Red letter day for Tongan pride

DOWN 16-2 at half-time and missing strike weapon Michael Jennings, the task of beating New Zealand looked beyond Tonga. It appeared that the anticipation following the ‘defection’ of Jason Taumalolo, the emotion of the spine-tingling pre-game build-up and the intense atmosphere at the sold-out venue had taken their toll and the Tongans would be forced to submit to the experience and class of the Kiwis. New Zealand were superb in the opening half, executing their plans to pressure Tongan halves Tuimoala Lolohea and Ata Hingano while Nelson Asofa-Solomona appeared to have a personal mission to target Konrad Hurrell. A clever blindside play led to the opening try to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, while Jordan Rapana finished one of the tries of the World Cup after a move that twice featured Shaun Johnson. Then came a one-two…

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Official Rugby League Annual (Digital) - 1 Issue, 2017

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