Jason Taumalolo's return to Tonga has paid dividends for both the NRL star and his team in their opening match of the Rugby League World Cup.
Jason Taumalolo also represented Tonga at the 2013 World Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
All the talk about the ex-New Zealand lock's controversial defection did not prove a distraction as Tonga cruised to a 50-4 win over Scotland.
Five years after making his Tonga debut at the 2013 Cup, ex-Kiwi enforcer Taumalolo revelled in his return by running 197m from 18 hit-ups and steamrolling over for a 17th minute try as his side romped to a 38-0 halftime lead.
Tonga took their foot off Scotland's throat in the second half with ill discipline, only managing two tries in the final seven minutes but Taumalolo still made a bold statement.
"It's always good to see him in the Tongan colours. There has been a lot made of it but if you ask Jason what he sees himself as and he will say Tongan," coach Kristian Woolf said of Taumalolo.
"I thought Jason was outstanding.
"He gets spoken about a lot but he played 50 straight minutes and we only put him back out in the end - I didn't really want to - but the boys were blowing."
Parramatta flyer Michael Jennings bagged a first half hat-trick and Daniel Tupou a double in the nine tries to one romp in front of 9,216 fans at a sweltering Barlow Park.
But Woolf reckoned he would not have a gauge on his team until after their next clash against Samoa in Hamilton on Saturday.
"I don't think Scotland will be a real challenger, just being realistic," he said.
"The level really goes up next week. We will find out a little bit more about ourselves against Samoa.
"We are a long way off the finished product.Tonight was just a glimpse of what we are capable of."
Jennings equalled the most tries scored in a Cup match by a Tongan after Tevita Vaikona's three try haul against South Africa in 2000.
The ex-Kangaroo also took his overall tally to six Cup tries in four matches, the most by a Tongan.
And Tonga's 46 point romp was just two short of their biggest Cup winning margin - 48 in their 66-18 rout of South Africa in 2000.
Tonga belied their world No.11 ranking, running amok in the first half with a side stacked with NRL stars including Andrew Fifita, Will Hopoate and Konrad Hurrell.
The Bravehearts didn't live up to their world No.4 ranking after being depleted by pre-tournament injuries to key NRL players hooker Peter Wallace, fullback Lachlan Coote and centre Kane Linnett.
"It could have been a game in which we caved in the second half but we didn't - that gives us hope for our next two games," Scotland coach Steve McCormack said.
Bravehearts halfback Danny Brough made a record 24th appearance for Scotland.
Scotland's misery may continue on Saturday when they play New Zealand at Christchurch.
-AAP
