AUS v TONGA @ Mt Smart Stadium // Saturday 20 October - 5:45PM (AEDT) 7:45PM (NZDT)

[mxlegend99]

Ben Hunt and Aaron Woods are still in the team... so Tonga are a chance

 

[PARRA_FAN]

why is it on f**king 9Gem?!?

Hope its on FoxLeague as well.

Me thinks that given this was scheduled only recently that Ch 9 couldnt offload their initial program, but whats really on Ch 9 this Saturday??

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Tonga really have to be laser focused on starting well and playing for 80 mins. The Aussies will be stinging after last week and they will also want to take the crowd out of the game so they will look to pile on two or three early tries and put the game to bed. They won't be run down like New Zealand and England (almost) were last year if they have a healthy lead.

 

[Springs09]

Hope its on FoxLeague as well.

Me thinks that given this was scheduled only recently that Ch 9 couldnt offload their initial program, but whats really on Ch 9 this Saturday??

Getaway, Nine News and Forrest Gump

 

[Fire]

When do they name the teams?

Team lists are up: https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/10/16/australia-v-tonga-team-lists/

 

[King hit]

The excitement and expectation in the build up to this shows how far international league has come since I first got into footy. Back in 2000/2001 the thought of Tonga giving Australia a contest was laughable but there is some expectation of a cracking contest on Saturday.

 

[Matua]

Strong Tongan team - outside of the halves and Solomone Kata. If Kata is defending on Mitchell's edge then Tonga are no chance.

 

[Omegamanson]

Strong Tongan team - outside of the halves and Solomone Kata. If Kata is defending on Mitchell's edge then Tonga are no chance.

He's the centre for Fusitua as well so looks like he won't be getting any ball on Saturday night.. Ha!

 

[no name]

Mal must have been impressed with McLean’s metres last week.....

 

[The Brain Stormer]

why is it on f**king 9Gem?!?

Because you mere peasants who can’t affofd to have Foxtel can actually sit & enjoy the game, then add the quality commentary of Fool Gould & Co.

 

[The Brain Stormer]

Pretty sure it’s on Fox.

 

[grouch]

The Tongan forward pack is objectively superior to the Kangaroos

 

[taste2taste]

Team lists are up: https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/10/16/australia-v-tonga-team-lists/

Any arguments if i were to say Tonga has the best forward pack in international footy ?

All forwards ( maybe not Sika ) can cross the advantage line with ease and find their feet for a quick play the ball. Australia wont be able to catch, hold and dance with these guys.
Its a shame Tongas spine is so ordinary and wont be able to take advantage of the forwards roll on.

Roo's by 16

 

[Matua]

Any arguments if i were to say Tonga has the best forward pack in international footy ?

All forwards ( maybe not Sika ) can cross the advantage line with ease and find their feet for a quick play the ball. Australia wont be able to catch, hold and dance with these guys.
Its a shame Tongas spine is so ordinary and wont be able to take advantage of the forwards roll on.

Roo's by 16

The Kiwis when all available might be in with a shot - they have a prop rotation of Bromwich, Taupau, JWH, and NAS with back up from Blair (when he plays well) Tapine and Ese'ese. Add Harris in along with improving back rowers in Liu and Fisher-Harris and I reckon it's 50/50.

 

[mozza91]

Our forwards need to be a thousand times better than last week. If we can get close to matching them in the middle Tedesco, Keary, DCE and Cook will have to much class for their opposites.

 

[GongPanther]

Katoa MoM.

 

[Valheru]

I have a sinking feeling australia will win by 30 plus which will probably make this the last fixture between the 2 for some time outside world cups.

 

[Billythekid]

I have a sinking feeling australia will win by 30 plus which will probably make this the last fixture between the 2 for some time outside world cups.

I hope it’s a closer match but I’d be fine with that result. I’m much more interested in seeing Tonga play against NZ and Samoa where there is a real rivalry.

 

[Force]

I hope it’s a closer match but I’d be fine with that result. I’m much more interested in seeing Tonga play against NZ and Samoa where there is a real rivalry.

Theres only a rivalry between Tonga and Samoa, not NZ and Tonga. One goes back centuries, the other just a blip from last year.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

The hype around this match is insanely good. Even two years ago you would have struggled to even get this match televised.