Tonga answer electrifying Haka with stunning Sipi Tau war cry before Pacific Test  

Emotions ran high as rugby league returned to New Zealand for the first time in three years, with Mt Smart Stadium painted red as Tonga fans descended onto Auckland for the Pacific Test on Saturday.

The Kiwis secured a comfortable 26-6 win inspired by a stunning display from Roosters star Joey Manu, who racked up 398 running metres and seven tackle breaks.

A capacity 27,000 crowd – with the vast majority part of New Zealand’s huge Tongan community – jammed themselves into Mt Smart Stadium to watch one of the most-anticipated league match-ups of the year and the pre-match rituals did not disappoint. 

New Zealand performed a highly-emotional rendition of the Haka in the Pacific Test

Which was met by a similarly stunning version of the Tongan Sipi Tau war cry

Brandon Smith could barely choke back the tears as the New Zealand national anthem ended, before the Kiwis performed a highly-emotional rendition of the haka which was met by a similarly rousing performance of the Tongan Sipi Tau

‘There is nothing else like it in world sport,’ Fox League commentator Warren Smith said. 

‘Two proud Pacific Nations, setting the scene for a colossal confrontation here today. […] The flags are flying. The noise from the Tongan fans in reaction to what they saw during the Sipi Tau, it runs electricity through your body doesn’t it.’ 

The Kiwis then raced to a 12-0 lead after only seven minutes as Jahrome Hughes bundled his way over from close to the line, before Jordan Rapana finished off a long-range move to dive in under the posts.

Tongan fans descended en masse onto Auckland to paint Mt Smart Stadium red

To their credit, the Tongans took the only real opportunity in the half, with Sione Katoa crossing in the corner after some lovely build-up work by Viliami Penisini.

But that simply inspired the Kiwis to slam the door shut, with aggressive defence by the middle forwards barely allowing the Tongans out of their half.

The break saw the Kiwis take a commanding 20-6 lead after Rapana kicked a penalty goal before Dylan Brown floated a beautiful ball out wide for Ronaldo Mulitalo to score the try of the match.

But New Zealand ran out comfortable 26-6 winners on Saturday night 

Joey Manu starred for the Kiwis, running for an astonishing 398 metres 

Jordan Rapana crossed for New Zealand’s second try of the game after just seven minutes

Both debutants had solid games, but the real standouts were Jesse Bromwich and Joseph Manu, who dictated play on both attack and defence.

By the time Isiah Papali’I stretched out to score in the 62nd minute, the game was already won, but the Kiwis kept pressing their advantage right until the end.

Despite the unusually flat Tongan performance, the crowd was in full voice throughout, with Mt Smart once again becoming a sea of red Tongan flags.

Sione Katoa scored Tonga’s only try of the night in the first half after some lovely build-up

That really was the only highlight from their perspective, with stars like Jason Taumalolo and Addin Fonua-Blake well contained.

Kotoni Staggs and Talatau Amone had a hard time getting anything going in the halves, with Tonga unable to force even one goal-line drop-out.

The Kiwis came into the game ranked world No.1, a status they backed up with what can be best described as a professional win.