The most anticipated pool fixture of the Rugby League World Cup is bringing enormous excitement and unity to South Auckland’s Pasifika community.
Tonga XIII and Toa Samoa are going head-to-head on tonight in Sydney, which has been sold out for several weeks, closes the pool play section of the tournament.
The Pacific giants are the last Pacific teams left in the tournament.
There have been car parades in Porirua, with support from local police, to show support for Toa Samoa and Fetu Samoa
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Dedicated Fans of each team have been showing their love by flying flags proudly from their cars or houses.
For Toa Samoa super fan, Vaovasatoa Paki Scott, he lists three important events in his life, his wedding, the birth of his children and Toa Samoa is also there, but he admits he doesn’t want to put them in order, but they are the top three.
While travelling around Auckland, it has been apparent by the countless cars decked out in various flags that the world cup is really bringing out Pacific pride.
And for Sonny Tupou, a Tongan supporter, it’s been enjoyable seeing so many different parts of the Pacific represented.
“It’s really interesting, there’s a Tonga flag, a Samoa flag, Cook Islands and a Niuean. Because we come together because the Pacific Islands is like the community, it’s come together as one,” he said.
Fans of Tonga have been flying their flags proudly on their vehicles
Photo: RNZ / Jessie Chiang
For another Toa Samoa fan, Jame, he said the games have brought his whole family closer together.
“To see my children, they are very proud of who they are and where they come from and to see the community come together, it’s great,” he said.
Vaovasatoa said this Rugby League World Cup is also bringing to life the dream teams you would normally just speculate about with friends and family after church.
“It’s like a video game, it’s like I’ve been able to pick the best of the best and they all want to play for us, and they all want to play represent us, and that’s huge for us, we all back them 100 percent.”
For Vaovasatoa, Tongan superstar Jason Taumalolo and retired prop Andrew Fifita changed everything in 2017 by choosing Tonga over the Kangaroos and Kiwis respectively.
He said without them, Toa Samoa wouldn’t have been able attract NRL stars like Jarome Luai, Stephen Critton or Brian To’o to their ranks.
“We all have to remember, these guys [Taumalolo and Fifita] were at the peak and they choose to play for Tonga, it wasn’t at the backend of their career, it wasn’t at the very start when we see a lot of our Pacific brothers come back and give back, these guys were right at the top of their game.
Sonny Tupou is not bothered about who wins Sunday’s game, because to him the Pacific is all one family.
The game will kick off at 10pm New Zealand time, with the winner deciding who will make it to the semi-finals stage next week.
