Tonga coach Kristian Woolf admits his side struggled to mentally prepare for their Rugby League World Cup quarter-final win over Lebanon.
Coach Kristian Woolf, left, and Mate Ma'a Tonga captain Sika Manu. Photo: RNZ / Laura Tupou
Mate Ma'a shocked the rugby league world by tipping over tier-one New Zealand 28-22 last weekend to secure top spot in Pool B.
They've since gone on to qualify for a maiden World Cup semi-final but only after suffering a serious scare against the adventurous Cedars.
With five-eighth Mitchell Moses playing the game of his life, Lebanon kept themselves within touching distance of Tonga but just fell short of victory.
A second-half in which both sides were out on their feet was ultimately decided by an Ata Hingano penalty goal -- rendering a try-of-the-tournament contender from Cedars winger Abbas Miski in vain.
Woolf admitted his side were a little lucky to come out on top.
They'd channelled so much energy into their pool wins over Samoa and the Kiwis that a slight comedown against Lebanon was inevitable.
"Not for any other reason than we were so up for a game against Samoa, it was such a big occasion for us, and then we got so up for a game against New Zealand (and) that was obviously a massive occasion," Woolf said.
"It just drains you.
"We weren't prepared for the game to be as tough as it was mentally."
Woolf said his troops had immediately acknowledged their shortcomings against Lebanon, and admitted they weren't up to scratch.
Nevertheless, they remained at their destructive best up front, with Jason Taumalolo making 217 running metres and Andrew Fifita 198 metres.
With the match against Lebanon out of their system, they could now refresh and focus on a big performance in next week's semi-final in Auckland.
They will take on the winner of the clash between England and Papua New Guinea.
In further positive news, prop and chief goalkicker Sio Siua Taukeiaho is likely to return for the match after missing Saturday's game with a knee niggle.
"Sometimes, not playing your best and just being able to scrape through a win certainly makes you refocus for the next week," Woolf said.
-AAP