Scotland 4 Tonga 50: Michael Jennnings smashed Scots with first half hat-trick as Tongans live up to pre-rugby league World Cup billing

MICHAEL JENNINGS smashed Scotland with a first half hat-trick as Tonga started in style.

The former Australia star raced over time and time and time again as their massive side lived up to the pre-tournament billing.

Jennings cashed in the most as the Scots froze in the stifling heat of Cairns.

But they can be proud of the second half showing, with Daniel Tupou’s interception effort on 73 minutes their first score after the break.

Much was made of the decision of several big names to Tonga from New Zealand and Australia.

Kangaroos players described prop Andrew Fifita’s call to switch from them as ‘disappointing’, but they lived up to the hype.

Scotland started well but it soon became clear they would be steamrollered as Kristian Woolf’s men racked up almost a point a minute in the first half.

Jennings scored a hat-trick while Sika Manu, Jason Taumalolo, Tupou and Peni Terepo also went over, with Scotland only briefly threatening.

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Now it was a case of really avoiding embarrassment for Steve McCormack’s men in the second half.

To their credit, they held on with great aplomb with only Terepo going close to another try, but he dropped the ball over the line.