18 Nov 2017

Sport: Tonga believes Lebanon will be a challenge

2:48 pm on 18 November 2017
Tonga are all smiles after beating New Zealand to finish atop Group B.

Tonga are all smiles after beating New Zealand to finish atop Group B. Photo: NRL Photos

The Tongan rugby league winger, David Fusitu'a, says he expects the Lebanon team to provide a stiff challenge in his evening's World Cup quarter-final in Christchurch.

Tonga are overwhelming favourites, heading into the match fresh of an historic 28-22 victory over New Zealand, the first by a tier two nation over a tier one team.

Meanwhile Lebanon have lost to England and Australia in group play, their only win being a 29-18 victory over the struggling French.

But Fusitu'a said the Lebanese are a good team.

"They play with a lot of passion, like we do. They are no pushovers and they are going to come out there and they will compete for the whole game, and that's something we are looking forward to and it's a challenge to us," he said.

Tonga have been the story of the world cup, with their avid fans flooding every city they play in, and the team being undefeated.

Fusitu'a said the team had belief and confidence in their ability to continue to make history at the tournament.

"There was always a feeling in the squad but we have to take each game as it comes and like I said before, there's a team before us, I think they played a lot of good footy up to this point, they pushing Australia and I thought for the most part of it, so we are not going to take them lightly, we will definitely give them all the respect they deserve," he said.

Junior Roqica playing for Fiji.

Junior Roqica playing for Fiji. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Fijian rugby league side has plenty of motivation ahead of tonight's Rugby League World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand in Wellington.

Fijian Forward Junior Roqica said Tonga's upset over the Kiwis last weekend has inspired them and increased their self-belief.

"It's a great thing that our island brothers in Tonga put on a great performance on the weekend, and I think going to the quarter-final and semi-finals, and it's anyones game," he said.

The New Zealand prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves said the loss to Tonga hurt as much as any defeat in his career, and he's warning Fiji that the Kiwis are determined to atone in tomorrow night's League World Cup quarter-final in Wellington.

"You got to use that feeling as motivation, yeah, it hurt, I still remember the feeling at the 80th minute, it was disappointing and it hurt and it took me a few days to get over it, so I just used it in the right way, and in a controlled motivation is only going to better us, and I think if we use that in a collective group, we will."

The last quarter final is tomorrow night between Papua New Guinea and England in Melbourne.

Tonga celebrate a try. Kiwis v Tonga, Rugby League World Cup, Hamilton,  2017.

Tonga celebrate a try. Kiwis v Tonga, Rugby League World Cup, Hamilton, 2017. Photo: PHOTOSPORT