South Sea island sunny disposition brightened up Teesside skies as the Rugby League World Cup came to town today (Sunday, October 30).
They’ll have seen nothing like it in the Riverside Stadium’s 27-year history as the home of Middlesbrough FC played host to Pacific island neighbours Tonga and the Cook Islands in each team’s final Group D pool match.
The competition, begun at Newcastle’s St James Park earlier this month, is reaching the nitty-gritty stage, with places in the quarter-finals up for grabs over the weekend.
Having played at venues across the North, it was Teesside’s turn to enjoy a slice of World Cup action.
Read more: Tonga romp to World Cup win over Cook Islands
There was a colourful, exciting, pre-match vibe as fans congregated outside the stadium and it continued on the Riverside pitch shortly afterwards.
Take a look below
The Polynesian players put on a colourful pre-match ritual to the delight of the Riverside crowd, many, perhaps, watching their first ever Rugby League match.
For some non-aficionados, the teams’ respective versions of the Haka may have been the high-spot of the occasion.
The Cook Islanders’ Pe’e Haka featured an arrow-head formation slowly approaching their opponents on the other side of the half-way line in menacing fashion.
But the Tongans responded with their tub-thumping Sipi haka, to the delight of the red-clad fans who made their way to the Riverside.
Once the match got underway the Tongan superiority was there for all to see as the Group D favourites swept into a quarter-final tie against either France or Samoa.
The Tongan pedigree saw them run in 16 tries, but some of the biggest cheers of the day came for the Cook Islands’ two late consolation scores, to leave the result 92-10.
It means the World Cup ship has sailed for the Cook Islands who enjoyed their stay in the birth town of their country’s namesake, Captain Cook of British naval fame.
But the warmth of the welcome on Teesside was not lost on the grateful visitors, whose third World Cup is now at an end.
Read more: North-East focus at 2021 Rugby League World Cup
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, a driving force behind Middlesbrough staging the prestige fixture, said: "Bringing this global sporting event to Teesside shows just how far we've come.
“Hosting the Rugby League World Cup will inspire and encourage a new generation of fans in what is already one of the fast-growing games in our region.
“Teesside is on the up, and a crucial part of this is hosting bigger and better events to get our name out there.
“We’ve secured big events in recent years like Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Take That, The Killers and England international friendlies.
“These are things at one time we wouldn't have even dreamt of having here.”
He added: "Having this global tournament on our doorstep is another boost and will leave a lasting legacy."
Read next:
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2021 Rugby League World Cup - Darlington and Middlesbrough bid to stage matches
Public ballot for Rugby League World Cup tickets opens today
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