Transcript
Mate Ma'a Tonga overturned a three try deficit to stun the Kiwis 28-22 in the pool stages of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
The shock result came one month after Jason Taumalolo, David Fusitu'a, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Manu Ma'u switched their international allegience from New Zealand to Tonga and a rivalry was born.
Broncos star Tevita Pangai Junior came off the bench that day and last month turned down the chance to play State of Origin in order to commit his representative future to the kingdom.
"The senior players in the group: Sio Siua (Taukeiaho) and Andrew (Fifita) and Jase (Taumalolo) and all those boys, us younger boys, the boys coming through, we really want to honour them by electing to put Tonga first before tier one nations and Origin sides."
Despite getting the best of New Zealand in their last encounter - and some of their best ex players - Pangai Junior believes the Kiwis still go into Saturday's match as favourites.
"We're still ranked fourth so we're still the underdog. We've still got a lot to prove as a little nation so I think we need to get the win if we want the Tongan crowd to keep turning up."
Kiwis halfback Shaun Johnson says the home side is looking forward to meeting the challenge of the Tongans but they are not treating the match as a shot at world cup revenge.
"We can't get a World Cup back can we? So, I don't why we'd even pitch it in that sense. They beat us at the World Cup - that's the biggest tournament in rugby league - so no way it can be a revenge match. I think it's a chance for us to really shine the torch on New Zealand rugby league and the Kiwis and how we play. It's going to be a packed Mount Smart and it's going to be noise - it's going to be all from Tonga, I think - so if we can do it against that we can do it against anyone in the world so (it's) a really good challenge and one we're all looking forward to."
The Cook Islands kick off the weekend of Pacific action on Friday night with a World Cup qualification match against South Africa in Sydney.
The Kukis missed out on the last World Cup after losing to Tonga in a play-off and Parramatta Eels second rower Marata Niukore admits they, too, have a point to prove.
"Yeah 100 percent we do. Obviously that loss against Tonga to try and get ourselves a place in that (2017) World Cup hurt us a bit and that hunger and that fire that we have this camp to try and get ourselves back into that World Cup is clearly there."
Meanwhile Toa Samoa have offset the loss of John Asiata to Tonga with Jamayne Isaako and Martin Taupau switching allegience from New Zealand for their test against PNG.
Matt Parish says the advent of the Oceania Cup, which also includes Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, and Fiji, will help Pacific Island nations keep hold of their best players.
"As you know we've been crying out for more games in the international arena and that's the only way you're going to get the players," he said. "We've been able to do that now so we're looking forward to building on this year and building into the future culminating in the 2021 World Cup."
The Fiji Bati take on Lebanon as part of an international triple-header in Sydney, with the Fiji women up against PNG. Fetu Samoa will meet the Kiwi Ferns in a curtainraiser to the Tonga-New Zealand test.
