Tonga enter this World Cup in a position of extreme strength. You can pick the vast majority of their team now, they’ve had a mid-season hit-out and – unlike island brothers/eternal rivals Samoa – they aren’t dependant on a heap of Origin players coming back to them for the World Cup.
Mate Ma’a Tonga were the surprise package of World Cup 2017, but will surprise nobody in 2022. They go in as a clear threat to win the whole thing.
Since Jason Taumalolo declared his allegiance to his heritage over the country of his birth, New Zealand, international rugby league has been transformed. That transformation enters its next stage in 2022, because not they have the weight of expectation to go with the talent.
With a group that includes a tough PNG, they should at least get to the knockouts, and from there, nobody will fancy facing them. It’s game on for Tonga.
Tonga have a very settled side. Sione Katoa is back after missing the end of the season with Cronulla, and they get Daniel Tupou from the Origin set-up. Felise Kaufusi also joins after missing the mid-season game.
Tolu Koula plays in the centres at club level but is likely to move to his junior grade position of fullback, just like he did against the Kiwis. His competition at the back will be Tesi Niu.
Tonga have long missed a genuine halfback, and it is likely that they will turn to Tui Lolohea to fill that role. He’s been on fire for Huddersfield in the Super League. He generally plays as a pivot, but will be shifted into half to allow Junior Amone to play at five-eighth. At centre will be Parra’s Grand Finalist Will Penisini.
In the forwards, Addin Fonua-Blake will be join by Siosiua Taukeiaho in the front row, with sipi tau leader Siliva Havili the most likely man to go between them. Tevita Tatola and Moeaki Fotuaika will rotate and Ben Murdoch-Masila might feature.
The back row option are insane: Taumalolo and Kaufusi, of course, but also Haumole Olakau’atu, Keaon Koloamatangi and Siosifa Talakai, back from Origin duty.
Haumole Olakau’atu. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Moses Suli will be a walk-up if fit, but has been suffering from an ankle injury. Soni Luke is not a regular first-grader with Penrith but hookers are thin on the ground for Tonga and makes the squad. The same could be said for Panthers junior Isaiya Katoa, set to link up with the Dolphins in 2023, because there aren’t that many Tongan halfbacks running around.
Will Hopoate has been battling injuries all year with St Helens, but plays under Woolf every week and will offer crucial utility value. Konrad Hurrell is in too, which should be fun
Andrew Fifita was part of the original wave of heritage players to flip to Mate Ma’a Tonga and they’ve stayed loyal to him. His namesake, David Fifita, would have started the season hoping for Australian honours but gets Tonga instead.
Tonga squad
1 Tesi Niu
2 Sione Katoa
3 Will Penisini
4 Konrad Hurrell
5 Daniel Tupou
6 Junior Amone
7 Tui Lolohea
8 Siosiua Taukeiaho
9 Siliva Havili
10 Addin Fonua-Blake
11 Keaon Koloamatangi
12 Felise Kaufusi
13 Jason Taumalolo
14 Soni Luke
15 Tevita Tatola
16 Moeaki Fotuaika
17 Haumole Olakau’atu
18 Ben Murdoch-Masila
19 Tolu Koula
20 Moses Suli
21 David Fifita
22 Siosifa Talakai
23 Isaiya Katoa
24 William Hopoate
World Cup Chasers is our new Rugby League World Cup podcast and will be released weekly all the way through to the final at Old Trafford in November.
It features exclusive interviews, plus expert analysis from The Roar rugby league writers Mike Meehall Wood and Mary Konstantopolous, as well as Michael Carbone from Chasing Kangaroos, the original international rugby league podcast.
Fred Fittler
Roar Rookie
And the poor 1. 6, 7, 9 has beaten all 3 tier 1 nations since 2017... a feat unprecedented... the only tier 2 nation to do so lol.
Megeng
Roar Rookie
Yeah and probably Tonga in soccer as well
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
He's multi skilled . Isn't he coaching Argentina in union right now . :thumbup:
Megeng
Roar Rookie
Comes down to the coach. Lebanon's got chieka. Lol
Megeng
Roar Rookie
Straight for the cruets
Ace
Guest
Poor 1 6 7 9.No chance .
Fred Fittler
Roar Rookie
Tonga is tier 2 simply because of the league infrastructure the island nation Tonga possess. Financial, Sponsorship, huge corporations, player pool etc... Tonga doe not have that hence why they're tier 2 and will always remain tier 2. Australia, England, New Zealand are tier 1 because they're bigger nations, more money, more established competitions, massive player pool etc..
Fred Fittler
Roar Rookie
1) Will Hopoate/Koula, 6) Tui Lolohea 7) Talatau Amone/Isaiya Katoa 9) Siliva Havili/Tesi Niu/Soni Luke will be spine for WC... Tonga will be alright... steady.
Fred Fittler
Roar Rookie
Staggs/Talakai - Hurrell/Suli - Penisini/Koula there's a few combinations. For tackle breakers? Talakai/Hurrell - Staggs/Suli - Penisini/Koula. If Staggs is fit he'll partner Talakai, Penisini standby with Koula covering fullback. Suli is back up also and cover wing.
Fred Fittler
Roar Rookie
Konrad Hurrell and Eliesa Katoa are Tongan born. All these players bleed Tongan blood which automatically qualifys them. So they're ALL from Tonga. Go figure.
Eric
Guest
Once again Nat thanks for those kind passionate words.. eventhough you had to edit those 2 sentence! But I'd be deflecting the subject matter to mate. Now about references, have you got that reference where you saw the price Fox sports paid for the global juggernaut the Rugby League "World" Cup? Thanks in advance my kind, relaxed, absolute top bloke
Sol
Guest
Only someone with a proud heritage would understand and you clearly don't. Is it so bad that players want to represent their heritage? No complaints when players from all over the pacific was playing for Aussie or NZ and now it's an issue? How so because for most of us the international game hasn't been this exciting ever, and now you can call it a competition. Let's enjoy this for what it is if you're a true fan. Peace ✌️
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, unfortunately not one of the player’s in the spine is elite or really even international standard Killer pack and backline though
The Barry
Roar Guru
Because Tonga has a population of 100,000 people and doesn’t have the rugby league infrastructure, juniors or elite competition of the tier 1 countries. It’s not just about W / L Tonga’s success has come BECAUSE of their tier 2 status… it would be crazy to change that the very second they have any success
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
And I will ask again, given the team/squad why are they a Tier Two at the world cup ?
Nat
Roar Guru
My boy, your are the topic and you bring great amusement. You’re a troll but such a daft one that you forget which profile you’ve trolled every social media site around. Give us some more of your “facts” (insert profile here) and be sure to reference some old twitter page. :laughing: You’ve never made a point in your miserable life but you keep a beeper strapped to your A when you back up so hard.
Eric
Guest
He's not even a journo Nat. Now can we address Mike's article please mate. Stop getting off topic! I know you're a very passionate elderly RL fan but let's get onto the main game
Tony
Roar Guru
:laughing:
Nat
Roar Guru
This one is just a kid (at least I hope so for their sake). I don't wish physical harm on anyone. When your entire world is built around 100 profiles, trolling old poms, journos and any manner of league fan through jealousy the anguish they carry in the heart is far more hurt than I could ever inflict.
Nat
Roar Guru
Another case of great squad around a B-grade spine. Although I think Lolohea has been going well by SL standards. When a top class #7 emerges they will trouble every country.