Tonga 14 Great Britain 6: Lions return after a 12-year absence with disappointing defeat
GREAT Britain's big comeback ended in disappointing defeat as Tonga underlined why they can become rugby league's fourth tier one nation.
This was the moment fans of the game had waited 12 years for.
For the first time since 2007, the red, white and blue shirt was back but it had to part the red sea.
Technically, this was a ‘Tonga Invitation XIII’ after a battle with the Pacific island’s board saw coach Kristian Woolf sacked and the top players refuse to play.
So the International Rugby League board stepped in and put this team forward – meaning Britain’s best faced the top Tongan talent.
That meant Jason Taumalolo, Andrew Fifita and co pulled on the red shirt as well as Super League-based Tui Lolohea, Konrad Hurrell and Ben Murdoch-Masila.
Leeds ace Hurrell sobbed as the national anthem was sung – a sign of what was to come as Pacific passion pinned the Lions back for long stages.
Sure enough on 29 minutes, pressure told as Michael Jennings touched down after initially making sure Lachlan Coote did not deal with a kick that flicked off Gareth Widdop’s boot.
Widdop’s challenge meant the deficit would have been even bigger but an amazing passage of play after the half-time hooter resulted in a remarkable second try.
At times it was like the Harlem Globetrotters as the Tongans offloaded at will and eventually Jennings’ kick was touched down by Sione Katoa.
Britain had to score first in the second half – or hope Tonga tired – as they were on the receiving end for the opening 40 minutes.
And they started the second half well by piling pressure on to their opponents but needless errors let them off the hook.
It did not improve when Oliver Gildart - the only specialist centre in the Lions' squad - suffered a shoulder injury.
When Tesse Niu, who is just 18-years-old, was taken out off the ball under the posts, Sio Siua Taukeiaho's third goal put Tonga 14 points clear.
John Bateman eventually got Great Britain on the board with 10 minutes remaining, giving Wayne Bennett's men hope of a comeback.
But in chasing the game, more mistakes made sure there was to be no turnaround.
Great Britain now face New Zealand twice in Auckland and Christchurch before heading to Papua New Guinea for a Test in Port Moresby.
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