Kangaroos and Jillaroos in Pacific Championships openers
- Full-time: Kangaroos 18-0 Tonga
- Full-time: Jillaroos 84-0 PNG Orchids
Posted:
2024-10-18 06:35:18
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-18/kangaroos-tonga-jillaroos-png-pacific-championships-live-blog/104491618
The Kangaroos have taken down Tonga 18-0, capping off a blockbuster night for Australia after Jillaroos winger Julia Robinson scored a record six tries during Australia's 84-0 rout of Papua New Guinea to kick off the Pacific Championships.
It was a story of extremes for Australia's men's and women's teams at Lang Park, with the Kangaroos battling past Tonga after the Jillaroos' 17-try demolition of the Orchids.
In the women's game, Robinson's six tries set a new record for the most tries in a Test by a Jillaroo, although she was hotly pursued by fellow winger Jakiya Whitfeld, who finished with five.
Isabelle Kelly and Tamika Upton nabbed doubles, while Tiana Penitani and Jessica Sergis also crossed in a lopsided affair to kick off three weeks of international rugby league in Brisbane.
Julia Robinson (right) got hat-tricks in each half against PNG. (Getty Images: Bradley Kanaris)
After watching the Jillaroos put PNG to the sword, the Kangaroos faced a much sterner test against Tonga, with the only first-half try coming via an intercept to Tom Trbojevic, who was playing his first Test in six years.
Tonga continued to fight hard in the middle of the field after the break, but were chasing the game after Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow outpaced opposite number Paul Alamoti to score in the 52nd minute.
The Tongan back five repeatedly came up with try-saving efforts against their more fancied opponents, but fullback Lehi Hopoate was sent to the sin-bin as the hour mark approached after a professional foul on the tryline, gifting Australia two points in the process.
His teammates almost scored their first points with just 12 men on the field, but Keaon Koloamatangi could not cleanly ground Tuimoala Lolohea's grubber in the 66th minute.
There was time for another try-saver by Hopoate, but the pressure told when debutant five-eighth Tom Dearden weaved through the tired defence to score from dummy half in the 79th minute.
Look back at how all the Pacific Championships action unfolded in the live blog below.
We'll sign off there
As the Tongan players thank the fans and finally start to leave the field draped in countless ula lole, I'll bid you farewell from Lang Park.
We'll be blogging every game of the Jillaroos' and Kangaroos' Pacific Championships campaigns, so I hope to see all of you again next Sunday.
Until then...
The Kangaroos take down Tonga 18-0 in the Pacific Championships
Australia scores some revenge for 2019 and a bounce-back from the 30-0 loss in last year's 30-0 Championships final loss with a very professional performance tonight, especially defensively.
It wasn't the most polished brilliant attacking effort from the Australians tonight, but keeping this Tongan side to zero will put a smile on Mal Meninga's face.
The forward battle was as expected, but the biggest difference was the class in the spine and backline.
Harry Grant and Tom Trbojevic were particularly damaging and repeatedly threatened through the middle and on the edges.
There were a few too many dropped balls to make it an utterly dominant performance by the Kangaroos, and Tonga has plenty of room to improve, especially Isaiya Katoa, who had a shocking night with the boot.
Tom Dearden puts the exclamation mark on this game!
Mosese Suli flings Hudson Young aside at the end of the tackle, but that leaves the Tongans out of position at marker. Tom Dearden spots it, weaves back in behind the ruck, runs around a limping Haumole Olakau'atu, and dives over in the corner.
It's been great debut for the young Cowboys five-eighth.
The full-time siren sounds as Zac Lomax lines up the kick from the sideline.
76' That might be game, set and match
Keaon Koloamatangi tries to hold up a short ball for Felise Kaufusi, but the big Dolphin has already overrun him by the time Koloamatangi lets the ball go.
Four minutes left. Australia has the ball. Three scores ain't happening now.
73' The Kangaroos smother Tonga
Tonga tries to run it on the last, but Tom Trbojevic gets his timing perfect as he flies up from right centre and shuts down Tuimoala Lolohea.
72' They've held the Kangaroos up again!
Hudson Young comes on and immediately makes a great charge to within a metre of the tryline.
Harry Grant follows it up with a pick and drive from dummy half, but again Lehi Hopoate gets in under the ball to hold him up.
68' Katoa kicks another one dead
Isaiya Katoa is playing with lead in his boots and grubbers way too deep yet again.
Seven tackles for Australia.
TONGA IS OVER! But it's a knock-on!!
The Tongan forward pack tries to knock down the front door, Isaiya Katoa tries to sneak through on the left, and eventually Tuimoala Lolohea grubber from dummy half for Keaon Koloamatangi. He gets up "celebrating" but the replays show he's knocked it on.
He just went over the top of the ball and couldn't ground it cleanly. Devastating for Tonga, still playing with 12 men.
65' Harry Grant is off the field
The Storm hooker has been off for a couple of minutes. Reuben Cotter is deputising at dummy half.
Grant's been struggling since midway through the first half.
64' Mitchell Moses shanks one out on the full
Moses almost missed touch with the midfield penalty earlier, and now he's shanked one off the outside of his boot as he tries to go for distance from his 30m line.
Tonga is right on the attack now.
62' ANOTHER TRY-SAVER BY TONGA
Tom Trbojevic goes one on one with Mosese Suli, and he gets to the line, but again the Tongans scramble and Suli manages to get under the ball and force the error in the in-goal.
Some amazing try-savers from Tonga tonight.
61' Another one dead by Isaiya Katoa
A second kick-off is way too big from Isaiya Katoa and that's the fourth ball kicked dead by him tonight.
58' Lehi Hopoate is in the sin-bin!
Cameron Murray bursts through the middle as Haumole Olakau'atu and Jason Taumalolo collide while trying to tackle him.
Murray goes within 2 metres of the line before being dragged down by the bootlaces by Lehi Hopoate. But he stands straight up and immediately grabs Harry Grant as he scoots for the line from dummy half. Gerard Sutton has no choice but to send him for 10 minutes.
Zac Lomax pots the penalty to make it 14-0. That could be the moment of the match.
56' Too many weet-bix for Isaiya Katoa
Mitch Barnett hands Tonga the ball 40 meres out with an ill-advised offload.
And Isaiya Kato tries grubbering for Haumole Olakau'atu but it's just too big.
Hamiso Tabuai-FENDOW!!
The Kangaroos clearly have a plan to use Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow's speed against Paul Alamoti tonight. He's threatened and threatened and now he strikes, getting outside Alamoti, palming him off and flying for the corner from 30 metres out despite the cover of Lehi Hopoate.
That came at the end of a seven-tackle set conceded when Isaiya Katoa's attempted 40/20 just kicked right at the wrong time and trickled into touch in goal. How cruel the bounce of a Steeden can be.
49' That's silly from Sitili
Tonga has the pressure on the Kangaroos thanks to Haumole Olakau'atu, who may be best on ground so far, and Lehi Hopoate.
But the kick goes up and Dylan Edwards flies for it, and Sitili Tupouniua hits him in the air. He just got his timing slightly wrong and it costs Tonga dearly.
44' What a try-saver!
Tom Trbojevic beats Mosese Suli and looks for all money like he's going to power over, and he does, but Lehi Hopoate wraps up the ball as Daniel Tupou hits him low.
Another brilliant try-saver by Tonga.
Also, he may not have got it down there, but Trbojevic is having a blinder in a backline full of stars.
43' Isaiya Katoa is down
The Tongan halfback has been hammered by the Hammer.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow shoots up out of the line and drives his shoulder through the ribs of his Dolphins teammate, forcing the error and leaving Katoa in agony on the turf.
41' Tonga kicks off and there's 40 minutes to come
And straight away there's a penalty to piggyback Australia out of its half as Soni Luke wheels Isaah Yeo around by his long leg in a tackle.