KEY POINTS:
The Tongans are so confident of taking it to New Zealand in the World Cup warm-up at Mt Smart today that they have sent Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney a warning text.
"Be aware, these guys are ready to play," the message from Tongan liaison man Dain Guttenbeil said.
The Tongans had a captain's run at the venue yesterday after the Kiwis had finished training. Coach Jim Dymock said there was no way they considered this match a "friendly".
"Any time you pull on an international jumper you're going to play with pride. It's not a trial game for us. I'm sure New Zealand will be the
same, they will want to play it hard and tough and in good spirit and, hopefully, nobody gets hurt."
The Kiwis will carry memories of the last warm-up against Tonga before the 1999 Tri Nations, when prop Joe Vagana and halfback Stacey Jones both went in to make a tackle on the same man and Jones got caught between the two big Islanders and was out for six months with a broken arm.
Tonga have already suffered major losses to what remains a star-studded side because of injury and ineligibility. Ruled out were the Anderson brothers Fraser from Cronulla and Louis from Warrington, wing Taniela Tuiaki from the Tigers and Eels prop Fuifui Moimoi who played on the Kiwis 2007 tour to England and Anthony Tupou who has represented Australia, all refused permission to switch allegiance.
But the nucleus of the Tongan side has been together since 2005 and with some top-line NRL players like Eels lock Feleti Mateo and Panthers centre Michael Jennings added there is no doubt they will put on a good performance.
Dymock said they would play an NRL style but he would not be stifling the traditional Island tendency to throw the ball around. "We'll play to our strength and our strength is our size. I don't want to stop them being creative but we don't want to be an Island side that runs all over the field for the first 10 minutes then runs out of puff. I'm encouraging them to use their creativity at the right time."
The Tongans are in a tough World Cup pool, with rivals Samoa also fielding a side stacked with NRL and Super League experience and the Irish drawn mainly from Super League.
"I think whoever comes out of our pool will do well," Dymock said. "Getting through the pool is our goal."
Continuing the theme of retirements, this game will be Awen Guttenbeil's last after 10 years at Mt Smart with the Warriors and two for Castleford.
Kiwis captain Nathan Cayless said defence had been a key in their preparation for this game and the World Cup tournament.
The All Golds game had worked the rust out and after a week in camp the team was confident it could exert major pressure, via great attacking players, like Benji Marshall, and with an improved kicking game and specialists in the key positions one, six, seven and nine.
They had reflected on the loss in the Centenary test against Australia in May but remained focused on a good performance against Tonga, rather than looking ahead to the Cup opener next weekend.
"Last week we started off shaky but this is a fair dinkum test match," Cayless said.
Coach Stephen Kearney is looking for Steve Matai and the Melbourne grand final players to work their way in and improve combinations after they joined the camp this week. He expects a better kicking game than the Kiwis have had in recent times, with options through Marshall, Thomas Leuluai, Nathan Fien and Lance Hohaia.
He wants a fast start, so they are not behind early and playing catch-up football as they did in May.
"I'll be making them aware of that, that their first efforts in whatever component of the game have to be their best efforts and you build a game off that. I'll be making them well aware of that."
He will decide who takes the goal-kicks today: Hohaia, Matai, Marshall and Krisnan Inu all capable.
Wayne Bennett has kept a low profile but his input has been telling, according to the players.
Both the Kiwis and Tongans will trim their benches today.
The NZRL has put up two new trophies for this and all future Kiwis-Tonga contests. The winner will take home the Peter Leitch Challenge Trophy, named for the Mad Butcher and his work in league, while the best Tongan player will receive the George Mann (snr) medal, named for Mann after the work he has done in promoting the game in the Pacific nation.
Kiwis v Tonga
Mt Smart Stadium, 2.30pm today
Kiwis
Lance Hohaia
Sam Perrett
Steve Matai
Jerome Ropati
Manu Vatuvei
Benji Marshall
Thomas Leuluai
Nathan Cayless (c)
Nathan Fien
Sam Rapira
Simon Mannering
Setaimata Sa
Jeremy Smith
Interchange (from): Issac Luke, Sika Manu, Greg Eastwood, Adam Blair, David Fa'alogo, Krisnan Inu.
Tonga
Tuli Talanoa
Cooper Vuna
Michael Jennings
Andrew Emilio
Tony Williams
Feleti Mateo
Eddie Paea
Lopini Paea
Tavita Leo Latu
Antonio Kaufusi
Richard Fa'aoso
E Lauaki
Awen Guttenbeil
Interchange (from): Willie Manu, Sam Moa, Manase Manuokafoa, Mickey Paea, Esi Tonga, Joel Taufaao (not signed).
