2 September 2025
As seen on nrl.com
Kiwis stars have urged New Zealand fans to paint Auckland black as they launch a Pacific Championships redemption mission.
An undermanned Kiwis side fell to Tonga last year, with New Zealand fans heavily outnumbered as the famed Red Sea swept through Go Media Stadium.
The scenes on display have become a trend in the international game, with large Tongan and Samoan communities turning out in force to support their nations.
“It would be mad to have that support,” prop Moses Leota told NRL.com. “I don’t think we’ve ever had that so it would be good for the fans to get out there and we can see a sea of black.
“We’ve seen the Up The Wahs culture so it would be cool to see those fans get behind the Kiwis too.”
New Zealand will take on Samoa on October 19 at Go Media Stadium in the opening week of the Pacific Championships before they host Tonga on November 2 at Eden Park.
The hosts are pushing for a crowd of 50,000 for the Tonga clash.
The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns will play double-headers on both days, with the women to play Samoa in week one before facing the Jillaroos in their second match.
The surge in Tongan and Samoan supporters at New Zealand home games has come in tandem with the rise of the two nations on the field.
It’s a movement first triggered by Jason Taumalolo, who switched his allegiance from the Kiwis to Tonga ahead of the 2017 World Cup.
Since then, the nation has beaten both Australia and New Zealand, while Samoa made the final of the 2022 World Cup.
Kiwis home games in the past eight years have started to resemble away matches as swathes of red or blue take over stadiums.
The images have made for an epic spectacle, both in the stands and on TV, but have created a hostile environment for New Zealand players on their home turf.
The Kangaroos endured a similar experience in last year’s Pacific Championships final, when Tongan fans turned CommBank Stadium into a sea of red and created a deafening atmosphere.
Players from both Australia and New Zealand have embraced the rising importance of international rugby league, however it has been a shock to the system for those getting their first taste of the Test arena.
Kiwis rookie Casey McLean watched last year’s loss to Tonga from the sidelines and is desperate to get the chance to play in a similar environment this season.
“It was unreal,” McLean said. “I thought because it was in New Zealand it would feel like a home game with heaps of New Zealand fans, but I rocked up and it was a red sea.
“All the Pacific fans are respectful and cheer for both sides so it was a cool atmosphere, probably one of the loudest I’ve experienced.
“Hopefully we see more black in the stands this year. I know there are heaps of Kiwi fans out there who are always looking after us, which is awesome.”
The Tongan players certainly weren’t complaining about the support they received last year and many credited the crowd for helping them topple the Kiwis.
It’s a situation they want to see replicated this year, against both New Zealand and Samoa.
Tonga will play Samoa at Suncorp Stadium in the second week of the tournament.
Like many players, Tonga utility Soni Luke has family across the Tasman and is desperate to make the large Tongan diaspora proud wherever they play.
“It means a lot to not only me but my family,” Luke said. “I’ve met a lot of family along the way while I’ve been playing for Tonga. To see how much it means to the rest of my family is pretty cool.
“The fans in Auckland are pretty close to the field so it’s a lot of fun to play there and we’ve got some great memories from last year.
“It’s a good rivalry against New Zealand. We’ve held our hands up against the big nations now and we’ve got a couple of wins over the New Zealand boys. I’m sure they’ll be back bigger and better this year and trying to get one back.”
