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

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 they could hand Australia successive defeats following New Zealand's hammering of the Kangaroos last November, 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 per cent possession and making 50 more tackles.

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

Emerging Tongan halfback Isaiya Katoa couldn't find his range off the boot, twice kicking restarts out on the full and three times booting 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.

Tabuai-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.

Tonga thought they had their first try minutes later when Koloamatangi crossed, only to have the effort scrubbed off the board.

"That was the difference in the game," Tongan coach Kristian Woolf said of Katoa's near misses.

"When you play Australia they nail those plays, we just didn't quite get that right.

"That (Tabuia-Fidow try) was the try that broke us.

"It's sometimes fine margins."

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 to lose possession when space appeared but scored a terrific final-minute solo try to ice the contest.

"I'm very happy," Australian coach Mal Meninga said.

"Attitude, intent, defensively outstanding against that big Tongan side.

"To hold them to zero, that's what we get out of it."

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.

Meninga's side will travel to New Zealand to face the Kiwis next Sunday, their first meeting since their record 30-0 defeat last year.