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Benji Marshall celebrates a try - Source: Photosport -
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The Kiwis got a wake-up call ahead of the inaugural Four
Nations rugby league tournament when they made hard work of beating
a gallant Tongan side 40-24 in Rotorua.
New Zealand, with four new caps in their 17, needed three
tries in the final quarter, including two to debutant winger
Bryson Goodwin, to kick clear after the scores were deadlocked at
24-24.
Skipper Benji Marshall gave credit to the Tongans for
their performance on Wednesday night.
"They came out pretty tough and at the start of the second half
really gave us a shock," he told Skysport.
"It was a great hit-out for us in terms of experience for the boys
and just to get a bit of timing back."
While both sides were using the fixture as a build-up for different
campaigns - the Tongans are heading to the Pacific Cup - the match
was sternly contested.
Tempers flared briefly early in the second half, when Marshall and
opposition skipper Feleti Mateo tangled.
In a separate incident shortly after, New Zealand forward Adam
Blair was put on report for a dangerous tackle on former Kiwi
Epalahame Lauaki.
Mateo praised his team's display against the heavily favoured
Kiwis.
"The boys should hold their heads up high, it was a great effort,"
he said.
"It was a stepping stone. We didn't want to take this game lightly
and none of the boys did."
The Kiwis began with some aggressive defence, but it was Tonga who
surprisingly hit the front after six minutes.
They got field position from a 40-20 kick by skipper Feleti Mateo,
who finished off the attack by forcing his way over.
On a tough night for goalkickers, with rain making conditions
slippery, halfback Eddie Paea missed the conversion from virtually
in front and the Kiwis responded with three quick tries.
Hooker Issac Luke, in one of several runs that produced good metres
from dummy half, set up the first for Marshall.
Centre Junior Sau, one of the Kiwi debutants, got the second with a
strong run, after having forced a turnover with a strong
tackle.
When winger Sam Perrett got the third with only 16 minutes gone,
the Kiwis appeared to be running away with the game at 16-4.
Unlucky Kiwis fight back
But Tonga struck back when a great bust by Wests Tigers second
rower Viliami Mataka sent winger Sam Huihahau over.
The visitors appeared to have got another when their other winger,
Parramatta's Etuate Uaisele, dotted down.
But in what seemed like a tight call, centre Suiatonga Likiliki was
ruled offside earlier in the move.
The Kiwis took advantage of the reprieve with halfback Nathan Fien
and the centre Steve Matai both crossing before halftime for a 24-8
lead.
However, Tonga, with back-up dummy half Joel Taufa'ao influential
off the bench and helped by a string of penalties, showed their
resolve.
They shocked the Kiwis with three quick tries early in the second
half to draw level.
Uaisele got the first two, and was unlucky not to get another when
a tight knock-on decision went against Tonga.
Mataka got the third and suddenly a huge upset appeared to be
possible.
However, a Fien kick produced a second try for Marshall to push the
Kiwis ahead again.
Perrett was denied a second touchdown for a forward pass, but
Goodwin on the other flank did get over after being set up by
Marshall.
Goodwin then capped off his test debut with a second try with three
minutes to go.
New Zealand now head to the Four Nations, which they open with a
test against Australia in London on October 25 (NZ time).
Tonga are bound for the Pacific Cup in Papua New Guinea beginning
on October 24.
The cup winners will qualify as the fourth team, replacing France,
in next year's Four Nations, which will be held in the Southern
Hemisphere.
