Tonga Rugby League

Fresh from their opening victory at St Helens, England looked intent on putting the series to bed from the outset and had a two-try lead thanks to a pair of Ashton tries without reply in the first period.

Harry Smith’s two penalties extended the score to 14 before Toluta’u Koula scored Tonga’s solitary try of the afternoon, which was not enough to stop England from gaining an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

Other matches can’t provide the dramatic tension that this centuries-old system does: the same players representing the same teams facing off again in a week with new gripes and feuds to sort out.

“We lost the game ourselves; I don’t feel like they beat us.”

Tonga’s new captain Addin Fonua-Blake gave this first-ever three-game series in England involving a tier two nation its first Test series narrative with that quote - along with those of his coach, Kristian Woolf, following a 22-18 English victory at Totally Wicked Stadium.

Katoa, who was a relatively unknown teen playing with Penrith when he was first selected for Tonga in last year's World Cup campaign, was a surprise inclusion in Round 1, but went on to play 22 games for the Dolphins in their inaugural year.

With a strong season in the bag, the Glenmore Park Brumbies junior said he was looking forward to making his mark for his Pacific nation during the country's historic upcoming tour to England.

Tonga will become the first Pacific nation to play a full three-Test series against England and Frizell will join a forward pack already brimming with big names, including Addin Fonua-Blake, Felise Kaufusi, Moeaki Fotuaika, Keaon Koloamatangi, Tevita Tatola and Haumole Olakau’atu.

Jason Taumalolo is a notable absentee but Kristian Woolf has still been able to choose a strong squad, with Frizell, Storm strike forward Eliesa Katoa and Sydney Roosters second-rower Suia Wong among the new faces.

The team departed last week under the Junior Rugby League pathways program

The program started with the launch of the Secondary School Rugby League competition in March 2023.

A statement said “From there a Tonga School Boys Under 16s Team was selected to travel to Australia to play Manly and West Tigers under 16s teams. It gives Local Junior Rugby League players in Tonga the opportunity to showcase their talent overseas in Australia.” 

The three-game Test series will kick off at Totally Wicked Stadium at St Helens on October 22 before matches are played at Huddersfield (October 28) and Leeds (November 4).

Tonga last played England in England in the 2006 Federation Shield Final – won by 32-14 by England – and the two did not meet again until 2017.

With the three-time Super League-winning coach Kristian Woolf at the helm and the outstanding NRL, forward Jason Taumalolo likely to be in his squad, Tonga will present a significant challenge to Shaun Wane’s side.

The Rugby Football League is believed to be in advanced talks to bring Kristian Woolf's Tonga side to England later in the year.     

The Ruby Football League are believed to be in advanced talks to bring Kristian Woolf’s side to England this autumn.

Wane’s side, who lost to Samoa in the semi-finals of last year’s World Cup, will face France in a mid-season test to prepare for a test series against Tonga at the end of the year.

Wane said: “As far as I’m aware it is not set in stone done yet, but it more than likely will be happening at the end of the season and I’m looking forward to it.”

The day marked a new milestone for NRL in Tonga because the event highlighted ‘gender and social inclusion’ as they welcomed girls onto the field of Rugby League for the first time in any Tongan secondary school rugby competition.

The teams, consisting of three different age groups (under 14, 16 and 18 boys, and under 16 girls) took to the field with much excitement and enthusiasm.

Most casual fans would know about Australia, New Zealand and England but over the coming weeks, we’ll introduce you to some of the other teams.

Tonga have become a rugby league force to be reckoned with since beating Great Britain and Australia at the end of the 2019 season. The impact of COVID-19 halted their momentum but a 26-6 loss to New Zealand in June 2022 is seen by Tonga as a mere setback.