Rugby League World Cup Preview: Tonga

At The Sporting Base, we will be previewing all 16 Rugby League World Cup nations ahead of the men’s tournament’s kick-off on 15 October. Our focus now shifts to Group D favourites Tonga and whether they should dare to dream five years on from their breakout tournament.

IRL Ranking: 2nd

Group: D

Schedule: Papua New Guinea (Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens); Wales (Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens); Cook Islands (Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough)

World Cup Appearances: 5 (1995, 2000, 2008, 2013, 2017)

Best Result: Semi-finals (2017)

Head Coach: Kristian Woolf

Title Odds: $13.00

Expectations have never been higher for a Tongan rugby league side as Kristian Woolf’s men aim to build on their famous breakout at the 2017 World Cup and bite off their own unique chunk of rugby league history.

In 2017, they were boosted by the defections of Jason Taumalolo, Andrew Fifita, and Siosiua Taukei’aho and went within a whisker of a World Cup Final berth after wins over Sāmoa and New Zealand.

Mate Ma’a Tonga made their return to international rugby league in June this year after a two-and-a-half year hiatus against a sharp New Zealand outfit in Auckland going down 26-6.

Their World Cup squad, however, boasts some welcomed inclusions that have them as hot favourites to finish atop Group D and position themselves for a deep postseason run.

They kick their campaign off against the Papua New Guineans in St Helens before clashes against Wales and the Cook Islands.

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The expectation is that the Tongans charge through the group stage to set up a quarterfinals clash against the winner of Group A – likely England or Sāmoa.

Having announced their squad this week, Woolf will have several big-time selection calls to make.

Even with the likes of Kotoni Staggs, Tevita Pangai Jr., Sitili Tupouniua, Christian Tuipulotu and Joe Ofahengaue unavailable along with veterans Andrew Fifita and David Fusitu’a, their squad is full of mouth-watering talent.

The fullback position likely comes down to Manly’s Toluta’u Koula or Brisbane’s Tesi Niu with St Helens’ Will Hopoate and Huddersfield’s Tuimoala Lolohea also experienced depth options.

Koula wore the number one jumper on debut in their mid-year loss to New Zealand, however, Niu has spent more time as fullback at NRL level.

Roosters veteran Daniel Tupou will join the squad after sitting out their June Test due to Origin with Cronulla’s Sione Katoa expected to partner him despite missing the backend of the NRL season due to a pectoral injury.

Their centre depth is similarly extensive with Cronulla’s Siosifa Talakai, St. George Illawarra’s Moses Suli, Parramatta’s Will Penisini and St Helens’ Konrad Hurrell all in the squad along with Hopoate.

Talakai enjoyed one of the best seasons of any NRL centre in 2022 whilst Suli and Penisini will likely jostle for the vacancy.

Their halves-pairing may make or break their campaign with veteran Lolohea the favourite to wear the seven jumper alongside St. George Illawarra’s Talatau Amone who made his international debut back in June.

Penrith young gun Isaiya Katoa – who is expected to make his NRL debut with the Dolphins in 2023 – is also a part of the squad and is highly-rated among lower-grade scouts.

Their hooking rotation looks set to consist of Rabbitohs middle Siliva Havili and Panthers rookie Soni Luke who are both capable nines despite the fact they are not full-time NRL hookers.

Their edge forward rotation, meanwhile, is arguably the best in the world with the likes of Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu, Gold Coast’s David Fifita, South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi and Melbourne’s Felise Kaufusi all vying for minutes.

If Woolf is to include all four in the 17, at least one will likely need to spend some time in the middle of the field.

Speaking of their middle, opposition packs will well and truly have their work cut out for them when they face the likes of North Queensland’s Jason Taumalolo, Warriors’ Addin Fonua-Blake, South Sydney’s Tevita Tatola, Sydney’s Siosiua Taukei’aho, Gold Coast’s Moeaki Fotuaika and Warriors’ Ben Murdoch-Masila.

Their forward rotation is absurdly strong whilst their outside back stocks offer some serious heat to partner with it. The pressure will be on their spine which should be stronger than it looked in June with Lolohea’s inclusion and Amone’s improved second-half of the season.

There is a tonne to like about this Tongan unit and, should they truly hit their straps, a world title is not out of reach. Postseason clashes against the English or the Sāmoans could prove the meetings of tournament as the nation enters a golden era of rugby league.

Tonga squad

• Talatau Amone (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• David Fifita (Gold Coast Titans)
• Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors)
• Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans)
• Siliva Havili (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• William Hopoate (St Helens Saints)
• Konrad Hurrell (St Helens Saints)
• Isaiya Katoa (Penrith Panthers)
• Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks)
• Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm)
• Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Toluta’u Koula (Manly Sea Eagles)
• Tui Lolohea (Huddersfield Giants)
• Soni Luke (Penrith Panthers)
• Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warriors)
• Tesi Niu (Brisbane Broncos)
• Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Sea Eagles)
• Will Penisini (Parramatta Eels)
• Moses Suli (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Siosifa Talakai (Cronulla Sharks)
• Tevita Tatola (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Siosiua Taukei’aho (Sydney Roosters)
• Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
• Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)

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