Tongan coach names NSW Origin stars in his squad to play NZ
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf has named Kotoni Staggs and Daniel Tupou in his squad for their upcoming Test with New Zealand in Auckland despite the duo playing for NSW in Origin I.
Tupou and Staggs were the two most notable selections in a 25-man squad announced by Woolf on Wednesday, with other Blues contenders Siosifa Talakai, Keaon Koloamatangi and Haumole Olakau’atu also called up.
The pair have until Sunday to make a choice between Tonga or the Blues, should they be selected by NSW coach Brad Fittler.
“What we don’t wish to happen is that players who have this dual eligibility are not picked in one squad and then miss out on being available to play in another team,” said Woolf, who has named Staggs at five-eighth for next Saturday’s game at Mt Smart Stadium.
“If as many of our players as possible are playing representative football next week the stronger our World Cup squad will be.”
The squad is rounded out by some of Tonga’s most experienced campaigners including Jason Taumalolo, Addin Fonua-Blake and Tevita Pangai Jr.
Woolf has been unable to get time away from his club duties with St Helens and will hand the reins to Dean Young and Wayne Bennett as they take on a New Zealand side coached by Michael Maguire.
The game, which will be Maguire’s first since his sacking by the Wests Tigers this month, could result in Ronaldo Mulitalo making his international debut.
The Auckland-born winger found himself at the centre of an eligibility storm last year when he was told 24 hours out from his debut for the Maroons that he didn’t pass the criteria to play for Queensland.
Maguire has opted to overlook Shaun Johnson after his underwhelming return to the Warriors this season, with Dylan Brown, Jahrome Hughes and Kieran Foran jockeying for a role in the halves.
Brisbane’s Te Maire Martin, who only made his return from a bleed on the brain this season, could also be a playmaking option.
Alongside Brown and Mulitalo, Marata Niukore, Jordan Riki, Scott Sorensen, Griffin Neame, Moses Leota and Erin Clark are all chances to play for New Zealand for the first time.
The Test is the first professional game of rugby league in New Zealand since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This squad has an exciting mix of fresh talent and experienced Kiwis having some of their best seasons,” Maguire said.
“Some difficult decisions have had to be made, but it’s a positive sign of our depth in certain positions.”
KIWIS SQUAD:
Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich, Dylan Brown, Erin Clark, James Fisher-Harris, Kieran Foran, Peta Hiku, Jahrome Hughes, Moses Leota, Isaac Liu, Joseph Manu, Te Maire Martin, Ken Maumalo, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Griffin Neame, Briton Nikora, Marata Niukore, Isaiah Papalii, Jordan Rapana, Jordan Riki, Brandon Smith, Scott Sorensen, Joseph Tapine, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
TONGA SQUAD
Talatau Amone, Andrew Fifita, Addin Fonua-Blake, Moeaki Fotuaika, Siliva Havili, Tevita Pangai, Eliesa Katoa, Isaiya Katoa, Sione Katoa, Keaon Koloamatangi ,Tolotau Koula, Soni Luke, Joe Ofahengaue, Haumole Olakau’Atu, Will Penisini, Kotoni Staggs, Moses Suli, Siosifa Talakai, Tevita Tatola, Siosiua Taukieaho, Jason Taumalolo, Starford To’A, Christian Tuipulotu, Daniel Tupou, Sitili Tupouniua
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments