Shocking footage of a street brawl in Sydney following Tonga’s Rugby League World Cup victory over Lebanon has emerged, raising concerns about public safety during celebrations by Tongan supporters in Australia.

Australian broadcaster 9 News Sydney released footage of the confrontation in Parramatta following Tonga’s 36–0 victory over Lebanon at CommBank Stadium on Friday, October 23.

The incident follows a separate case in Queensland earlier this month in which a 22-year-old woman, believed to be Tongan, was fined more than AU$6,000 for multiple traffic offences, including driving on a learner licence without supervision.

Footage shared by 9 News shows several people confronting one another outside commercial premises in Parramatta, with one person apparently wielding a long pole.

The cause of the confrontation, the identities of those involved and whether anyone was injured or arrested remain unclear.

It has not been confirmed whether those involved attended the rugby league match.

Auckland celebrations raise concerns

In New Zealand, recent celebrations during the current Rugby League World Cup have also raised public safety concerns.

Kaniva News reported last week that a man was seen removing a traffic pole during celebrations in Auckland and using it as part of the festivities.

Police have also dealt with traffic disruptions and complaints about excessive noise during large gatherings of Tongan supporters in South Auckland, particularly around Ōtāhuhu.

The incidents serve as a warning to supporters ahead of Tonga’s highly anticipated clash with Samoa, highlighting the importance of celebrating safely without endangering others or disrupting public roads.

Woman fined $6,077

In Queensland, police intercepted a Hyundai iLoad in Ipswich on October 14 after allegedly observing a teenage passenger waving a flag through a window.

Officers discovered four 14-year-old passengers allegedly travelling without seatbelts, while the driver was operating the vehicle on a learner licence without an authorised supervisor.

The woman received seven infringement notices totalling A$6,077 and 25 demerit points.

Queensland Police warned that carrying unrestrained passengers posed serious risks of injury or death.

The incidents have drawn attention to public safety as Tongan supporters across Australia celebrate their national team’s World Cup campaign ahead of its highly anticipated clash with Samoa.

Tonga Rugby XIII has apologised after members of the Tonga national rugby league team were photographed wearing T-shirts bearing the offensive Tongan swear word ʻel_ in the slogan “DON’T BE EL_”, admitting the clothing was distributed without the organisation’s knowledge or approval.

The controversy comes as Tonga has made a strong start to its Rugby League World Cup campaign, defeating England 30–12 in its opening match.

Tonga will head into Saturday’s showdown with Samoa unbeaten after securing a convincing 36–0 victory over Lebanon on Friday night.

The 2026 tournament, running from 15 October to 15 November across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, features 26 teams from 14 nations competing in men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions.

However, celebrations of Tonga’s victories were overshadowed by heated debate after members of the Tongan community shared photographs of players wearing the controversial T-shirts, alongside images of boxes that appeared to have been used to package the clothing.

Cultural concerns raise questions

While some members of the online Tongan community expressed outrage, others suggested the wording may have been intended as encouragement rather than an insult.

They pointed out that although ʻel_ literally means “stink” and is regarded as a swear word in Tonga, it is also used in the expression kete ʻel_, gutless, to describe someone who lacks courage or is afraid to confront an opponent, particularly in sport.

Some commenters suggested this may have been the case, noting that the T-shirt sponsors were understood to have grown up overseas and may not have fully appreciated how offensive the word is considered in Tonga.

In its questions to Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua, who is also Chair of Tonga Rugby XIII, Kaniva News highlighted concerns that displaying the word ʻel_ breached the Tongan fakaʻapaʻapa of veitapui and veitokai, particularly given the team’s prominent role in representing Tonga before thousands of supporters.

Organisation takes corrective action

“There was no intention by the team to offend or disrespect the people of Tonga, our Pacific communities, or the cultural values we proudly represent,” Tonga Rugby XIII Secretary General Tavake Fangupō said in an official statement to Kaniva News.

“We sincerely regret the hurt and disappointment this incident has caused.”

The organisation acknowledged that appropriate checks had not been carried out.

“The T-shirts were handed to the players to wear without the knowledge or approval of Tonga Rugby XIII,” the statement said.

“This was an oversight, and we acknowledge that appropriate checks should have been in place to prevent this from happening.”

Tonga Rugby XIII confirmed that it had removed social media content featuring players wearing the T-shirts from its official platforms and introduced improved procedures to prevent similar incidents.

However, the statement did not identify who supplied or authorised the T-shirts, whether the sponsor understood the offensive meaning of the wording, or who distributed them to players.

Team appeals for support

The organisation said the incident did not reflect the identity of the national team or the country it represents.

“This incident does not reflect who we are as a team, an organization, or a nation,” it said.

Tonga Rugby XIII appealed for the community’s understanding and continued support as the team prepares for its upcoming match against Samoa.

His Majesty’s Diplomatic Services has issued another public notice acknowledging ongoing difficulties affecting passport printing operations, warning that normal processing times will remain longer than usual.

The announcement, issued on Friday, 23 October, follows an earlier notice attributing passport processing and printing delays to an increased volume of applications, amid public complaints about equipment failures and poor communication.

“His Majesty’s Diplomatic Service wishes to inform the public that, owing to difficulties currently affecting passport printing operations, normal processing times are expected to be longer than usual,” the latest notice said.

“Normal passport printing services will resume as soon as circumstances permit a return to normal operations, and the public will be advised accordingly.”

Earlier complaints remain unresolved

The latest notice follows a Kaniva News report highlighting conflicting accounts of the disruptions and public criticism of the department’s handling of passport applications earlier this week.

While the department previously attributed the problems to a surge in applications, complainants on the Tonga Felafoaki Facebook group, which has more than 160,000 followers, reported that passport processing equipment had broken down.

Some said applicants had travelled from eastern and western districts only to be informed by staff that the equipment was not working.

One complainant questioned why the department had not warned the public before people made lengthy and potentially unnecessary journeys.

Other commenters criticised poor communication and customer service, while one called for refunds of urgent passport processing fees paid by affected applicants.

ANZ has warned customers and the wider public in Tonga to be on alert following reports of scammers impersonating bank representatives to obtain personal and financial information.

The warning follows reports of unsolicited phone calls in which fraudsters allegedly posed as ANZ staff and requested account numbers, birth certificates and information about customers’ sources of funds, claiming the details were needed to update banking records.

The bank said the suspicious calls were not limited to ANZ customers, raising concerns that members of the wider community could also be targeted.

ANZ Head of Retail Pacific Melanie Culling said scammers could sound convincing and use pressure tactics to persuade people to disclose sensitive information.

“Scammers can sound convincing and may create a sense of urgency to encourage people to share information or act quickly,” Ms Culling said.

“If you receive an unexpected call, message or email claiming to be from ANZ, stop and check before doing anything.”

Bank warns against deception

ANZ acknowledged that it may legitimately contact customers to update their records or comply with customer identification requirements.

However, it advised anyone uncertain about a caller’s identity to end the conversation and contact the bank independently through its official communication channels.

“Never share sensitive banking information such as your PIN, card security code, or Visa Secure one-time passcodes, and never transfer money to a so-called ‘safe’ account at someone else’s request,” Ms Culling said.

The bank also warned against unexpected requests to click links, visit unfamiliar websites, download software or provide personal documents.

Three steps against scammers

ANZ encouraged customers to follow three precautions under its Stop, Check and Protect campaign.

• Stop: Pause before responding to suspicious requests.
• Check: Independently verify the identity of anyone claiming to represent the bank.
• Protect: Do not disclose sensitive information, grant remote access to devices or transfer money when a request appears suspicious.

Anyone who believes they may have fallen victim to a scam should contact ANZ immediately through an official banking channel.

A teenage girl waving what appeared to be a Tongan flag from a moving van attracted police attention in Queensland, Australia, leading to a traffic stop that resulted in a 22-year-old learner driver receiving A$6,077 in fines and 25 demerit points.

The incident occurred amid widespread celebrations by Tongan rugby league supporters ahead of the national team’s World Cup clash with England, which Tonga subsequently won 30–12 in Perth on Saturday, 17 October.

Queensland Police said officers spotted the teenager waving a flag from a Hyundai iLoad travelling along Redbank Plains Road, southwest of Brisbane, at approximately 10.30pm on Wednesday, 14 October.

Officers stopped the vehicle and discovered three other 14-year-old teenagers travelling without proper restraints in the rear of the van.

The female learner driver, from Redbank Plains, received seven traffic infringement notices for alleged offences including carrying unrestrained passengers, exceeding the vehicle’s permitted passenger capacity, driving without an authorised supervisor and failing to display learner plates.

Police footage shared on the myPolice Greater Ipswich Facebook page also shows a passenger wearing a shirt with what appears to be a Tongan flag design on the sleeve.

Another van is seen apparently waiting at traffic lights across the road, with a passenger waving what also appears to be a Tongan flag.

However, police have not confirmed whether the flag in question was Tongan or whether the occupants were participating in rugby league celebrations.

Police issue safety warning

Ipswich Highway Patrol Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Jarrad Tyne said the incident highlighted the importance of ensuring passengers were properly restrained.

“We want to remind all drivers whether you’re heading out to celebrate an event or catching up with friends and family it’s important to make sure everyone gets home safely,” he said.

The Hyundai iLoad was registered to carry only three occupants but was carrying five people when police stopped it.

Queensland Police released the footage on Tuesday, 20 October, as part of a public road safety warning.

World Cup victory fuels celebrations

Tongan supporters had begun displaying national flags and celebrating across Australia, New Zealand and Tonga in the days leading up to the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.

The excitement intensified after Tonga defeated England 30–12 at HBF Park in Perth, with Haumole Olakauʻatu scoring twice and Stefano Utoikamanu and Tolutau Koula adding a try each.

The match attracted 18,302 spectators, including King Tupou VI and Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala.

The victory strengthened Tonga’s prospects of advancing further in the tournament and provided another occasion for overseas Tongan communities to demonstrate their national pride.

Queensland’s Tongan community

Queensland is home to a substantial Tongan community, including families living in Brisbane, Ipswich and surrounding areas.

According to the 2021 Australian Census, approximately 9,491 Queensland residents reported Tongan ancestry, while 2,225 were born in Tonga.

The community forms part of Australia’s wider Tongan diaspora, where rugby league has become an important expression of cultural identity and solidarity with the national team.

Tongan man Pelikani Taukei’aho has been acquitted of murder and manslaughter after fatally shooting a man during an armed robbery linked to a cocaine deal worth about $100,000 in Featherston, New Zealand.

The High Court in Wellington heard that Taukei’aho fired his revolver after Doreion Hard and his associates robbed him and another Auckland man, Tauave Sue, of cocaine in a supermarket carpark in March 2025.

Both defendants were cleared of homicide charges following a three-week trial but are awaiting sentencing in December after pleading guilty to cocaine possession, supply and offering to supply.

According to the NZ Herald’s Open Justice reporting, the pair had travelled from Auckland on 22 March 2025 carrying cocaine, cash, a 9mm revolver and 50 rounds of ammunition.

Prosecutors said each expected to earn $4,000 from the transaction, which could have helped establish a drug supply network in the Wellington region.

Drug deal turns deadly

The court heard that Hard, who was under the influence of methamphetamine, had no intention of paying for the cocaine.

He arrived at the Fresh Choice supermarket carpark with five associates in two vehicles.

Hard and another man confronted Taukei’aho and Sue at gunpoint before taking two backpacks containing cocaine from their car.

As the robbers attempted to escape in a red ute, Hard fired a shot, prompting Taukei’aho to discharge his revolver.

One of Taukei’aho’s bullets fatally wounded Hard, while two others struck a bakery sign across the road.

The exchange of gunfire lasted approximately three seconds.

Defence argues self-defence

Taukei’aho’s lawyer, Louise Sziranyi, argued that her client had acted to protect himself after being threatened with firearms during the robbery.

She said Taukei’aho was outside his vehicle when a shot was fired from the departing ute, leaving him only moments to react.

However, Crown prosecutor Tim Bain disputed the self-defence argument, maintaining that the robbers were already leaving and no longer posed an immediate threat.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants had pursued the robbers after losing their cocaine and that Taukei’aho’s use of force was excessive.

Jury delivers not-guilty verdicts

Sue’s lawyer, Karun Lakshman, argued that his client had arranged the drug transaction but neither anticipated nor agreed to a shooting.

He also pointed out that Sue’s DNA and fingerprints were not found on the firearm recovered by police.

In his summing up, Justice Andru Isac reminded jurors that the defendants’ involvement in drug dealing did not automatically make them criminally responsible for Hard’s death.

After approximately 10 hours of deliberations, the 11-member jury returned not-guilty verdicts on the homicide charges.

Taukei’aho and Sue are scheduled to be sentenced in the High Court at Wellington in December on the cocaine-related offences they admitted at the beginning of the trial.