Oct 20th, 2018

Oct 20th, 2018

There were extraordinary scenes in New Zealand as devoted, red-clad Tongan fans descended on Mt Smart Stadium ahead of the sold-out Test against Australia.

Hours before kick-off between the Kangaroos and Tonga, thousands of supporters had already arrived outside the stadium.

Many arrived early to watch and welcome the Tongan team bus to the ground, creating an electric atmosphere pre-game.

Chairman of the ARLC Peter Beattie was also in town for the Test, and was also impressed by the fandom from Tonga.

One brave Australian fan got a cold reception from the majority Tongan fans in Auckland before the game as they drove up in a green and gold car donned with Aussie flags.

The mood was positive though, as cars draped in red and white created an infectious party-vibe before the match.

Tonga will meet the Kangaroos for the first time in Test history tonight.

Almost a year ago, the Mate Ma'a captured the imagination of the rugby league public by coming within two points of a fairytale World Cup final against Australia.

It came off the back of the famous defections of Andrew Fifita and Jason Taumalolo from the Kangaroos and New Zealand respectively. Fifita this year led calls for the red nation to face the green and gold.

So widespread has the interest been in an Australia-Tonga Test that Kangaroos players took a major pay cut for the match to be staged.

"I guarantee this game for us is going to be bigger than an Origin game," Fifita told NRL.com.

"Expect the atmosphere, because I know it is going to be a red sea out there.

"This is the first game ever that our little island has got the chance to play [the Kangaroos]."

- with AAP