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World Cup final goes ahead despite threats and attacks on referee by Tongan lawyers

By
Philip Cass
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The Rugby League World Cup Final that many people thought should have featured Tonga challenging Australia kicks off in Brisbane tonight at 10pm New Zealand time.

The Mate Ma’a have been feted in the kingdom and awarded royal honours for their astonishing string of victories that came to an end last Saturday.

Tonight’s match has gone ahead despite earlier threats of legal action by lawyers Kahungunu Barron-Afeaki S.C. and Nalesoni Tupou, who considered filing an injunction against the staging of the World Cup final.

Barron-Afeaki and Tupou have been described as acting as legal advisers to the Tongan Rugby League.

The New Zealand Herald reported this evening that they had abandoned their plans after realising there wasn’t enough time.

They said the Tongan Rugby League wanted a re-match with England next year.

There has been a furious reaction to Tupou’s comments questioning referee Matt Cecchin’s mental health.

Cecchin failed to check the video records before refusing to allow Andrew Fifita’s last minute try, denying Tonga their  berth in tonight’s final.

Tupou claimed the referee’s previous issues with anxiety and mental health should have been taken into account by the tournament organisers and the Rugby League International Federation.

He asked if Cecchin was “fit and proper” to participate in the tournament.

Cecchin has been described as the most experienced referee in the NRL. He has talked about issues in the past, including a panic attack before an NRL match in 2016.

The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand has slammed Tupou’s comments, calling them “a cheap shot.”

Foundation spokesperson Sophia Graham said the comments were unfair and disappointing.

“There are so many people working really hard to break down the stigma and discrimination that can so often attend an experience of mental illness,” Graham said.

“There is also amazing work happening in the Pasifika community and this really undermines it.”

The main points

  • The Rugby League World Cup Final that many people thought should have featured Tonga challenging Australia kicks off in Brisbane tonight at 10pm New Zealand time.
  • Tonight’s match has gone ahead untroubled by earlier threats of legal action by lawyers Kahungunu Barron-Afeaki S.C. and Nalesoni Tupou, who considered filing an injunction against the staging of the World Cup final.
  • The New Zealand Herald reported this evening that they had abandoned their plans after realising there wasn’t enough time.
  • There has been a furious reaction to his Tupou’s comments questioning referee Matt Cecchin’s mental health.

For more information 

League: Tonga drop legal bid to halt World Cup final, seek redemption clash against England

League: Tongan lawyer questions World Cup referee’s mental health history

Foundation slams Tongan lawyer’s comments on league referee’s mental health

Lord Kalaniuvalu rewards Taumālolo and Lolohea’s achievements with pieces of land

By
Kalino Latu
-

Lord Kalaniuvalu has awarded pieces of land to Jason Taumālolo and Tu’imoala Lolohea as rewards after they represented Tonga during Rugby League World Cup 2017.

The reward was confirmed by the noble yesterday in a cultural ceremony which was attended by the two Mate Ma’a Tonga players.

The reward was one of the highest honours a king’s noble could award.

The formal ceremony began with presentation of the cultural practice of  hāʻunga (baked food normally and formally presented as a welcome) for the rugby league stars.

It was presented with puaka tohos (big hogs) and followed with a formal speech by the matāpule who represented Lord Kalaniuvalu.

Lord Kalaniuvalu was emotional when he made the announcement yesterday saying he remembered his late father Lord Kalaniuvalu Fotofili who was instrumental in supporting sports in Tonga.

The event was recorded on video and shared on social media.

Taumālolo, who dropped a bombshell on New Zealand, announcing his decision to play for its rival Tonga at the World Cup 2017, comes from Lapaha through his mother, Tominika.

Lolohea, a former Warriors five-eighth, is from Talasiu through his father Paula Lolohea.  

Achievement

Tonga won four games in a row  before it exited the world cup distressingly after a controversial loss to England at semi final.

But its Mate Ma’a Tonga team’s performance was described by international media as the story of this tournament.

The Guardian said: “They played with heart, with power, with skill and they were the pride of their small nation. The crowd’s singing during today’s semi, even when Tonga were down 20-0, will stay with me for some time.”

‘Eua High School fire kills teacher

By
Kalino Latu
-

A 33-year-old teacher has died following a fire at a government school in ‘Eua

The fire at ‘Eua High School broke out in the early hours of Thursday morning.

A close family member of the deceased alleged the victim is thought to have been trapped in his house before he could be able to escape the fire.

He was rushed to hospital where he died, she said.

It is understood the victim went by the name of Kalisolaite ‘Eti on Facebook.

Viliami Tu’ihalamaka from Tonga Fire and Emergency Service in Tongatapu said he had received report from ‘Eua a man was injured in a house fire at the school and was taken to hospital.

Rugby League Pres responds after MMT missed church leaders’ prayer services

By
Kalino Latu
-

The President of the Mate Ma’a Tonga national Rugby League committee said the Church
Leaders who arranged a prayer service for the Mate Ma’a Tonga players yesterday did not
contact him.

It is understood only Tu’imoala Lolohea of the Mate Ma’a Tonga team attended the prayer service.

President Sēmisi Sika said the team came to Tonga after an invitation from the King to a
ceremony at the royal palace.

Hon. Sika said the programme was set to make sure the boys would also have enough time to meet their family and their rugby league supporters who could not go to New Zealand to
support the national team.

He said it was important for all sectors in the Tongan community to communicate with his
national committee which was working to ensure there were no clashes between functions
people wanted the team to attend.

He said Ma’a Tonga was a national team and it must be looked after in a way that ensured the nation as a whole would not be affected.

Hon. Sika said he has been involved in organising a number of national events in the past 30 years and the highlight was the coronation of the King Tupou VI in 2015.

He said yesterday’s programme went well and achieved its purposes.

“You can see kids and elderly walking and standing by the roads waving to show their
appreciation to the Mate Ma’a Tonga team players,” Hon. Sika said.

“I believe the venue was rightly picked to use central Nuku’alofa roads, allowing the public to parade and mixed and mingled on its main road with the players,” Hon Sika said.

He said the route meant there was plenty of parking on side roads in central Nuku’alofa and roads leading out of town for thousands of Tongan fans who attended the celebrations

He said the prayer service was held at the Centenary Church in Kolomotu’a which only held up to 500 people and not everyone could join the programme.

Yesterday’s programme

The president told Kaniva News this morning he was only made aware of the Church Leaders’ prayer service programme on Tuesday night when they were at the Tanoa Hotel.

He said the prayer service had not been included in the official programme for the Mate Ma’a Tonga.

He said he told those who made him aware of the prayer service they could not change the
programme with only a few hours’ warning because it had been already announced to the
public.

“I have no problem at all with religion and churches,” Hon. Sika said.

“But in New Zealand we prayed from time to time together with the team.

“The nation had prayed for the team and for us officials

“The team’s families around the world were praying for their sons who represented us in the Rugby League World Cup

“The churches’ and church leaders around the world were also praying for us,” Hon Sika said.

“I thought those were enough.”

Time with supporters

Hon. Sika said he thought while the Ma’a Tonga players were in Tonga this week they should use their limited time for their supporters.

He said the prayer service could run for up to two hours and the team members had to prepare to go to the Palace at 4pm.

He said he was extremely happy to see so many young people following the floats yesterday vying to attract the attentions of the Mate Ma’a Tonga players.

“They are the future of the sport and I have no doubt these kids had been really inspired by the Mate Ma’a Tonga players,” Hon. Sika said.

Denial

Hon. Sika has rejected information circulated on Facebook saying Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva stopped the MMT players from going to the prayer services.

Hon Sika said he was the one who made the decision and it was the best for everyone.

He said the celebrations went really well and there were no fights.

“People were happy up to last night’s block party which was meant for the MMT players and
their families,” Hon. Sika said.

Church Leaders’ office in Nuku’alofa could not be reached for comment.

Man dies after jumping out of moving Police vehicle

By
Kalino Latu
-

A 22-year-old man has died in hospital after police alleged he jumped out of a moving Police van last night.

A sister of the deceased has confirmed his name was Li’ekina He Vahafolau Fīnau of Tatakamotonga.

Acting Police Chief Superintendent Tēvita Vailea said Police arrested Fīnau after a complaint was launched against him.

Vailea alleged Fīnau was drunk and he was at the back of the pick-up van with a Police officer while they were heading to the Police station.

A Police investigation was underway, he said.

MMT recalls Tongan tradition of courage and respect in times of defeat, says academic

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tongan academic said the Mate Ma’a Tonga players’ performance during the Rugby League World Cup has rekindled the kind of courage, respect and peace Tongans have whenever they were defeated in sports.

Sione Tu’itahi, a former Tongan journalist, writer and lecturer at Massey University and now
director of the Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand said these players were true patriots who gave everything for their purposes.

Tu’itahi said the players showed in their performance against England at the Mt Smart on
Saturday 25 they loved and remembered their homeland.

Tonga lost to England 18-20 in what many have described as history in the making.

Tu’itahi said Tonga was defeated according to the referee and the scoreboard, but they have won in the hearts of the rugby league community because of their great performance in the field.

He said the players showed the meaning of the Tongan proverb: “Do not count on your injuries, only count on what you have achieved” (‘Oua ‘e lau kafo kae lau lava).

The players showed what most immigrants have when they arrived in their new home.

They used the opportunity to use their talents to earn a living and contribute to their homeland and the international community, Tu’itahi said.

Tu’itahi said the Tongan “young youth” who lived overseas countries and played for Tonga
during the World Cup tournament on Saturday were ‘ofa kāinga (love their relatives).

They had offered to play for their “small and poor country,” which lacked natural resources but was rich in religious spirit and education.

These players’ parents sacrificed their lives by leaving their own lands in Tonga.

They worked hard as labourers in Australia, the United States and New Zealand to give their children better lives, Tu’itahi said.

This had created in their children attitudes of striving to be successful while remembering how difficult the way had been for their parents.

This had also created in them a deep love for their parents and willingness to give back and help their families, churches and the nation.

Defection

The Tongan team had been made up of mostly players who unexpectedly defected from their New Zealand and Australian’s teams and offered to play for Tonga.

It was Jason Taumālolo, who last year signed a 10-year $10 million deal with North Queensland, who first made the move to represent Tonga instead of New Zealand.

Tui Lolohea (Wests Tigers), Solomone Kata (Warriors), Konrad Hurrell (Titans), Manu Vatuvei (Salford), Manu Ma’u (Eels) and David Fusitu’a (Warriors) also joined him and made themselves available for Tonga.

“New Zealand players receive $30,000 just for pulling on the Kiwis jersey and can earn up to $50,000 by winning the World Cup final. Tonga can only afford to pay their stars $3000 for the entire tournament and a $30-a-day per diem.”

The Tongan government said after a fundraising it organised for the team during the tournament the “players understand our financial limitations as a country and do not expect any more money.”

Arrival in Tonga

Most of the team and the staff arrived in Tonga today and were met with hundreds of jubilant Tongans at the Fu’amotu International airport.They were later welcomed at the Tanoa hotel in Nuku’alofa by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva.

Mate Ma’a Tonga exited the World Cup tournament after they were controversially defeated
on Saturday on their semi-final match against England.

The decision by the referee to not refer the controversial try by Andrew Fifita to video referees has caused controversy in the rugby league community.

The controversy had divided Tongans, with many supporting a move to launch an action against the referee, while others, including MMT player Konrad Hurrel, have called on supporters to move on and withdraw from any further protests.

The Tongan centre addressed fans after protests in Auckland following the devastating loss to England.

“As much as we would love to be at the final next week, let’s stop the protest and move on,” Hurrel told New Zealand’s One News.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, November 29) has been declared a public holiday in the kingdom to
celebrate the national team’s achievement.

The team will be welcomed to the Palace tomorrow evening where the players will be awarded with Royal Orders by the king.

Rugby League World Cup organisers won’t reverse Tonga’s semifinal loss to England

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Rugby League World Cup organisers have denied a Tongan barrister’s  request for them to reverse a decision by its referee who was in control of Tonga – England semi final match on Saturday.

RLWC2017 organisers have officially confirmed to New Zealand’s Newshub they received the lawyer’s letter, but won’t be changing their stance on the result.

“The knock-on ruling has been reviewed by our officiating unit as part of the performance review of referees in all matches of the RLWC and the decision made by the referee was correct,” said the statement.

“No further action or investigation is required.”

Lawyer Nalesoni Tupou petitioned RLWC organisers and Rugby League International Federation in a bid to get Tonga’s agonising 20-18 semifinal loss to England overturned, Fairfax Media reported.

As Kaniva News reported, Referee Matt Cecchin disallowed the last minute try, which would have given Tonga victory and secured their place in the Rugby League World Cup final against Australia in Brisbane this Sunday.

World Rugby League Cup referees’ boss Tony Archer earlier defended the decision.

Archer said referees were encouraged to make their decisions on the field and claimed that even he had looked at video the decision would have been the same.

The controversy had triggered an outrage from Tongan supporters who described it as a “disgraceful decision.”

Meanwhile, Cecchin has been overlooked as referee for the Rugby League World Cup final with Gerard Sutton getting the nod.

Traditional knowledge of the sea could help improve seasonal forecasts

By
Philip Cass
-

Traditional Tongan knowledge about the climate and knowledge could contribute to improving seasonal forecasts.

Tonga Meteorological Director ‘Ofa Fa’anunu ran a session on traditional knowledge during a recent ocean science training workshop.

The session discussed traditional weather indicators such as fish and marine animal behaviour, astronomical and weather events, traditional proverbs, and other ocean-related phenomena.

“Tonga Meteorological Service recently kicked off an initiative to collect traditional climate and ocean-based knowledge from the older generations, before this knowledge is lost,” Fa’anunu said.

“Where we can, Tonga Met can use some of these indicators to better engage with communities around seasonal forecasts and also to teach young people some of the valuable traditional knowledge of our elders.”

The ocean science workshop was held in Tonga by the Australian-funded Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific.

Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Meteorology, Information, Disaster Management, Climate Change, Environment, and Communications Lēveni ‘Aho, said ocean conditions played a key role in the economy and in the lives of Tongans.

He said being able to give early warnings for ocean-based hazards was critical.

‘Aho said there was a growing demand from people who depended on the sea for the livelihood for more information on a range of factors, including sea surface temperature forecasts, sea level forecasts, chlorophyll and nutrient data, tide predictions for secondary ports, and seasonal wave forecasts in Tonga.

Much of this information is available on the Pacific Ocean Portal, an online tool developed by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and hosted and maintained by the south Pacific Commission.

 

 

Elections “free and credible” say observers

By
Philip Cass
-

The Pacific Island Forum’s Observer Team had described this month’s snap election as free and credible.

Wilson Waguk from the Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia to Fiji, who led the team, said there were some minor procedural issues which did not affect the results.

The Forum team observed the opening polling and counting on the islands of ‘Eua and Tongatapu.

Meanwhile, the chair of the Commonwealth observer group, Margaret Wilson, said the election results reflected the wishes of the people.

She said the elections were conducted peacefully and professionally.

Wilson also praised the election of two women candidates, Losaline Ma’asi joined ‘Akosita Lavulavu.

Both stood for Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s Democratic Party.

She said the election of the two women was significant.

“I think at the next election you will certainly see further campaigns from women candidates and hopefully they will produce more women being elected,” the former New Zealand cabinet minister said.

Since 1951 there have only been eight women in Tonga’s parliament, only five of whom were elected.

About 15 overseas observers, including staff from the US embassy in Fiji, oversaw the elections.

Mate Ma‘a Tonga’s World Cup campaign honoured by public holiday on Wednesday

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga will honour the Mate Ma’a Tonga with a public holiday on Wednesday.

All team players will return to Tonga tomorrow (Tuesday, November 28) except for six who required medical attendance.

As Kaniva News reported this morning,  the Ma’a Tonga players will be invested with an award of the Royal Orders to recognise their contribution to sports.

The investiture ceremony will be held on Wednesday (November 29) at the Royal Palace at 4.30 pm.

The awards will reflect the tremendous effort Tonga made to take on top tier teams like England and New Zealand and to come within a whisker of gaining a place in the finals.

But the last minute try that Tongan fans believe should have brought them victory was disallowed.

Last night Tongan fans marched through central Auckland to protest and most commentators believe the referee should have checked the video recording to work out exactly what happened in the dying moments of the game when Andrew Fifita went over the line.

Today the New Zaeland Herald wrote:

“Tonga were robbed. That is the only possible conclusion from the end of tonight’s World Cup semi-final.

“Not necessarily robbed of victory, but robbed of the peace of mind of knowing what really unfolded in the desperate last 10 seconds of the match, as they launched a final, furious assault on the English line as they trailed 20-18.

“Referee Matt Cecchin had to at least check what happened as Andrew Fifita stormed towards the line, before losing the ball in a tackle, then regathering it to force it over the line.”

And Radio New Zealand’s Jamie Wall asked the question this afternoon that every Tongan fan has  been asking: “Why didn’t Cecchin go to the video ref?”

List of Mate Ma’a Tonga players & staff travelling to Tonga :

1. David Fusitu’a

2. William Hopoate

3. Joe Ofahengaue

4. Mahe Fonua

5. Siliva Havili

6. Tuimoala Lolohea

7. Ukuma Ta’ai

8. Daniel Tupou

9. Jason Taumalolo

10. Konileti Hurrell

11. Ata Hingano

12. Manu Ma’u

13. Manu Vatuvei

14. Peni Terepo

15. Sam Moa

16. Sika Manu – Captain

17. Siua Taukeiaho

18. Ben Murdoch Masila

19. Kristian Woolf – Head Coach

The main points

  • Tonga will honour the Mate Ma’a with a public holiday on Wednesday.
  • The Mate Ma’a players will be invested with an award of the Royal Orders to recognise their contribution to sports.
  • The awards will reflect the effort Tonga made to come within a whisker of gaining a place in the finals.

For more information 

Mate Ma‘a Tonga players to receive royal award from King Tupou VI

Tonga were robbed by decision not to go to video referee

Tonga’s league loss: Try or no try?

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