Ever Hopeful
Contributor
playdaball
Heritage Member
Staggs looked like a class player just night. I’ve never really noticed that from his Broncos performances. Maybe 6 is his position?
playdaball
Heritage Member
We need him to run the Warriors for Autex.
Bruce, the logical fallacy you’re demonstrating for us is called the “no true Scotsman” fallacy, but for relevance, I’ll call it the “no true tongan” fallacy.
france
winning games would be a good start & having a fkn decent game plan as well....and start playing some of these younger guys...getting fkn sick & tired seeing how certain players are getting free walk-ups into the team after playing shit games..it does'nt send a very good message to the next crop of young players coming through
wallacenz
From what Ive read on here they need to change the team name to the Tonga Warriors
bruce
Contributor
That was Fale's idea. It won't work. The Kiwis worked them over this year and the Kangaroos will really work them over next time.
ShaunJohnson7
Wow there are bitter, racist idiots here. You guys are just a disgrace
wallacenz
are you accusing me of racism?
I was pointing out that when these guys played for NZ I dont think it was 'phony' patriotism. How that could be construed as racist I dont know.
bruce
Contributor
Don't talk nonsense. WTF have I said on here that is racist? By the way, I found out what ekatee means.
bruce
Contributor
kavafred
But you are still fine with picking Kiwi players through the years that had ALL their league education in the Aussie system though? Brent Webb and Cayless etc......I could go on but it won't be worth it. Real proud Kiwis they are. Your just pissed that what you feared would happen has and that is if Tonga field their best team they will smash the Kiwis anytime. Just saying............
ShaunJohnson7
Im a white New Zealander, a honkey, abd Tonga are my favourite team even over New Zealand. How does this make you feel?
Worried2Death
Contributor
It's a game of sport mate, not Sophie's Choice, if my kids want to play for Tonga good luck to them. They'd be fuckin idiots because they've got no Tongan ancestry and they've never set foot in the place, but as Nathan "nek minnit" Fien said after he scored the matchwinner at the world cup, "that's rugby league, thanks for coming and thanks for the money my uces."
Tragic
Contributor
I like Tonga, I will still support the Kiwis over them but I want to see them beat England and Aussie. Gotta love their fans and I always aupport an underdog.
Gotta say I am still butt hurt about the way they went about the change to Tonga so close to the WC last year, that was a shit thing to do, I am getting over it slowly but would never trust JT again.
Gotta say I am still butt hurt about the way they went about the change to Tonga so close to the WC last year, that was a shit thing to do, I am getting over it slowly but would never trust JT again.
bruce
Contributor
The Cayless family are proud Maori, Brent Webb lives here now, as for Fiens grandmother
. I am not against the guys choosing Tonga, but they stay there, end of story. You watch the Aussies sort that out real fast.Just watch out for Australia next time:
'I needed to be better': Shock loss to Tongans takes gloss off Tedesco's bumper year
James Tedesco says his wild pass at the end of the Test against the Tonga Invitational side was the "little wake-up call" he needed after a season to remember.
Trugoy
Boo fkn hooo!
The game was an awesome spectacle, and the atmosphere and vibe looked amazing, and that was from the perspective of my living room, would love to have experienced it live!
Yes like most I was pissed at what and how some of the Tongan players defected pre-world cup, but I couldn’t care less now.
We just witnessed the reason why...they are a ridgey didge force and have not only won against NZ and GB, but have just beaten THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD!! (and in case anyone wasn’t aware of who was the best, Braith Anasta only mentioned it about 18 times during the call just so there wasn’t any confusion
)
Yeah the Aussie head honchos are probably gonna do some shifty shit to ensure the odds are stacked in their favour next time...yeah the Kiwis are suffering a little without the elite Tongans to choose from...yeah the missus still claims “headache” everytime I go for the tickle after getting home too late from the pub...but shieeet, some things are just what they are man, and maybe, just maybe, she’ll explain why our taps keep leaking every other day when she’s at home alone and Gary the plumber has to keep coming around to fix them while I’m at work. (free of charge mind you..good bloke that Gary)
Sorry I digress, point is, I reckon the emergence of Tonga in rugby league is the most exciting thing to happen in the game for years and I for one look forward to it continuing and hopefully thriving!
The game was an awesome spectacle, and the atmosphere and vibe looked amazing, and that was from the perspective of my living room, would love to have experienced it live!
Yes like most I was pissed at what and how some of the Tongan players defected pre-world cup, but I couldn’t care less now.
We just witnessed the reason why...they are a ridgey didge force and have not only won against NZ and GB, but have just beaten THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD!! (and in case anyone wasn’t aware of who was the best, Braith Anasta only mentioned it about 18 times during the call just so there wasn’t any confusion
)Yeah the Aussie head honchos are probably gonna do some shifty shit to ensure the odds are stacked in their favour next time...yeah the Kiwis are suffering a little without the elite Tongans to choose from...yeah the missus still claims “headache” everytime I go for the tickle after getting home too late from the pub...but shieeet, some things are just what they are man, and maybe, just maybe, she’ll explain why our taps keep leaking every other day when she’s at home alone and Gary the plumber has to keep coming around to fix them while I’m at work. (free of charge mind you..good bloke that Gary)
Sorry I digress, point is, I reckon the emergence of Tonga in rugby league is the most exciting thing to happen in the game for years and I for one look forward to it continuing and hopefully thriving!
Last edited:
Sup42
Australia have only one weakness. No one is supposed to be able to beat them.
Australia will almost always field the better team on paper versus anyone in any given game.
As Kiwi fans we have seen how that can backfire on them,
Tonga bashed everyone in front of them, in other words they didnt give a shit about reputations. That is the environment where Polynesians thrive. Insurmountable odds are not a problem if your brother has your back and the coach has a solid game plan.
In the lead up Fox commentary only talked about the Australian players,
That wont be repeated. The reason they were so one sided is they knew little of what Mate ma Tonga were capable of.
Next time Tonga play Australia, the Aussie media will be better informed, as will its players. If Tonga can beat them twice, the world has changed forever.
Australia will almost always field the better team on paper versus anyone in any given game.
As Kiwi fans we have seen how that can backfire on them,
Tonga bashed everyone in front of them, in other words they didnt give a shit about reputations. That is the environment where Polynesians thrive. Insurmountable odds are not a problem if your brother has your back and the coach has a solid game plan.
In the lead up Fox commentary only talked about the Australian players,
That wont be repeated. The reason they were so one sided is they knew little of what Mate ma Tonga were capable of.
Next time Tonga play Australia, the Aussie media will be better informed, as will its players. If Tonga can beat them twice, the world has changed forever.
bruce
Contributor
The only thing that would do it is fan support. There was some pretty good Australian talent in that team, that just happened to have some Tongan forebears. If it could get to the stage where young guys could choose early to represent Tonga, and stay there, I would be all for it. However the ARL will just buy them out, like they do with Mozzies, and it will be a very weakened version of the Kiwis. Very sad, so sorry, never mind
Rick O'Shay
Contributor
Not so sure Bruce. I think there has been a shift in the dynamic of World RL lately especially down this way. It was only a matter of time with Gen x y or fucking z that their different view to things (from us dinosaurs) would make their holistic approach the way forward.
TBH does it really matter where your allegiance lies as long as you follow the rules and lock yourself in. The muppets at the top are to blame for creating a situation whereby you can change allegiance like you change your undies (for some)
I think it's great for the game that we have other nations besides the big 3 (pick a fourth from the European also rans to make up the numbers) playing and winning. Yes, I agree the circumstances weren't ideal and some players lost a bit of mana over it but the concept is sound. However, once you lock in, that should be it exactly the same as Union.
With Tonga's success I wouldn't be surprised if we see more defections . Can they sustain it? Don't know but I hope so as IMO it's great for the game
TBH does it really matter where your allegiance lies as long as you follow the rules and lock yourself in. The muppets at the top are to blame for creating a situation whereby you can change allegiance like you change your undies (for some)
I think it's great for the game that we have other nations besides the big 3 (pick a fourth from the European also rans to make up the numbers) playing and winning. Yes, I agree the circumstances weren't ideal and some players lost a bit of mana over it but the concept is sound. However, once you lock in, that should be it exactly the same as Union.
With Tonga's success I wouldn't be surprised if we see more defections . Can they sustain it? Don't know but I hope so as IMO it's great for the game
Similar threads
Off The Bench
Last Game
12 May
24 - 12
7.2
Total Avg Rating
10.0
Your Avg Rating
Highest Rated Player
Lowest Rated Player
Compiled from 8 ratings