Australia have atoned for last year’s shock defeat in the Pacific Cup final to New Zealand by winning the tournament 12 months later with a thrilling 20-14 win over Tonga.
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Australia were a little sluggish early on but gained the ascendency late in the first half, with Tom Dearden turning the game on it’s head when setting up two tries from nothing.
Dearden was the best on ground but several other players starred. However, there were a handful of Kangaroos who weren’t all that impactful.
Read on for the Australia player ratings!
AUSTRALIA
1. Dylan Edwards — 7
Capped a sensational 2024 with a Pacific Championships final win in a year that included a fourth premiership and a State of Origin series win with New South Wales in his first taste of action in a Blues jersey.
Had 143 metres which was the second highest on the Kangaroos.
2. Xavier Coates — 7.5
Scored one of the easier tries he ever will in the 27th minute thanks to a lovely pass from Tabuai-Fidow after the centre drew two men in.
Looked to have set up a try in the second half after some very skilful footwork, but it was ruled no try after a knock on was found in the lead-up.
Dropped the ball over the line in the final minute but in fairness, it would have been a sensational try given the epic dive for the corner.
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3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow — 8
Terrific put-down in the left corner to score Australia’s first try.
He then set up the second with a classy pass over the top to an open Xavier Coates despite being draped by two Tongan defenders.
“The work by Tabuai-Fidow was beautiful and the execution of that pass terrific,” Michael Ennis said on Fox League.
Did plenty of good things but had some quiet patches as well.
4. Tom Trbojevic — 7
Weird game. He scored two but also bombed a couple.
Had a hot and cold final six minutes of the first half.
Looked certain to score late in the first half when he athletically rose up over club teammate Tolu Koula to contest a bomb but he knocked it on on the way down to the tryline. He atoned a couple of minutes later when scoring Australia’s third try, backing up to finish off what Dearden started.
The Manly star then beat a few defenders to the line soon after but was held up and in the same set he butchered a certain try by going himself instead of passing it onto an open Zac Lomax.
Defensively sound and his stats read well (123 metres, 12 runs, six tackle busts), but it could have been much bigger.
5. Zac Lomax — 7.5
No one can ever doubt his commitment.
Had free space in front of him but he made crucial error in 13th minute which could have ended in Australia’s first try had he caught a Trbojevic pass.
Should have scored late in first half but Trbojevic failed to find him in the corner.
Got through a mountain of work as usual and was the clear team leader in run metres (195).
6. Tom Dearden — 10
Had a deadset blinder.
There was one faux pas early in the game when he was caught in no man’s land in defence during Tonga’s first try which created space the visitors down the right edge.
But he more than made up for it later in first half when setting up Australia’s first four pointer when creating something from nothing, dummying and slicing through the line at about midfield before passing it onto Tabuai-Fidow.
The Cowboys playmaker would set up two more tries in similar fashion, breaking the line, galloping down the field before finding the man (Trbojevic) in support who finished the job.
Three line breaks, three try assists and seven tackle busts is a pretty impressive day’s work.
7. Mitchell Moses — 5
Wasn’t his best game.
He was clearly outshone by his halves partner.
Solid in attack without be he did throw an intercept in the 50th minute when Australia were attacking the line.
His defence was very disappointing by his standards, with the halfback missing a whopping ten tackles.
8. Pat Carrigan — 7
Typical workhorse performance against a gun forward pack.
Had 75 metres and 21 tackles in his first stint of 34 minutes, finishing the game with 103 metres and 37 tackles.
9. Harry Grant — 7
As always, was busy in defence and asked plenty of questions out of dummy half.
Helped make an important defensive stop in the first half when Eli Katoa knocked on over the tryline when placing the ball on Grant’s leg.
Solid enough but didn’t star.
10. Lindsay Collins — 5
Wasn’t as involved as you’d expect, ending up with only five runs for 43 metres with the other starting forwards doing the heavy lifting instead.
Copped a head knock late in the game and had to come off (74th minute).
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11. Angus Crichton — 7
Made an error in sixth minute which Tonga were able to take advantage of and score in the next set.
Created plenty of second phase play with offloads, with the Roosters star recording five of them. He also had six tackle busts as well.
He and Tonga’s Eli Katoa, two of the form back rowers in the NRL this season, had an entertaining battle throughout the afternoon.
12. Hudson Young — 8
Promoted to the starting side and had a strong performance.
The back rower tackled his heart out and proved a threat with ball in hand.
Finished with 44 tackles and ran for 76 metres.
13. Isaah Yeo — 8.5
This isn’t a new revelation but gee he’s some player.
A tireless 73-minute performance from the Kangaroos captain.
Yeo finished with 100 running metres but it was his defence which was a highlight, with the lock forward making 45 tackles for only one miss.
14. Matt Burton — N/A
Played just eight minutes but gave away a costly penalty for pressuring the kicker which marched Tonga up the field and led to a try.
Thankfully for Burton, Australia would hold on.
15. Mitchell Barnett — 7.5
Proved this year he belongs in the representative arena.
Made an impact in just 27 minutes on the park, with each hit up counting.
He had 81 metres from eight hit ups and made 14 tackles with no blemishes.
16. Reuben Cotter — 6.5
Made some strong carries soon after coming on the ground midway through the first half.
Did his job in the middle and got through a lot of work in just 44 minutes on the ground.
17. Lindsay Smith — N/A
Debutant who only played six minutes so it wouldn’t be fair to grade him.
Had two runs for 19 metres.
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