender but can't link up and that's the end of that.
16min - TONGA TRY KATOA
Tonga finally putting some passes together now as they shift right. They put it through the hands and they have the overlap! Amone attacks the line and an unmarked Katoa goes for the try!
14min - Tonga find some space down the left wing before Hiku smashes Suli in a ball and all tackle! Tonga kick down field and the Kiwis will have the tap around their own 30m.
12min - Tonga looking to throw the ball around on the last before Amone has no choice but to kick long and the Kiwis will have another chance. Game is being played at a frantic pace!
10min - Kiwis showing plenty of enterprise, with the forwards happy to give the ball to their backs. Brown goes high with the kick and the ball comes loose! But Tonga do well to recover.
8min - KIWIS TRY RAPANA
Bromwich shows the ball a few times before linking up with Brown and he's through a hole! The half only has the fullback to beat with an open Rapana on his inside and he puts his winger over for the try. What a start for the Kiwis.
6min - Smith darting again from dummy and catches a few defenders off guard. Manu takes the ball up over halfway before Hughes kicks long for Koula to gather and return.
4min - KIWIS TRY HUGHES
Kiwis shift right and find easy metres before Tapine takes it up just 5 metres out from the try line. Smith goes on a trademark run from dummy and goes close! Hughes gets the ball, puts the step on and goes over the try line! There are bodies everywhere and the ref awards the try!
2min - Rapana gets us underway and it's Fonua-Blake that takes the first hit up for Tonga. The visitors make it up to halfway before kicking and meeting Mulitalo as he fields the high ball. Staggs is penalised for going high on Manu.
5:25pm - We're just moments away from kick-off! This should be a bruising encounter.
5:24pm - Tonga's turn now and the crowd get even louder! Very much a home game away from home for the tourists. The fans are loving it!
5:22pm - New Zealand to perform their haka now. The supporters are going absolutely nuts!
5:20pm - Welcome and thanks for joining us for what should be an epic encounter! The players have made their way onto the pitch and we're just about ready for the anthems.
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Ki ora, good evening and welcome Newshub's live coverage of the international rugby league test between NZ Kiwis and Mate Ma'a Tonga from Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
New Zealand welcome their Pacific Island rivals to a sold out Mt Smart Stadium, which will serve as the first game of test rugby league since the end of 2019.
The Kiwis boast a 5-1 lead over Tonga in the six matches they've played since 1995, including a 34-14 victory in their last encounter two years ago.
Parramatta Eels duo Dylan Brown and Marata Niukore will play their first match in the black and white jersey, while Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo will also make his debut.
Sydney Roosters star Joseph Manu will line-up at fullback, while Panthers forward Moses Leota is the fourth debutant named by coach Michael Maguir as he starts from the bench.
Kotoni Staggs will start at No.6 for Tonga after being overlooked by NSW for the second State of Origin game, while Manly winger Christian Tuipulotu will make his test debut on the wing.
North Queensland Cowboys talisman Jason Taumalolo will co-captain the team, alongside Roosters' Siosiua Taukeiaho. NZ Warriors forward Addin Fonua-Blake joins the pair in a strong Tongan pack.
TAB odds: Kiwis $1.25 Tonga $3.85
Team lists:
Kiwis: 1-Joseph Manu, 2-Ronald Mulitalo, 3-Marata Niukore, 4-Peta Hiku, 5-Jordan Rapana, 6-Dylan Brown, 7-Jahrome Hughes, 8-Jesse Bromwich, 9-Brandon Smith, 10-James Fisher-Harris, 11-Isaiah Papali'i, 12- Kenneath Bromwich, 13-Joseph Tapine
14-Kieran Foran, 15-Moses Leota, 16-Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 17-Briton Nikora, 18-Jordan Riki, 19-Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Tonga: 1-Tolutau Koula, 2-Christian Tuipulotu, 3-Will Penisini, 4-Moses Suli, 5-Sione Katoa, 6-Kotoni Staggs, 7-Talatau Amone, 8-Addin Fonua-Blake, 9-Siliva Havili, 10-Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11-Sitili Tupouniua, 12-Keaon Koloamatangi, 13-Jason Taumalolo
14-Soni Luke, 15-Haumalo Olakau'atu, 16-Tevita Tatola, 17-Moeaki Fotuaika, 18-Joe Ofahengaue, 19- Isaiah Katoa
'Good for the game': Kiwis winger calls for more New Zealand v Tonga tests
As international rugby league prepares to return to New Zealand soil when the Kiwis host Mate Ma'a Tonga on Saturday, winger Jordan Rapana is hopeful the two sides can continue to develop their rivalry with regular tests in the coming years.
On Saturday evening, the Kiwis welcome Tonga to a sold out Mt Smart Stadium, as the first game of test rugby league since the end of 2019, and the first game of any kind since 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic after NZ Warriors were forced to relocate to Australia.
Fittingly, the Kiwis will be up against Tonga, as the two sides have formed a healthy rivalry in recent years, dating back to the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
As the Pacific nation were bolstered by players with dual eligibility who decided to represent their heritage - with star names like Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita opting against playing for New Zealand and Australia respectively - Tonga stunned the Kiwis 28-22 in Hamilton.
In 2019 though, the Kiwis got their own back with a 34-14 victory over Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium, in part thanks to a double to Shaun Johnson.
All up, the two sides have played just six times since 1995, with New Zealand leading 5-1 on the head-to-head record.
But as the international game looks to take more of a prominent role ahead of the NRL, with a World Cup to be held in England later this year, winger Rapana wants to see the Kiwis and Tonga face off more often.
"I'd love to, and I'm sure the fans would love too in New Zealand," Rapana said.
"I know there's a lot of Tongans here. Any time they get to have a test match, their fans come in numbers.
"It's good for the game, good for the country and good for the game of rugby league."
The Kiwis meanwhile have named a strong 17 to face Tonga on Saturday, led by the spine of Joseph Manu of the Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown, and Melbourne Storm duo Jahrome Hughes and Brandon Smith at halfback and hooker respectively.
In fact, such is the influx of Australian-based talent, only one NZ Warriors player has made coach Michael Maguire's squad.
While normally the Warriors would contribute a core of players to a given Kiwis side, only winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been called up this time around, and hasn't been named in the matchday squad.
That depth has seen calls this could be among the strongest New Zealand side ever named, with Rapana confident in his agreement with the sentiment.
"It's got to be up there with the best Kiwis squad I've been part of - on paper that is.
"I know the boys will be wearing this jersey with pride and passion. I'm looking forward to it."
One of the four new faces for this test is Cronulla Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, named for his first New Zealand start after a failed bid to represent Queensland in State of Origin last year.
Mulitalo, 22, starts on the opposite wing of Rapana, seeing the pair team up together for the first time.
And after only playing against each other in the NRL, Canberra Raiders' Rapana says Mulitalo has been a welcome addition to the New Zealand side.
"He's a good fella," he added. The only time I've come up against him is on the field, so I got to meet him in person.
"He's a wonderful, humble kid and I'm looking forward to playing on the wing with him.
"He's a bit of a character. He's a funny lad. We've got a few clowns in the team, so he fit in really well."
