Tongan coach

Kafoa Hala Latu, was laid to rest after his body was recovered from the water off Waikowhai Beach on Auckland’s Manukau Harbour on Sunday 10.

Known as a successful paddler, a soccer and tennis player and was also a Surf Life Saver,  he had been a coach for the club since 2014.

Kaniva News reports Latu also co-founded the Tu’i Tonga Canoe Club in Hawaii before moving to New Zealand more than a decade ago.

He was a huge supporter of the Tu’i Tonga Mafua team in Tonga, investing both his time and money in the team.

Woolf at the weekend attempted to hose down suggestions Taumalolo's decision to pick Tonga over New Zealand was a result of displeasure with the Kiwi camp.

However, when the 24-year-old was asked in another interview if he had a problem with coach Kidwell, he replied: "I'm sorry I can't answer that".

"Whether there's something there between Jason and Kidwell, I don't know – it's not something I asked him about," Woolf told Fairfax Media.