New Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo sees the revamped side’s Tongan test as a chance to create a new Australian rugby league legacy.
Mal Meninga’s men will launch the Pacific Championships against Mate Ma’a at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Friday.
It’s their first encounter since Tonga shocked the rugby league world with a 16-12 Auckland upset in 2019.
Australia are still No.1 in the world but were beaten 30-0 by New Zealand in their last Test in November.
Not since 2014-15 have Australia lost consecutive Tests to the same nation, when three straight defeats to New Zealand triggered a review that prompted Tim Sheens to step down as coach.
France’s back-to-back wins in Australia’s 1978 European tour was the last time the Kangaroos had lost two consecutive games to the same team.
The historic margin and injuries to key playmakers Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster have prompted change.
Daly Cherry-Evans and former skipper James Tedesco were not selected, leaving Yeo to captain a side that includes six debutants, including halves Tom Dearden and Mitch Moses.
“There’ll be a response but it’s also a different group,” the skipper said of their loss to New Zealand.
“We’ve got six debutants and we’re trying to create our own legacy.
“You certainly don’t look past what happened last year and the lessons from it.
“We spoke about it early in the camp.
“When you wear this jersey there is an expectation to win and that’s the really strong history of this jersey.
“It’s certainly no different for us.
“We need to go out and put on a good performance for our country.”
Tonga boast an enviable pack that includes Eliesa Katoa, Keaon Koloamatangi, Haumole Olakau’atu, Felise Kaufusi, Taniela Paseka and co-captains Jason Taumalolo and Addin Fonua-Blake.
Coach Kristian Woolf, who helmed them for the famous 2019 upset, thinks it might be their best squad yet.
Yeo knows Pat Carrigan, Mitch Barnett, Reuben Cotter, Hudson Young, Lindsay Collins and Angus Crichton will have their hands full.
“It should be a cracker,” Yeo said.
“That’s where the big battle is; they’ve got a wonderful forward pack and a lot of big outside backs that do a lot of work.
“That’s certainly where it’s going to be won.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge. We’ve got a pretty strong forward pack ourselves, albeit a little different in size.
“It’s a really good match-up.”
