But Dane Gagai’s try just before halftime was crucial, then the Kiwis turned the screw in the second half.
It was a professional exhibition – helped by a strong wind behind them – as they wore Tonga down. They added four tries and could have had a couple more.
Tonga brought plenty to the contest in a courageous display and were no doubt feeling the effects of their big clash with Samoa six days earlier. But the Kiwis were relentless and ruthless.
After a stirring confrontation with the haka and Sipi Tau, followed by a stare down that lasted almost 90 seconds the match kicked off amid a huge wall of noise.
The Kiwis made an ideal start, with Briton Nikora over in the fifth minute, off some magic from Ponga, who held up the defensive line before delivering the pass. The fullback had created the momentum – winning a set restart – before Dane Gagai made a break down the right flank.
Kalyn Ponga. Photo / Photosport
New Zealand had the early dominance, edging the physical battle but it was close. And it soon switched.
The Kiwis were under pressure, with both Addin Fonua-Blake and Jason Taumalolo stopped inches short.
It was a massive defensive set, then a Casey McLean break got the Kiwis going and they should have scored, with Joseph Tapine losing his bearings close to the line.
That was punished minutes later, as Tonga scored a spectacular long-range try – one of the best of the tournament – after a fractured Kiwis kick chase was split, with Jojo Fifita starting the move and then finishing it under the posts.
The Island team then burned their captains’ challenge – a rush of blood over a strip decision – but maintained the pressure, with the Kiwis kickers struggling into the wind.
Fifita looked dangerous, before a courageous Ponga tackle to stop a runaway Demetric Vaimauga, who had split the Kiwis on the edge, with a spectacular burst.
But that was only a reprieve, as Fifita put Tonga into the lead in the 33rd minute, after another signature east to west scrum move, beautifully executed.
The stadium was rocking and the Kiwis needed some improvisation – and inspiration – to get back into the contest, with Gagai’s critical try just before the interval.
Hughes chipped ahead after regathering his shallow kick, before Ponga did enough to pressure Lehi Hopoate, with Gagai pouncing on the loose ball.
That felt like a turning point, even in a small way. However, the Kiwis were caught out from the second-half restart, with a wicked kick by Katoa bouncing over the head of Kodi Nikorima and over the sideline, though they repelled the danger.
Moment came and went, with a clean Hughes break stopped by desperate defence, as Nikora looming for the pass, then Gagai held up over the line by an amazing effort from Hopoate.
But something was building and McLean provided another critical intervention, finding space where there was none for his eighth try of the tournament in the 47th minute, after Gagai had effected a turnover.
That was the cue for the weather to turn, with rain bucketing down, which changed the contest but not the intent.
Hughes then punished a Hopoate error – with a trademark solo dart from inside the 20 – after the fullback had split a greasy ball.
The Kiwis were on fire, with Nikorima close to retrieving a Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad kick, after a left edge break.
Tonga were hanging on – defusing consecutive goal-line dropouts – before Nikora was stopped by a miraculous tackle, metres from the line.
But Xavier Willison’s 70-minute try – off more brilliant deception from Hughes – sealed the result and ended Tonga’s brave resistance, before Nicoll-Klokstad’s late effort, off a superb Erin Clark chip.
Kiwis 34 (Briton Nikora, Dane Gagai, Casey McLean, Jahrome Hughes, Xavier Willison, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad tries; Jamayne Isaako 4 cons)
Tonga 10 (Jojo Fifita 2 tries; Isaiya Katoa con)
Halftime 12-10
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.