Tonga coach backs test arena

While international rugby league has historically taken a back seat to the NRL, Tongan coach Dean Young believes the international game is as strong as it has ever been with the World Cup approaching in October.

For years, eligibility rules meant players had to select just one nation to represent which saw the pool of talent for the tier one nations Australia, England and New Zealand run deep, while other nations generally didn’t have the top level talent available to them.

In 2016, that all changed when the Rugby League International Federation approved changes which included eligible players being able to nominate one tier one nation to represent and one tier two nation, and being able to play for both during a single World Cup cycle with no standdown period. The change has allowed the international game to flourish despite limited matches, with Tonga now arguably on par with the tier-one nations, and Samoa and Fiji rising rapidly.

Tonga will run out to take on the Kiwis at Mt Smrt Stadium with a strong squad featuring several players who had previously only been able to play for their chosen tier-one nations, including Jason Taumalolo, Addin Fonua-blake and Siosiua Taukeiaho — who have represented the Kiwis.

On the other side of the field, the Kiwis will be fielding their strongest side in years.

“I think the international game is in a great position now. New Zealand have fielded the strongest side they’ve fielded in a long time. I can’t even remember a side being fielded like this,” Young said.