By Tupou Vaipulu Jr

Tonga’s national netball team, the Tala, hosted their first home game at the Tonga High School Stadium in Nuku’alofa, last night, 31 October 2025.

During the first quarter, Tala kept the crowd on their toes – constantly keeping a one-point difference behind the Australian Pathway and eventually surpassing them.

Tala’s Goal Shooter (GS), Uneeq Palavi and her support, Goal Attack (GA) Marie Hansen proved to be an amazing duo in the court. Marie carefully assisted Uneeq – setting her up to score multiple points, with the Tala leading by the end of the first quarter (18-16), but it was not to be the Tala's day.

Australian Pathway successfully intercepted during the last three quarters, to come out on top at the end with a score of 64-62.

Although Tala lost the first game, their fans are still hyped with the teams’ performance in the court and their ability to stay on par with one of Australia’s top netball teams.

The match saw only half the seats in the stadium filled with Tala supporters but, fans awaited Tala and the Australian Pathway’s rematch today.

The Tala-Tutone tour is part of the ongoing celebrations of the anniversary of the Tonga’s Constitution, it was also the first game to be held in the stadium since it was commissioned last year.

The young Princess Halaevalu Mata’aho was recognized as the first ball-bearer of the game.