What had been billed as one of the most intriguing Rugby League World Cup semi-finals in history was, in the end, a brutal exposé of the standards the world’s chasing nations must rise to in order to match Australia and New Zealand.
Few nations have as close a connection to the rise of international rugby league quite like the Kiwis and Tonga. After all, it was Jason Taumalolo’s decision to switch his international allegiance from New Zealand to the Mate Ma’a in 2017 which lit the touchpaper for the rise of nations such as Samoa and Tonga, leading to a plethora of the world’s best players following suit.
He was dubbed a defector but he changed the course of international rugby league for ever. Together, Taumalolo and Tonga created World Cup history weeks later when they became the first tier-two nation to defeat a top-tier side, as they beat New Zealand at the 2017 World Cup. The rise has been so rapid that we reached this moment in time with a clear belief that Tonga could repeat the trick and qualify for their first final.
But ultimately, when the stakes are at their highest, the Kangaroos and the Kiwis still have another level to their game. Taumalolo, the architect of Tonga’s rise over the past decade, slumped to the turf as the full-time hooter sounded in Newcastle knowing his international career was likely over, with New Zealand booking their place in next weekend’s final in style, completing double success in Newcastle after the Kiwi Ferns beat Samoa to reach the women’s final .
The Kiwis have, quite incredibly, not been in a World Cup final since 2013. But they have the chance to win the title for the first time since 2008 next weekend and, no matter who wins the second semi between Australia and Samoa, there is a fair argument to suggest Stacey Jones’s side are favourites.
It was in the balance at half-time, with the Kiwis ahead by just two points after Tonga underlined why they are now regarded as a new powerhouse of the international game. But as conditions worsened in Newcastle, the Kiwis rose to the occasion and scored 22 unanswered points.
New Zealand’s big selection call was to restore Kalyn Ponga to the side at full-back just 23 days after breaking his forearm in the tournament opener. It produced an almost immediate reward as he teed up Briton Nikora for the opening try after five minutes, but Tonga roared back with two tries of their own to take the lead.
Jojo Fifita scored both of them, first finishing a wonderful long-range break before powering over from close range to put the Mate Ma’a in front. Their supporters, who have brought so much colour and enjoyment to the tournament, were now dreaming of history: but as half-time approached, they were dealt a crushing blow.
New Zealand reacted to the worsening conditions the better, with the kicking games of Jahrome Hughes and Ponga vital. It was Ponga’s kick which led to Dane Gagai scoring three minutes before the break, with Jamayne Isaako converting to nudge the Kiwis ahead by two. From there, they did not look back.
Tonga continued to rally but whenever New Zealand put themselves in prime attacking territory, they were able to take full advantage. They extended their lead eight minutes after the restart when Casey McLean scored his 18th try in eight Tests with a wonderful finish, before Tonga misjudged a clever Kiwis kick to allow Hughes to score their fourth.
Isaako was magnificent from the tee, defying the swirling wind and driving rain to convert all four Kiwis tries, and with a 14-point buffer established, the game was now in their control. Xavier Willison scored their fifth before the final act also went to New Zealand as another kick, this time from James Fisher-Harris, was grounded by Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
Given the rise of Samoa and Tonga, as well as the resurgence of New Zealand this autumn, the general consensus pre-tournament was that a victory for anyone other than Australia would be a good one for international rugby league, even if not the Kangaroos. The Kiwis once again finally look capable of being the side to deliver on that hope.
