Several Wests Tigers players had a busy weekend of international competition with matches i
n England, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand.Three Wests Tigers athletes will compete in England and Tonga’s inaugural international match.Starford To’a and Junior Tupou, teammates from the same club, will play for Mate Ma’a as John Bateman adds to his 21 caps for the home team.In the Tong as well
Young halfback Latu Fainu, who will join Wests Tigers in November, is in a lineup.
It will be England and Tonga’s first encounter since England defeated Tonga 20–18 at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup in Auckland when the series gets underway in St Helens.
England’s roster includes Matty Ashton of the Warrington Wolves, John Bateman of the Wests Tigers, Tom Burgess of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Daryl Clark, Ben Currie of the Warrington Wolves, Tyler Dupree, Liam Farrell of the Wigan Warriors, Chris Hill of the Huddersfield Giants, Tom Johnstone of the Catalans Dragons, Toby King of the Wigan Warriors, Morgan Knowles, Matty Lees of the
Tonga ‘A’ will also play a one-off match versus New Zealand ‘A’ as part of Saturday’s triple-header at Eden Park.
Fonua Pole will play for Tonga ‘A’ against a team that includes numerous players from Wests Tigers’ senior pathways teams. Western Suburbs NSW Cup colleagues Sione Hopoate and Semisi Kioa will join Pole, as will Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg Cup player of the year Sione Vaihu and outstanding young half Naati Teaupa.
Feleti Mateo, the club’s wellbeing and education officer, is also on the Tonga ‘A’ coaching staff.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for these young men to represent their heritage,” Mateo added.
“It should be a great occasion for our club with so many players on show at Eden Park.”
Wests Tigers midfielder Asu Kepaoa is one of the more experienced players in New Zealand’s ‘A’ squad, which also includes Bailey Simonsson, Pasami Saulo, and Rocco Berry, as well as Melbourne Storm rookie Will Warbrick.
Wests Tigers players will also be on display in the two Pacific Championships matches in Auckland that will follow the NZ ‘A’ v Tonga ‘A’ match.
Wests Tigers stars Leianne Tufuga and Najvada George will play for the
Kiwi Ferns against NRLW club teammate Folau Vaki, who will start at prop for Tonga in the women’s match.
In the final match of the day, New Zealand takes on Samoa, with Isaiah Papali’i making his eighth appearance for the Kiwis in New Zealand’s first game of the tournament.
Auckland native prop Samoa’s starting forward will be Stefano Utoikamanu, with Justin Matamua on the bench and Tommy Talau among the reserves.
Jahream Bula will make his international debut for Fiji against Cook Islands on Sunday in Port Moresby, capping off a fantastic first season in the NRL. The 21-year-old fullback will be joined by two of his Wests Tigers teammates from last season, Brandon Wakeman in the halves and Apisalome Saukuru on the bench. Former Wests Tigers hooker Rua Ngatikaura, who was part of the club’s top-30 squad this season, will start
