Injuries causing doubt for the Mate Ma'a Tonga ahead of Rugby League World Cup Featured
23 August, 2017. Tonga rugby league coach Kristian Woolf says a number of players are racing against time to be fit for the World Cup, which kicks off at the end of October.
Backrowers Patrick Kaufusi and Tony Williams are likely to miss the global showpiece after both were injured in Tonga's 26-24 Pacific Test win over Fiji in May.
Hooker Siliva Havili came through unscathed against the Bati but has since had undergone surgery after rupturing his pectoral.
Gold Coast Titans centre Konrad Hurrell watched on from the sideline, having last played for the Kingdom in 2015, while his former Warriors teammate Solomone Kata was also unable to add to his four test caps through injury.
Kristian Woolf remained hopeful the midfield duo would be fit to form a potent combination at the World Cup, which would help to offset the likely unavailability of Kaufusi, Williams and Jorge Taufua.
"We've got a few guys out, unfortunately, who are sort of walking a bit of tightrope with some injury, that I'd hope by the end of the season are back playing footy and back available obviously," he said.
"But Konrad will certainly come into that squad, provided he's healthy, as will guys like Solomane Kata, who was also unavailable with a hamstring injury in the May test.
"It was outstanding to have guys like Manu Vatuvei and Daniel Tupou, Will Hopoate - they were some real leaders for us and they played outstandingly as well".
"We also got an opportunity to play some young guys like a (teenage centre from the Wests Tigers) Moses Suli, who I thought was terrific for us in that game," Woolf reflected.
"He's a really class player of the future and he'd be a great addition to come away in a 24-man squad, as much for his development as what he can offer us on the field".
Tonga open their World Cup campaign against Scotland and also face Samoa and New Zealand in pool play.
-RNZI
1 comment
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There is a most beautiful but warrior-like Tongan proverbial saying that goes, 'Oua 'e lau kafo ka e lau lava (Mind not injury but rather mind duty). Isn't that part of our so-called pre-match Sipitau performance, whereby the bodies, minds and souls of our dear beloved players are transformed from a feeling of injury to a heart of duty!
Can it be combined with another equally most beautiful (Tonga College-led motto) yet war-like Tongan proverbial saying that says, Mate ma'a Tonga (Die for Tonga), not so much physical but rather spiritual death, symbolic of giving one's all for Tonga, both in life and in death?
There is therefore an SOS call for the so-called tripartite relations of rugby, i.e., players, coaches and administrators, representing the whole of Tonga and her people, to be put in their just and proper places, so that we can all overcome..GO HARD AND HEAD-ON TONGA WE CAN ALL DO IT TOGETHER!