Five Super League stars named in Tonga squad for Australia Test
Sika Manu is set to lead Tonga in their upcoming Test against Australia, with a total of five Super League players being named in the squad.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf has named a 29-man preliminary squad for their historic one-off Test against Australia at the end of the season.
Manu (Hull FC), Samisoni Langi (Catalans Dragons), Sam Moa (Catalans Dragons), Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warrington Wolves) and Ukuma Ta’ai (Huddersfield Giants) have all been included in Tonga’s train-on squad. Leeds Rhinos’ recruit for 2019, Tui Lolohea, is also included in the side.
The Mate Ma’a will play the Kangaroos at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium on October 20 and it will be the first ever time the pair have faced each other.
Woolf has named a very strong squad for the clash, with 24 players plying their trade in the NRL and five in Super League.
On the 29-man squad, Woolf said: “We are very pleased with the depth in the squad we have managed to name for this every important Test match.
“We feel it is representative of the depth of Tongan rugby league in both the NRL and English Super League, and also rewards players that have made a firm commitment to playing for their country of heritage.
“This will be a huge occasion for Tonga to take on the top-ranked rugby league country in the world, so we need every player we can committed to that goal.”
The final Tonga squad will be announced next month and will go into a 10-day team camp leading up to the Test match.
Tonga 29-man train-on squad:
Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
Addin Fonua-Blake (Manly Sea Eagles)
Mahe Fonua (Wests Tigers)
Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans)
David Fusitu’a (New Zealand Warriors)
Siliva Havili (Canberra Raiders)
Ata Hingano (Canberra Raiders)
Will Hopoate (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Konrad Hurrell (Gold Coast Titans)
Michael Jennings (Parramatta Eels)
Robert Jennings (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Solomone Kata (New Zealand Warriors)
Sione Katoa (Penrith Panthers)
Samisoni Langi (Catalans Dragons)
Tuimoala Lolohea (Wests Tigers)
Sika Manu (Hull FC)
Sam Moa (Catalans Dragons)
Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warrington Wolves)
Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane Broncos)
Tevita Pangai Junior (Brisbane Broncos)
Agnatius Paasi (New Zealand Warriors)
Leivaha Pulu (New Zealand Warriors)
Scott Sorensen (Cronulla Sharks)
Ukuma Ta’ai (Huddersfield Giants)
Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
Tevita Tatola (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Sio Siua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters)
Peni Terepo (Parramatta Eels)
Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
