Australia have ground down Tonga 18-0 to avoid back-to-back Test losses in a tense Pacific Championships opener in Brisbane.

A 33,000-strong sea of red was in force at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, willing Tonga to a repeat of their famous victory when the teams last met in 2019.

The visitors dominated the early exchanges to offer hope, but their attack never clicked.

Tom Trbojevic’s intercept instead gave Australia a 6-0 lead at the break despite his side claiming just 40% possession and making 50 more tackles.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow slid through half a gap to extend their lead after 51 minutes, while a try by Tongan prop Keaon Koloamatangi with 15 minutes to play was reversed when replays showed he had fumbled his put-down.

Emerging Tongan halfback Isaiya Katoa could not find his range off the boot, twice kicking restarts out on the full and three times kicking grubbers dead in goal.

He came within centimetres of a brilliant 40-20, only to watch the ball roll into the in-goal before crossing the sideline.

Tabuia-Fidow scored his crucial try from the next set, while fullback Lehi Hopoate was sin-binned for tackling Harry Grant from an offside position to save another try soon after.

Zac Lomax’s penalty goal gave Australia breathing space.

Australia fielded six debutants including halfback Mitch Moses, who put one bomb out on the full but otherwise looked sharp in his first game since rupturing a biceps in July’s State of Origin decider at the same ground.

Halves partner and fellow debutant Tom Dearden also had moments. He twice pushed his pass when space appeared but scored a terrific final-minute solo try to ice the contest.

Haumole Olakau’atu did his best to impact for Tonga, hammering Manly teammate Trbojevic and Australian forward Lindsay Collins with brutal tackles, then putting a huge fend on Moses.

Mal Meninga’s side will travel to New Zealand to face the Kiwis next Sunday, their first meeting since the Kangaroos’ record 30-0 hammering last November.

Earlier at the same venue, Julia Robinson’s historic six tries led Australia’s 84-0 rout of Papua New Guinea in a one-sided women’s Pacific Championships opener.

Fellow Australian winger Jakiya Whitfeld (five tries) also went past Sam Bremner’s previous high of four tries set two years ago, with the Jillaroos scoring a record 17 in total.

It was hardly a fair fight against a side boasting just one NRLW regular in Elsie Albert, with 10 of the side PNG-based and fresh off the Orchids’ maiden, seven-week domestic season.

The Orchids, only formed in 2017, had moments but also endured torment in the form of La-Toniya Norris-Addo’s suspected first-half ACL tear.

The hosts landed just 8-of-17 conversions, most coming from the sideline, to leave them short of the 92-0 high water mark set against France in 2022.

It was still their biggest win over PNG and a handy tune-up ahead of a rematch with New Zealand, who beat them in their last Test, in a fortnight.

“We’re a little bit behind that at the moment but I think it is (worth playing),” PNG coach and former Jillaroos great Tahnee Norris said of the fixture.