It's the game that could change the face of international rugby league, when Tonga take on the world champions Australia in Auckland tonight.
A win for Tonga could result in more high‑profile games in the South Pacific.
The two sides have never met before, but Tonga — with a team full of NRL and English Super League stars — are out to demonstrate that their tier‑two ranking does not do them justice.
A competitive performance from the Mata Ma'a, let alone a win over the Kangaroos, could go a long way to changing the international calendar and generating more high‑profile games for all the Pacific island teams.
For Tonga's coach, Kristian Woolf, the importance of the game cannot be underestimated.
He says they have been very vocal about their desire to get these types of opportunities and they need to make sure that they back that up with performances.
The rugby league match between Tonga and Australia will start at 8.30 tonight.
Source: ABC
SPONSORED
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
