A huge boost for Tonga, and for "2nd Tier" Nations, Jason Taumalolo to represent Tonga at the World Cup. www.rlwc2017.com/news/taumalolos ... -give-back It's a boost for England as they're likely to meet NZ in the semi-finals. There are some other big names in the article too: "Woolf is expected to also have Will Hopoate, Michael Jennings, Konrad Hurrell, Manu Vatuvei, Solomone Kata and Tui Lolohea at his disposal for the World Cup."

A huge boost for Tonga, and for "2nd Tier" Nations, Jason Taumalolo to represent Tonga at the World Cup. www.rlwc2017.com/news/taumalolos ... -give-back It's a boost for England as they're likely to meet NZ in the semi-finals. There are some other big names in the article too: "Woolf is expected to also have Will Hopoate, Michael Jennings, Konrad Hurrell, Manu Vatuvei, Solomone Kata and Tui Lolohea at his disposal for the World Cup."

Well done Jason Taumalolo. Looking forward to watching New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa meet.

Tonga may well have sebastine ikahihfo from the giants too, what a pack that would be with these two

add ukuma taai from the giants too

The News hasn't gone down well over here.
rlhttps://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/97564760/jason-taumalolo-leads-eligible-kiwis-in-secret-pact-to-play-for-tonga-reportsrl
I doubt there's any legs in theKiwi coach David Kidwell's stance in overlooking selecting Melbourne premiership-winning prop Jesse Bromwich and Gold Coast forward Kevin Proctor for the World Cup is being blamed for the revolt.. '"

Andrew Fifita has told Mal Meninga he wants to play for Tonga in World Cup!

Fifita is a strange one. Tonga look as good as New Zealand almost everywhere except half back.

Tonga are going to have a right team! Might put a fiver on them to get to the final haha!

Tonga Rugby League World Cup 2017 Squad

Andrew Fifita
Mahe Fonua
David Fusitu’a
Siliva Havilli
Ata Hingano
Will Hopoate
Konrad Hurrell
Michael Jennings
Solomone Kata
Sione Katoa
Samisoni Langi
Tuimoala Lolohea
Sika Manu
Manu Ma'u
Sam Moa
Ben Murdoch Masila
Joe Ofahengaue
Tevita Pangai jnr
Ukuma Ta'ai
Sio Siua Taukieaho
Jason Taumalolo
Peni Terepo
Daniel Tupou
Manu Vatuvei

Two major issues with Tonga.....who do you select out of all of them, very good cover for all positions. And who are the halves? I mean the only out and out halfback there is a 20 year old Ata Hingano. Samisoni Langi has played halfback before and I'm sure I've seen Tuimoala Lolohea play there before. I suppose Hopoate could fill in at 6.

This Tongan side will cause some damage at the World Cup......

It will basically cost Fifita and Taumalolo $100k each to do this in lost earnings, so it's a massive gesture and service for the international game.

One of the so called emerging sides will get a win over a top 3 side this world cup. Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and Italy look strong enough to do it, and NZ look pretty beatable TBH.

Considering Taumalolo just signed a 10 Year, $10 million deal I think he can afford to forgo the $100k+. I wonder how much the England lads get paid to play!

Agree with you though. The NZ team still looks very handy! But I do think like you say, an emerging nation like Tonga will nab a win. Just hope it's not the French or Lebanese against us!

Lebanon are the side who are putting in the most effort, but they haven't got the squad depth to do it, although they will throw everything they have into the game against England in Sydney, which is basically where their supporter base lives. If they have a big game in them, that will be the one.

If Lebanon get anywhere near England in that game it will be one of the most embarrassing performances from an England side since the poor showing against PNG in the 2008 World Cup.

Lebanon are going all out for this WC. They have had guys from Lebanon training and playing in Sydney all year and have got their whole squad training like Olympic athletes.
Fiji were the side who put a lot of effort into the lead up last WC, and they got the good results to show for it.
This time, Lebanon are doing everything Fiji did, and a bit more.

Biggest sports TV show in NZ just made the Tongan defection into a massive swipe at the eligibility rules in League. Given it does now appear that this is some form of "player revolt' rather than been seeing as a boost for the game, it will be seen in the 2nd/3rd rated nation on the planet as further proof of how "stupid" our rules are. 3 if not 4 of the newly anointed Tongans trained with NZRL in the last group session....and apparently all because 2 players were punished for breaking the rules when they....er broke the rules.
Other sports would just ban the lot of them.......

Well I think it's great for the game and the WC - For me, it means Tonga have got the best pack at the World Cup.

Jason T and Fifita should be applauded - they've given up a stack of money to play for their heritage and help develop the Tongan National team. Regardless of their motivation for doing it, it's fantastic to have another very strong team who will he genuine competitors. That Tonga team could easily snag a win against NZ or England.