Great Britain are expecting another sea of red in the opening matching of their Southern Hemisphere rugby league tour against a Tonga Invitational XIII on Saturday.
Great Britain last played in 2007. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Rugby League Lions are playing four tests over the next four weeks in their first international matches since 2007.
New Canberra Raiders signing George Williams was part of England's 2017 World Cup squad and said the chance to represent Great Britain was special.
"It's a massive opportunity. It's been 12 years now and I was lucky enough to watch it as a kid but obviously I've never had the chance to be selected for Great Britain so I'm over the moon to be in the squad and looking forward to the series ahead."
Even though he didn't get on the field in the World Cup semi final against Tonga, Williams said it was a game and an occasion he would never forget.
"I've been involved in some massive games: (Super League) grand finals, Challenge Cups, World Club Challenges and that was by far the best atmosphere. A strange one too - we scored and the Tongans were singing a hymn or some kind of song.
"Even though they lost the fans were so so good that day to our team and thinking about it gives me goosebumps a little bit. It was honestly unbelievable and something I will never forget."
Andrew Fifita of Tonga loses the ball during the final play of the match against England. Photo: PhotoSport
Warrington Wolves prop Joe Philbin was only 12 when the Lions last assembled.
The 24-year-old was grateful for the latest opportunity.
"It means the world to me. You know it's probably one of the proudest moments when I got that phone call that I'd made the squad. It's a massive honour and I'm just looking forward to hopefully doing the shirt justice."
Joe Philbin. Photo: www.photosport.nz
Philbin said with 11 current or former NRL players in the Lions squad and a few Tongans running around in the Super League they had plenty of knowledge and 'intel' on their opposition.
"Big Benny Murdoch-Masila [Tongan forward] I play with him, I've got the pleasure to take the field with Benny and he's a top quality player and he can skittle a few people so I'll be sure to the tell the lads all about his strengths," he said.
"Because people in our squad who play in the NRL know all the other players' strengths and weaknesses so we'll be pretty well prepared and we will know what's coming against us.
"It's just knowing what's coming is one thing and then it's stopping what's coming is the main thing."
Philbin had an impromptu catch-up with Murdoch-Masila earlier in the week but said the Warrington team-mates kept their cards close to their chest.
"We got evacuated from our hotel [in Auckland] and had to sleep in the same hotel as them for a night so I caught up with him and it was all smiles but I'm sure it will all be different come game-day."
Philbin's opponents are playing under the banner of "Invitational XIII" after a court ruled the Tonga National Rugby League was the only authority able to operate the official national side, Mate Ma'a Tonga, following a long-running dispute between coach Kristian Woolf and the TNRL.
Despite Tongan rugby league being embroiled in such controversy, George Williams expected the Invitational XIII to front up and be at their best on Saturday night.
"Tonga are always physical, you know what they bring," he said.
"They're pretty passionate and they've been fantastic in the World Cup and in the last couple of years so they're building something special but yeah we know what they bring and we're looking forward to the massive challenge."
George Williams playing for England during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. Photo: www.photosport.nz
Loyal Lions supporters hoping for another sea of red
A die-hard group of about 50 Great Britain supporters have travelled south to cheer take on the Lions.
Brian and Gail Hodgson were making their second trip down-under, having visited Australia and New Zealand two years ago while following the England team at the Rugby League World Cup.
Brian, a Leeds Rhinos fan, said the semi-final against Tonga in Auckland was an unforgettable experience, and they were hoping for more of the same on Saturday.
"Going in it took us about an hour and a half to get through the crowd of red on the coach and when we parked up it was unbelievable," he said.
"The atmosphere walking into the ground, in the ground itself - there were guys behind us with a microphone and a speaker signing their hymn - and the complete ground was a sea of red apart from us in the middle, our little piece of white in the middle.
"They were all so friendly even though they lost. With Leeds we won eight grand finals, I've been to Challenge Cup finals, I've been to World Cup finals and that atmosphere that day was the best I've ever had in any sporting occasion ever."
Brian and Gail Hodgson from Leeds have traveled down-under to support the Great Britain Lions. Photo: Vinnie Wylie/RNZ Pacific
