Tonga and the Cook Islands have confirmed their 18-man squads ahead of the Asia-Pacific 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifier, to be played at Campbelltown Stadium on October 17.
Kristian Woolf has named a star-studded Tonga line-up with only one player (Daniel Forster) yet to make his NRL debut.
1 Solomone Kata (New Zealand Warriors), 2 Jorge Taufua (Manly Sea Eagles), 3 Mahe Fonua (Melbourne Storm), 4 Mosese Pangai (Townsville Blackhawks), 5 Delouise Hoeter (Wests Tigers), 6 Pat Politoni (Cronulla Sharks), 7 Daniel Forster (Penrith Panthers), 8 Albert Vete (New Zealand Warriors), 9 Joel Luani (Wests Tigers), 10 Peni Terepo (Parramatta Eels), 11 Sika Manu (Penrith Panthers), 12 Manu Ma’u (Parramatta Eels), 13 Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane Broncos)
14 Nafe Seluini (Burleigh Bears), 15 Ukuma Ta’ai (Huddersfield Giants), 16 Ben Murdoch-Masila (Penrith Panthers), 17 Leilani Latu (Penrith Panthers), 18 David Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
Alex Chan meanwhile has only named five players with either NRL or Super League experience, Jordan Rapana and Anthony Gelling being the only regular first graders.
Rapana and Gelling, alongside Drury Low, Johnathon Ford and Sam Mataora are the only remaining players from the 2013 Rugby League World Cup squad. The majority of Chan’s players spent their 2015 season in the Holden Cup and hold plenty of promise.
With notable exclusions such as captain Zeb Taia, Brad Takairangi, Dylan Napa, Tinirau Arona and Tupou Sopoaga, the Kukis will struggle to keep up with Mate Ma’a Tonga.
1 Jordan Rapana (Canberra Raiders), 2 Drury Low (Narellan Jets), 3 Anthony Gelling (Wigan Warriors), 4 Chance Peni (Wests Tigers), 5 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Melbourne Storm), 6 Johnathon Ford (Wyong Roos), 7 Wallace Tangitti (South Sydney Rabbitohs), 8 Uiti Baker (Manly Sea Eagles), 9 Aaron Teroi (Melbourne Storm), 10 Sam Mataora (Newcastle Knights), 11 Esan Marsters (Wests Tigers), 12 Makahesi Makatoa (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), 13 Francis Molo (Brisbane Broncos)
14 Carne Doyle-Manga (Wyong Roos), 15 Vincent Rennie (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), 16 Vinny Ngaro (Manly Sea Eagles), 17 Fred Pakutoa (Wentworthville Magpies), 18 Reubenn Rennie (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Tonga will run into the match as strong favourites for the last spot in the Asia-Pacific region, however they can expect a strong match from the Cook Islands.
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Never change, Nick Cummins!
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