Tonga have fallen one step short of the Rugby League World Cup decider, downed 20-18 by England in Saturday's semi-final in Auckland.
Backed by a partisan Tongan crowd, Mate Ma'a brought all their trademark bullishness but blundered early with ball in hand to trail 14-0.
They came up agonisingly short in an extraordinary final period, in which they scored three late tries in five minutes.
Ex-Kangaroo prop Andrew Fifita appeared to have scored the winner with the final play of the match, only to be called back for a contentious knock-on.
It appeared the ball had been stripped one-on-one by English second-rower Elliott Whitehead, rather than dropped - allowing Fifita to continue.
However, he was called back by referee Matt Cecchin.
