Solomone Kata pledges future to Tonga

New Zealand Warriors star Solomone Kata has become the latest player to pledge his future international career to Tonga rather than New Zealand.

The 23-year-old has followed in the footsteps of Cronulla Sharks prop Andrew Fifita to commit to Tonga long-term.

Kata has earned five caps for the Mate Ma’a and five for the Kiwis, with him most recently playing for Tonga at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

And he has now confirmed that he wants to continue playing for Tonga, the country of his birth.

He told NRL.com: “Right now, I want to stay strong for Tonga.

“It’s a personal decision, I don’t talk about it with the other Tongan boys here at the Warriors, but my family supports me either way and that’s the decision I have made.”

Fellow Warriors and Tonga team-mate David Fusitu’a is unsure on which team he will commit his long-term future to after previously representing Tonga and New Zealand.

But Fusitu’a admitted that he wants some time to think about it.

He told NRL.com: “It’s a personal decision, when that times comes I’ll have a chat with my parents and mentors.

“I don’t want to be that guy that keeps jumping ship. It’s about honouring both teams and making sure my yes is a yes and my no is a no.”