An off-the-field camaraderie was at the heart of Scotland’s stunning rugby league World Cup win over Tonga, according to captain Danny Brough.
The Bravehearts lived up to their nickname on a thrilling night in Cumbria as they emerged as 26-24 winners Matty Russell’s try and Brough’s conversion sealing it after they had thrown away a 20-4 lead.
It was a memorable triumph for Steve McCormack’s band of disparate Scots, put together at the boundaries of eligibility.
Englishmen and Australians have combined to represent the country, but all wore kilts as part of their matchday attire and heartily sang Flower of Scotland, and Brough felt that their bond was crucial on Tuesday night.
“There’s always a mix when you get the NRL, Super League and National League players coming together,” Brough said, citing further evidence of the variety in McCormack’s squad as part and full-time players came together.
“There isn’t a better example than what we have (of team spirit). Since we have been together, we have had one drink of beer together and the rest of the time have been playing cards, knocking about together, and that spirit has helped us here.
“Everyone can have their say and their two pence worth, but at the end of the day what Steve says goes.”
McCormack, now in his 10th year in charge of Scotland, was given some tough moments to contend with at Workington’s Derwent Park, none more so than in the last seconds of the game.
The video referee was called to assess whether or not Tonga’s Daniel Foster had scored a try that would have won them the game.
As it was, he was deemed to have knocked on, even if there was a suggestion that Brough and Danny Addy had ripped the ball out.
“There are certain decisions you can argue with, but some go your way and you can’t look at that and say we were lucky,” said McCormack, who rated the win as Scotland’s best ever.
“We earned everything we got. Tonga were brilliant for 30 minutes, but we found a way to win.”
Defeat was a tough pill to swallow for Tonga, who recovered admirably after a woeful first half. They could not live with Scotland’s brutal physicality in the first 40 minutes, with only the redoubtable Fuifui Moimoi prepared to go toe-to-toe with McCormack’s men.
Tonga woke up after the break, though, with two-try Sika Manu getting them ahead, only for Russell to win it.
“This is Test match football, even if it is two of the lower-ranked teams,” captain Brent Kite said.
“We knew they had big boys, we had looked at their footage and we didn’t take them lightly. They played well.”