CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
The dulcet tones of Tongan hymns and general che-hooing are still serenading the streets Western Sydney and South Brisbane two days after the Pacific Islanders defeated Australia 16-12 at Eden Park.
This marks the first time Australia lost to a team other than England, New Zealand or Great Britain, which was against France in 1978.
One of the more exciting games of rugby league this years was neck and neck most of the match, with the Kangaroos leading 12-6 at half-time.
Rugby league analysts believe this may be the start of a new era for the international game, as the Tonga their side with many younger NRL players shunning Origin and Kiwi representative honours to play for their mother country.
Trailing 12-6 at half-time, Tonga crossed twice in the second half, through Michael Jennings and Tevita Pangai Jr, before holding out defensively for the remaining 25 minutes of the match against the world champions.
Different video footage of the the Tongan diaspora celebrating the win has gone viral over the last few days, with weddings, birthdays, and church services paused to watch the outstanding and record-breaking performance by Mate Ma’a Tonga.
48-hours since the victory, outskirt centres of Brisbane like Woodridge and Ipswich remain in full party-mode, with pubs offering drink specials for Tongan passport holders.
Burwood in Sydney’s West has this afternoon recording the highest-pitch che-hoos in documented history, as the Tokos continue to celebrate this momentous occasion.
The Dee-Why Hotel in Sydney’s Northern Beaches has also hosted the largest recorded congregation of Tongan patrons this afternoon, however this event was not specifically rugby league related.
It has since been revealed that former Manly legend John Hopoate was simply taking advantage of the Monday ‘kids eat for free’ special.
