Re: Tonga vs Australia : Sat Nov 02, 2019 4:51 pm  

fax-boys wrote:

Tui is looking good for both Tonga and Salford think Leeds didnt know how to get the best out of him.

He's physically fit now. When he began the season at Leeds he was the size of Konrad Hurrell. There were a few in a similar position at the start of the season at Leeds, Hurrell included. He was a turnstile for months until his fitness improved a little.

Re: Tonga vs Australia : Sat Nov 02, 2019 5:24 pm  

Great game and result for Tonga.

Maybe the win over GB last week wasn't as bad as people were saying...

Re: Tonga vs Australia : Sat Nov 02, 2019 5:52 pm  

Unfortunately the risk of relegation was too high for Leeds to persist with Lolohea. It's a shame it didn't work out but I'm pleased that he's managed to kick on with his career.

Re: Tonga vs Australia : Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:59 pm  

Charlie Sheen wrote:

How test rugby should be. There's now 4 genuine tier 1 nations

lol..... I dont mind the odd heritage player here and there, but how many of that tongan side were actually born in tonga? Also, how many have already been capped for a different country?
I was there last night and the tongan fans were fantastic, but they are not a tier 1 nation.... More like a tier 1 reserve side made up of kiwis and aussies.
When do tonga play fiji BTW? That'll be a quality game.

Re: Tonga vs Australia : Sat Nov 02, 2019 8:14 pm  

AXE2GRIND wrote:

lol..... I dont mind the odd heritage player here and there, but how many of that tongan side were actually born in tonga? Also, how many have already been capped for a different country?
I was there last night and the tongan fans were fantastic, but they are not a tier 1 nation.... More like a tier 1 reserve side made up of kiwis and aussies.
When do tonga play fiji BTW? That'll be a quality game.

Identity isnt defined by one's place of birth.

Whether they have been capped for another nation is irrelevant. It's better for the game if player's can switch to to tier 2 nations.

The brilliant thing with Tonga is this all has a knock on effect. You will get players now who from day 1 will choose to represent Tonga.

Jason Taumalolo decision to play for Tonga started all this. Nobody could have imagined that one decision would see such a snowball effect.

Not forgetting the National Sport in Tonga is Rugby Union. A strong Tongan Rugby League side could have a huge effect in getting more people playing League.

Re: Tonga vs Australia : Sat Nov 02, 2019 8:45 pm  

puroresu_boy wrote:

Jason Taumalolo decision to play for Tonga started all this.

Remind us again why he made such a decision. Was it to strengthen Tongan RL or was it because he disagreed with a management decision of the NZRL and in true Pacific Island style, spat his dummy out?

Also. Of the crowd there all day yesterday, 60-75% were of Tongan descent. The reality is that more average Kiwis from South Auckland will play for Tonga if not selected for the Kiwis.......but it's hardly going to make a difference in Tonga itself, where the authorities have suspended the coach and AGAIN, PLAYER POWER is being utilised.

Discipline and respect are 2 of the main pillars of RL.......TauMalolo lacks either it would seem, be that towards the NZRL or the Tongan RL and whilst they may have picked up the win yesterday, it won't be RLIF (or whatever they are called now) sanctioned.

Re: Tonga vs Australia : Sat Nov 02, 2019 10:36 pm  

This is why The current super league champions appointed woolf

Re: Tonga vs Australia : Sat Nov 02, 2019 10:55 pm  

AXE2GRIND wrote:

Remind us again why he made such a decision. Was it to strengthen Tongan RL or was it because he disagreed with a management decision of the NZRL and in true Pacific Island style, spat his dummy out?

Also. Of the crowd there all day yesterday, 60-75% were of Tongan descent. The reality is that more average Kiwis from South Auckland will play for Tonga if not selected for the Kiwis.......but it's hardly going to make a difference in Tonga itself, where the authorities have suspended the coach and AGAIN, PLAYER POWER is being utilised.

Discipline and respect are 2 of the main pillars of RL.......TauMalolo lacks either it would seem, be that towards the NZRL or the Tongan RL and whilst they may have picked up the win yesterday, it won't be RLIF (or whatever they are called now) sanctioned.

Nobody cares if it wasnt sanctioned. The reality is Australia lost to Tonga. Its a huge story and no official sanction changes that. Tonga have beaten 3 tier one nations and whether one wants to call them rebels it doesn't really matter.

Trying to pour rain on their parade seems pretty sad. This sport needs stronger international nations. You think the mad celebrations in Tonga are in anyway diminished due to no official sanction? Australia last lost to a minor nation in 1978. That has just been changed and we should be loving it.

Re: Tonga vs Australia : Sat Nov 02, 2019 11:10 pm  

Firstly those saying Lolohea looked good must have been watching a different game to me. I thought he was average at best with aimless kicking and attempts at miracle plays when he wasn’t anonymous. He’s lost some weight but is still overweight for a half back.

Secondly I couldn’t give a toss which body is decided to be the official one for Tonga (the Tongan PM asked the RLIF to disband the old one and register the new one) that Tongan team wouldn’t be any different so it’s irrelevant who the management is.

We should be celebrating a momentous day in International rugby league and the sport should do everything it can to support Tonga’s development.

Re: Tonga vs Australia : Sat Nov 02, 2019 11:19 pm  

Him wrote:

Firstly those saying Lolohea looked good must have been watching a different game to me. I thought he was average at best with aimless kicking and attempts at miracle plays when he wasn’t anonymous. He’s lost some weight but is still overweight for a half back.

Secondly I couldn’t give a toss which body is decided to be the official one for Tonga (the Tongan PM asked the RLIF to disband the old one and register the new one) that Tongan team wouldn’t be any different so it’s irrelevant who the management is.

We should be celebrating a momentous day in International rugby league and the sport should do everything it can to support Tonga’s development.

He definitely needs to lose some timber.

I have no doubt Rugby Union in Tonga is looking at the rise of the RL team and the alarm bells are ringing.