Tonga Rugby League

The Tonga National Rugby League has been suspended since October, after it sacked national head coach Kristian Woolf over disagreements around control and finances, which led players to threaten a boycott of the World Cup 9s and end of season tests.

International Rugby League recommended a package of reforms for the sport in Tonga in December, at the end of a two-month investigation into the operation and governance of the game in the country.

The St Helens coach had previously expressed his desire to carry on performing his international duties.

However, the caveat to that was that it would not intrude on his work with Saints, which he insisted was his main priority,

Woolf echoed that sentiment when questioned on the matter, but confirmed that he believes he can do both jobs moving forward.

“I’ve spoken at length with St Helens about that and they’ve been very supportive about me continuing with Tonga,” he said.

Tonga ended the 2019 season on a high, with high-profile wins over Great Britain and Australia in New Zealand in October and November.

For Thursday’s draw Tonga will be one of the four highest seeded teams in the competition alongside Australia, New Zealand and England, meaning they are favoured to at least reach the tournament semi-final.

When Tonga were defeated 34-14 by New Zealand in the Oceania Cup in June, not many people gave them a chance against the touring Lions and World Champions Australia.

International Rugy League (IRL) confirmed this week it had recommended a package of reforms for the sport in Tonga, following the conclusion of a two-month investigation into the operation and governance of TNRL.

The TNRL was suspended by the global governing body in September after it sacked national head coach Kristian Woolf over disagreements around control and finances, which led players to threaten a boycott of the World Cup 9s and end of season tests.

The Cabinet declared 15 November as a Special Public Holiday following the team's historic wins over Great Britain and Australia but, a day before the official celebrations were to commence, all government primary schools and kindergartens in Tonga were closed until 25 November.

Deputy CEO for Tonga's Ministry of Internal Affairs, Onetoto Anisi, who is resposible for sport and recreation divisions in the Kingdom, said this has not affected the programme and plans to celebrate the teams success will go ahead.

This year has been a period of uncertainty for the Tongans, much of it coming from a long-running dispute between coach Kristian Woolf and the local Tonga National Rugby League.

There has been court action, claim and counter-claim and anger expressed through many in the the rugby league community.

Taumalolo's co-captain, Siosiua Taukeiaho, made reference to the uncertainty after their Australian win saying the players didn't even know if they were going to play this year.

Taumalolo said it was time to move forward.

As the two sides met in a Test match for just the second time in history, Tonga - playing under the moniker of 'Tonga Invitational XIII' due to an ongoing dispute - stunned the world champions for one of the biggest results in the nation's sporting history.

TVNZ1 programme Tagata Pasifika was invited into the Tongan team's sheds after the match, as some of rugby league's biggest names came to terms with the win.

"Everyone's crying, after the game everyone was crying," prop Andrew Fifita said.

Cheered on by more than 25,000 singing fans at Auckland's Eden Park, the Tonga Invitational XIII inflicted the Kangaroos' first loss to a Tier 2 side and continued their historic run of wins after beating Great Britain last week.

The match was the last in a blockbuster international triple-header with Fiji thrashing Samoa 44-18 and New Zealand winning a tight encounter 12-8 over the Great Britain Lions in the early games.

But neither of those fixtures met the level of excitement of the Kau To'a v Kangaroos match up.

Woolf's side will look to become the first tier-two nation to defeat the Kangaroos when they battle in tomorrow's rugby league triple-header in Auckland.

Samoa face Fiji and New Zealand meet Great Britain in the curtain-raisers at Eden Park before the feature match between the rising powerhouse and world No.1.

Officially sanctioned as a Test by International Rugby League, the Tongan side enter the contest after toppling the Lions in Hamilton last week, while Australia flexed their muscles by routing the Kiwis in Wollongong.