Pacific Test confirmed: Players plead allegiance to Tonga

The annual rugby league Pacific Test is expected to be highly anticipated following the world cup hype influenced by Pacific teams last year.

The first two clashes have been announced with Pacific rivals Tonga and Samoa going head-to-head, as well as a match between Papua New Guinea and Lebanon.

Cronulla Sharks prop Andrew Fifita recently pleaded his allegiance to Mate Ma'a Tonga (MMT), turning his back on the State of Origin series as well as any chances to play for Australia's Kangaroos.

MMT coach Kristian Woolf says he fully supports Fifita's decision and the huge sacrifice it comes with.

"It's controversial but it's a very strong call, a very brave call around what he wanted to do," he says. "When players make decisions like that and are willing to make that kind of sacrifice, they're doing it for the right reason."

Fifita announced his decision on the Halfcast Podcast and says he and Jason Taumalolo met with Woolf last month to re-affirm their loyalty to Tonga.

However Woolf denies having anything to do with Fifita's decision.

"The way it sounds, it seems like him and Jason came to see me and that it was persuasive conversation or a secret meeting. I don't think we even spoke about his decision... it was a social chat."

"When you're sacrificing really large amounts of money, that's money that will help some of their families... It's something that I want them to be 100% sure that they want to do and not feel like they're pinned to a corner because of comments that are made by me or anyone else publicly."

Fifita says other players committed to Tonga include Sydney Roosters forward Siosiua Taukei'aho, Parramatta Eels pair Michael Jennings and Manu Ma'u and Brisbane Broncos prop Tevita Pangai-Junior.

Tonga National Rugby League general manager Tavake Fangupo says he's heard of Fifita and Pangai-Junior's commitment to the team, but they haven't confirmed a set team just yet.

"It's probably too early at this stage to confirm, the rest of the team we probably won't know till later on," he says.

The Pacific Test will be held in Sydney, Australia on June 23.

 

Photo caption: Andrew Fifita