The Kangaroos finally get the chance to make amends for last year's shock 30-0 loss to the Kiwis in the Pacific Championships final but that redemption will be hard earned against a powerful Tongan outfit.
The forward battle will lay the foundation for victory with Addin Fonua-Blake, Keaon Koloamatangi and Jason Taumalolo locking horns with Reuben Cotter, Pat Carrigan and Mitch Barnett in a heavyweight showdown guaranteed to rock Suncorp Stadium.
This Test match in front of the Suncorp Stadium faithful represents a changing of the guard in many ways for Australia, with Dylan Edwards taking over at fullback from former skipper James Tedesco, while Tom Dearden and Mitch Moses combine at the scrumbase with Cam Munster injured and Daly Cherry-Evans overlooked.
The last time these nations met in a Test match it was Tonga pulling off a remarkable 16-12 win on an emotion-charged afternoon in Auckland.
Tonga have five survivors from that day in Fonua-Blake, Taumalolo, Tui Lolohea, Siliva Havili and Daniel Tupou while remarkably the only Kangaroo remaining from that Test match is Rabbitohs skipper Cameron Murray.
With Moses and Dearden calling the shots the Kangaroos will look to play an up-tempo game and use their speed around the rucks to try and have the Tonga pack running on empty after the first 20 minutes.
Match: Kangaroos v Tonga XIII
Week 1 -
home Team
Kangaroos
1st Position
away Team
Tonga XIII
2nd Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Team News
Kangaroos: The Kangaroos are 1-17 with no late changes. A new-look halves pairing for Mal Meninga with Tom Dearden and Mitch Moses both making their Test debuts, along with wingers Xavier Coates and Zac Lomax and bench forwards Mitch Barnett and Hudson Young. Sea Eagles superstar Tom Trbojevic plays his first Test match since 2018, forming a lethal centre combination with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. At the back, Panthers star Dylan Edwards takes over in the No.1 jersey, while up front it's Issah Yeo assuming the captaincy and leading an experienced pack that includes Wally Lewis Medal winner Angus Crichton and his Roosters teammate Lindsay Collins. Dragons and Maroons star Ben Hunt is 18th man.
Tonga XIII: No game day changes for Tonga who line up 1-17. Grand final hero Paul Alamoti has been handed his Test debut while Manly pair Lehi Hopoate and Taniela Paseka also play their first Test match. Huddersfield’s Tui Lolohea is the only member of the squad returning from the Super League and teams up in the halves with Dolphins young gun Isaiya Katoa. Veterans Addin Fonua-Blake and Felise Kaufusi are the starting props with Jason Taumalolo, Haumole Olakau'atu and Eli Katoa making up an all-star back row. The bench also boasts plenty of firepower with Keaon Koloamatangi, Paseka and Sitili Tupouniua joined by Panthers dynamo Soni Luke, who played four Tests at the 2022 World Cup. Tolu Koula is 18th man.
Match: Kangaroos v Tonga XIII
Week 1 -
home Team
Kangaroos
away Team
Tonga XIII
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Kangaroos is number 1 Dylan EdwardsFullback for Tonga XIII is number 1 Lehi Hopoate
-
Winger for Kangaroos is number 2 Xavier CoatesWinger for Tonga XIII is number 2 Daniel Tupou
-
Centre for Kangaroos is number 3 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowCentre for Tonga XIII is number 3 Mosese Suli
-
Centre for Kangaroos is number 4 Tom TrbojevicCentre for Tonga XIII is number 4 Paul Alamoti
-
Winger for Kangaroos is number 5 Zac LomaxWinger for Tonga XIII is number 5 Sione Katoa
-
Five-Eighth for Kangaroos is number 6 Tom DeardenFive-Eighth for Tonga XIII is number 6 Tuimoala Lolohea
-
Halfback for Kangaroos is number 7 Mitchell MosesHalfback for Tonga XIII is number 7 Isaiya Katoa
Forwards
-
Prop for Kangaroos is number 8 Patrick CarriganProp for Tonga XIII is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
-
Hooker for Kangaroos is number 9 Harry GrantHooker for Tonga XIII is number 9 Siliva Havili
-
Prop for Kangaroos is number 10 Lindsay CollinsProp for Tonga XIII is number 10 Felise Kaufusi
-
2nd Row for Kangaroos is number 11 Angus Crichton2nd Row for Tonga XIII is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
-
2nd Row for Kangaroos is number 12 Cameron Murray2nd Row for Tonga XIII is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
-
Lock for Kangaroos is number 13 Isaah YeoLock for Tonga XIII is number 13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Kangaroos is number 14 Matt BurtonInterchange for Tonga XIII is number 14 Soni Luke
-
Interchange for Kangaroos is number 15 Mitchell BarnettInterchange for Tonga XIII is number 15 Sitili Tupouniua
-
Interchange for Kangaroos is number 16 Reuben CotterInterchange for Tonga XIII is number 16 Taniela Paseka
-
Interchange for Kangaroos is number 17 Hudson YoungInterchange for Tonga XIII is number 17 Keaon Koloamatangi
Reserves
-
Replacement for Kangaroos is number 18 Ben HuntReplacement for Tonga XIII is number 18 Tolutau Koula
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- Only eight Kangaroos players remain from the team beaten 30-0 by the Kiwis last November.
- Tonga’s squad includes six players who played in the 16-12 win over the Kangaroos in 2019.
- Australia play their first Test at Suncorp since their 2017 World Cup final defeat of England.
- Tonga play in Brisbane for the first time.
- Australia have nine newcomers in their 21-man Pacific Championships squad.
- Tonga have lost their last four Test matches.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
