Tonight’s clash at the Totally Wicked Stadium could be the game of the opening round of the World Cup as two star filled teams meet at the home of the Super League Champions St Helens.
Now former Saints boss, but the man to mastermind their last three Super League titles including their Grand Final over Leeds less than a month ago, Kristian Woolf has named his first Tonga team of the tournament.
As we already knew, Saints star Will Hopoate misses out through injury whilst teammate Konrad Hurrell also isn’t picked.
Instead the only Super League representative in the Tonga line-up is Huddersfield Giants fullback Tui Lolohea who starts at seven.
A former Rhino, he’ll be up against a current Rhino in the shape of record chasing Rhyse Martin.
Martin is on 38 consecutive goals without missing, three more would equal the world record and four would see him take the record himself from Jamie Ellis and Liam Finn.
Martin is joined by former Rhino and one of Lolohea’s ex-Leeds teammates Wellington Albert as well as rumoured future Leeds teammate Nene MacDonald who starts at centre accompanied by NRL star Justin Olam.
MacDonald is currently at Leigh and is joined by Leigh teammates Lachlan Lam and by Championship Player of the Year Edwin Ipape.
Tonga have NRL talent all over including Sydney Roosters winger Daniel Tupou and last week’s hat-trick hero against France in the World Cup warm-up David Fifita on the bench.
