England and Tonga are doing battle at the Totally Wicked Stadium in the first of this historic three match test series and the first 40 minutes have seen the teams unable to be separated, heading into the dressing rooms at 12-12.
England opened the scoring through Toby King with the Grand Final winner played in courtesy of a brilliant Victor Radley cut-out pass, following Mikey Lewis’ dart from midfield to break the Tongan line.
The visitors responded in the corner through Toa and then doubled up to take the lead through former Wales and Australia international Tyson Frizzell.
Just after the half hour mark it was that man Mikey Lewis once again who danced and ducked his way through the tackles to ground and help England go in front.
Before the half the Tongans took a two pointer to tie the game up in what was a fast first forty minutes of intense international rugby league.
It was lauded by BBC pundits Jon Wilkin and Jamie Peacock as being a brilliant example of the game, with particular praise for debutant Mikey Lewis,
“This is as good as it gets, if you’ve played 20 or 30 tests then you’d be pleased with that,” Peacock explained.
“Mikey Lewis has got a bit of X-factor about him, there’s a little bit of spark every time he gets the ball.”
Wilkin had earlier referred to his break as “the piece of stardust sprinkled on the first half”.
Whilst Lewis drew the praise, there was also questions of discipline and potentially even a lack of gamesmanship from Toby King.
For one of the Tongan tries former Leeds Rhinos legend Jamie Peacock explained that King should have sold a dive more in order for the try to be disallowed.
The try in question saw the ball shifted right by Tonga for Toa to cross over in the corner, however Peacock has labelled King “too honest” in his defence.
“It’s a good line but it’s a poor read from both Smith and King,” Peacock stated.
“I think King is too honest, if King falls over there then you might get a shout of obstruction.”
Understandably that led to mocking from co-pundit Jon Wilkin who highlighted Peacock’s eagerness to encourage the dark arts of diving.
Peacock defended his view: “I wouldn’t warrant doing that but I think that if he does then I think if he decides to do that then maybe.”
Wilkin joked along calling the former England captain “divey Peacock”.
