Tonga Beat Lebanon in Parramatta as Pacific Crowds Fill Rugby League World Cup
Tonga beat Lebanon at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, Sydney, in front of more than 25,000 fans at the Rugby League World Cup. The NRL recorded an attendance of 25,065 and said Tonga scored 36 points in the Round 2 match, which kicked off at 8.05pm on Friday 23 October.
Rugby league is played by two teams of 13 and the aim is simple: carry the ball forward and score tries. Teams get six tackles to make ground before they must hand over possession, and a tackle can be followed by a "ruck" (the fight for the ball on the ground). Tonga's win came in a tournament that began on 15 October and is being hosted by Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Thousands of Lebanon supporters, the Cedars, had marched through the Parramatta city centre before kick-off. Hazem El Masri, Tim Mannah and Josh Mansour led the walk, a reminder of how many fans travel to these games to wear their colours and make some noise.
Tonga's campaign has been strong from the start. The team beat England for the first time, in its opening game of the tournament. The Tongan community also has deep roots in western Sydney. A Tongan congregation revitalised the 116-year-old Harold Wood Uniting Church in Auburn in 1997, and it remains a meeting point for many families.
The next big night at CommBank Stadium is also a Pacific fixture. Tonga and Samoa are scheduled to meet there on 1 November, closing a three-match day. The Guardian reports that a plan to move that match to Accor Stadium at Olympic Park fell through because the venue had concerts booked. The NRL believed a move would have drawn around 60,000 fans, so the match will stay in Parramatta with a sell-out crowd expected.
Samoa have their own story to tell. Winger Brian To'o, who plays for the Penrith Panthers, is part of a squad that held a fan day in Mount Druitt in the first week of the tournament. Earlier, Samoa recorded a record win against France.
The tournament opened with a big test of its own. Australia beat New Zealand 24-22 at Allianz Stadium in the opener, a match that sold out. Australia then beat Fiji 36-22.
For fans who are new to the sport, the Pacific Islands are a good place to start. Five men's teams and three women's teams from the region are in the tournament, so there is plenty of rugby league to follow over the coming weeks. Friday's crowd in Parramatta showed that the appetite is there.
