Tonga edges closer to Test with Aussies
TONGA coach Kristian Woolf is confident that a historic match against Australia will soon become a reality in another giant leap forward for the tiny South Pacific rugby league nation.
The Mate Ma’a will play their first game since last year’s captivating World Cup run when they take on traditional rivals Samoa in Saturday night’s Pacific Test at Campbell Stadium.
Cowboys star Jason Taumalolo has committed to his country of heritage long term to form a star- studded Tongan forward pack alongside Andrew Fifita against a Samoan side which includes Broncos half Anthony Milford.
Woolf said the Pacific grudge match was always a terrific spectacle, but he felt it was time for both nations to play more games against rugby league’s “big three” of New Zealand, England, and reigning world champions Australia.
“It’s a big occasion, everyone wants to see it, and we rip into each other … but we also need to move away from just playing each other,” said Woolf, who is also coach of the Townsville Blackhawks.
“We need that opportunity to keep improving, Samoa need that opportunity to keep improving, and so, too, do Fiji and PNG. That’s the growth of international rugby league at the moment.
“If you have a look at the World Cup, those four teams were all in the top eight and they’re only going to continue to get better if we invest time and money into getting them opportunities.”
Tonga is ranked fourth in the RLIF standings following their World Cup revolution and plans are underway for a match against Australia in Brisbane at the conclusion of the NRL season. The Mate Ma’a stunned New Zealand with a 28- 22 victory during the World Cup group stages and they pushed England until the final whistle in a thrilling 20- 18 semi- final defeat, but they have never played a Test match against Australia.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has been a vocal supporter of the proposed clash with Tonga and Woolf believed the occasion would be beneficial for all the Pacific Island nations.
“There’s a few little things that need to be agreed on and ( once that happens) we’ve got a great opportunity there,” Woolf said.
“It’s going to be a big occasion and one, as always, the Tongans will really get behind. It’s really a step forward for us as well as the other Pacific island nations.”
Woolf admitted there was some pressure to live up to their World Cup success, but he believed Tonga had the platform to become an international powerhouse.
“You’re a country of 100,000 people, more Tongans live in New Zealand than live in the country of Tonga, and we have no finances. There’s a lot of things that put us behind the eight ball,” Woolf said.
“But when you get players like Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita, Sio Taukeiaho, Manu Ma’u — the list goes on.
“Those high- profile, quality players saying that they’re going to make sacrifices and commit to Tonga long term.
“It certainly puts a bit of pressure on, but it also adds a lot of excitement and a lot of confidence in all the players that we’re heading in the right direction and we can be a force internationally.”