The stat that stands out in the Kangaroos historic test against Mate Ma'a Tonga

Andrew Fifita leads the Sipi Tau. Photo / Photosport

Australia may have won on the scoreboard but, as the old cliche goes, the winner was rugby league.

In front of a bumper crowd of 26,214, Tonga announced itself as a future powerhouse but it's the fans who drew most of the interest.

After a crowd of 12,763 turned out to see Australia play New Zealand at the same ground last week, a sea of red Tongan jerseys flooded Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

From a nation boasting a population of just under 110,000, it was an incredible turnout at the match, which included Tongan King George Tupou VI.

A figure representing a quarter of the Tongan population turned up to the match, and most were wearing Tongan jerseys.

From before the players entered the field of play until after the match and presentations had finished, the fans at the ground created an incredible atmosphere.

Australian five-eighth Luke Keary said it was brilliant to play in front of such a passionate and emotional crowd.

"Awesome atmosphere, I think it's brilliant what they've done and obviously the whole Tongan people and nation have gotten behind them," he said.

"It was really good to get a win, we were really disappointed last week so we had to turn up tonight.

"We lost the physical battle last week and we didn't do this jersey justice.

"It was like a carnival atmosphere. They're all happy and they all sang the Australian anthem. It was such a good atmosphere, happy, they're good people and they showed it tonight."

The match caps off a stellar year for Keary after he was concussed on his Kangaroos debut last week.

Keary and his Roosters won the NRL grand final, he himself won the Clive Churchill Medal and he made his Australian debut.

Tonga and North Queensland Cowboys star Jason Taumalolo said the fans just turn out for the country.

"We always knew it was going to be a big crowd and we've had a big following since last years' World Cup, so it's great to see everyone turn up, not only supporting Tonga but Australia too, it's great to see," Taumalolo said.

"They're obviously the benchmark and the boys handled themselves pretty good tonight. There were a few cobwebs there with the boys. But at the end of the day it was a great game of footy and a great turnout."

Tonga entered the match with high expectations after witnessing New Zealand defeat Australian by two points last week, the same team Tonga had beaten in last years' Rugby League World Cup.

It hoped to become the first tier two nation in 40 years to beat the world champion Kangaroos.

However, doubles by Tom Trbojevic and Valentine Holmes gave Australia a 30-10 lead by halftime.

But Tonga won the second half 6-4 in an impressive display.

Tongan captain Sika Manu said the side would learn plenty from the match.

"I think we didn't play too bad but the discipline let us down," Tonga captain Sika Manu said. "We were just glad to have the chance to compete against them and hopefully we'll get more games against them in the future."

It was an emotional start to the match with several Tongan players visibly tearing up during the national anthem before a powerful rendition of the traditional Tongan war dance the Sipi Tau.

Australia captain Boyd Cordner, who has played in NRL and World Cup finals, was impressed by Tonga's fans, who sang the Australia national anthem as a mark of respect for the Kangaroos.

"Look at this, you couldn't ask for anything better," Cordner said. "For us it's a new-look team, I think that showed tonight but as time goes on we'll get better as a group."

- With AP