More than 1000 ecstatic fans dressed in red and white welcomed around eight of the Mate Ma’a Tonga national rugby league players at Fua’amotu International Airport this afternoon, November 28.

Players arriving on a Fiji Air flight included David Fusitu’a, Tuimoala Lolohea, Ben Murdoch Masila, Mahe Fonua, Will Hopoate, Ukuma Ta’ai, Samisoni Langi and Joe ‘Ofahengaue. Other players including Jason Taumalolo and Kristian Woolf were expected to arrive this evening.

The fans decked out their vehicles with Tongan flags flying high, playing popular Mate Ma'a Tonga songs from their loud speakers, while others danced joyously before the flight landed from Auckland.

These athletes are heroes, and rightly so, after a fantastic Rugby League World Cup 2017 campaign that saw Tonga beat New Zealand for the first time and making double history as they entered their first semi-final ever last weekend, against England.

Fans on the road at Pelehake declared on a banner "Try or No Try ...we still love you MMT"

The celebration continues with a public holiday declared in Tonga tomorrow. The players are returning to Tonga after being invited to an investiture ceremony at the Royal Palace tomorrow afternoon. Many play for overseas clubs.

The heroes welcome extended through the villages along the airport road to Nuku'alofa, where traffic was backed up for nearly two hours following the players bus from the airport to town.