Tongans fire back
® from JULIE STOTT in Auckland TONGA have accused Wayne Bennett of playing mind games ahead of Saturday’s World Cup semi-final.
The England coach has criticised rules that allowed five players to swap allegiance to Tonga on the eve of the tournament.
Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita are the most high-profile, turning their backs on New Zealand and Australia.
Bennett claimed the game needs to look at it and treat the fans with more respect in future.
But Tonga hooker Siliva Havili said: “It’s a bit late in the competition to be commenting on that.
“He is probably trying to play mind games. That’s Wayne Bennett, he knows what he’s doing.”
Hostile
A bumper crowd of around 30,000 is expected for the semi-final in Auckland, where there’s a huge Tongan population.
England star James Roby admits the team are ready for a hostile reception on and off the field.
He said: “It comes with the territory. We expect hostility and to be outnumbered in the crowd, but we will just have to get on with it.”
Roby, meanwhile, has refused to rule out joining the NRL.
The hooker, who celebrates his 32nd birthday today, has snubbed offers to go Down Under in the past.
But the enormous salary cap in the NRL now allows clubs to offer players the sort of deal that Super League could never match.
The St Helens man said: “I would never say never. If the opportunity did come to play over here, it would definitely be an attractive offer. You have got to take the cap into consideration.”