Re: Tonga v GB : Sun Oct 27, 2019 6:57 pm  

You could see from the last World Cup that Tonga were going to become a force to be reckoned with. They'd have won the final if A Fifita hadn't been robbed against England in the semi-final.. They were awesome yesterday. They're absolutely fearless in attack.
It shows how desperate we are when McGilvray and Hall are on the wing.

Re: Tonga v GB : Sun Oct 27, 2019 10:40 pm  

Wildmoggy wrote:

How come any of our players never seem to represent their country?! Are the likes of Fifita, Tupou, Arona etc not deemed good enough, or have they turned opportunities down? It's good in a way, because they can't get injured, but it's always nice I think to see a guy who plays for your club representing their country.

I’m positive Arona will play for the Cook Islands again, he has before
Assume he still injured?

Dave is awesome but Tonga have 5 or even 6 of the best props in the world in front of him
It’s no disgrace he’s not made the Tongan team

Bill topou
I could see bill getting a call up at some point to Tonga
He’s still young and defo good enough but currently behind Jennings and Hurrel, plus they have a couple of other players in the centres too

They are all great players for us
I hope they get the international recognition they deserve at some point

Re: Tonga v GB : Sun Oct 27, 2019 10:41 pm  

Redscat wrote:

You could see from the last World Cup that Tonga were going to become a force to be reckoned with. They'd have won the final if A Fifita hadn't been robbed against England in the semi-final.. They were awesome yesterday. They're absolutely fearless in attack.
It shows how desperate we are when McGilvray and Hall are on the wing.

Too great quality wingers

Who else would you have chosen over them?

Re: Tonga v GB : Sun Oct 27, 2019 10:47 pm  

snowie wrote:

would of expected for it to be a full ground full but the commentator said a group had been told to stay away, any idea why

It was only about 3 weeks prior to the match that Kristian Wolfe was reinstated as coach

Was a total mess
There were a few issues but two main ones
Kristian Wolfe was sacked and frank Endacott of all people replaced him and the other was the distribution of money for rl in Tonga

So all the players refused to play for the board

That’s why they named it the Tongan invitational side as it wasn’t the regular board in charge

V bizarre situation

Re: Tonga v GB : Sun Oct 27, 2019 10:53 pm  

imwakefieldtillidie wrote:

Not as well as the fake Tongans.

Be an interesting one to say that to one of the Tonga squad

How much more Tongan would you like them to be?

Im wakefield born n bred but live in Lancashire and have for ten years
I rarely miss a match
God willing my children will carry on that tradition
While they will be Lancastrian, I hope they’d honour my wakefield and Yorkshire heritage always

Just because you don’t live some where it doesn’t make you not of that place

Re: Tonga v GB : Mon Oct 28, 2019 7:08 am  

musson wrote:

Too great quality wingers

Who else would you have chosen over them?

Back in their day maybe, so about 3-4 years ago. Now? No way.

Re: Tonga v GB : Mon Oct 28, 2019 7:34 am  

Thought McGilvray played ok, Hall looks wooden as you’d expect from a player who’s played very little RL the last few years. Not that either of them had much in the way of chances.

As for their selection then McGilvray yes Hall no, I admit the alternatives are thin on the ground but his form simply wasn’t up to it. I’d have probably gone for the lad at Warrington, forgot his name.

Re: Tonga v GB : Mon Oct 28, 2019 8:09 am  

Willzay wrote:

Back in their day maybe, so about 3-4 years ago. Now? No way.

Whilst I agree about them being past it, suspect hey were picked as extra forwards for the kick return and tackle 1 and 2. Its a fair point who else would you have picked ? several of the likely candidates are injured.


Didn't think our problem was the wingers - it was our lack of intensity in the forwards, which in turn made our half backs non existent for large amounts of the game - they just blew us away, suspect we will be getting more of same next week

Re: Tonga v GB : Mon Oct 28, 2019 8:33 am  

On the wingers - Bit of an unfortunate situation all round. McGilvary had a poor year, Hall hasn’t played. The work around carry 1 & 2 at turn over probably get those two in. Should have been others in but Johnstone, Makinson, Manfredi injures. Outside of those five realistically who is up to the job - Charnley or Grace probably next best option. Beyond that really struggling. Handley is still around the squad I believe so maybe he comes In Later in the series

Re: Tonga v GB : Mon Oct 28, 2019 9:45 am  

musson wrote:

Be an interesting one to say that to one of the Tonga squad

How much more Tongan would you like them to be?

Im wakefield born n bred but live in Lancashire and have for ten years
I rarely miss a match
God willing my children will carry on that tradition
While they will be Lancastrian, I hope they’d honour my wakefield and Yorkshire heritage always

Just because you don’t live some where it doesn’t make you not of that place

Most of the Tongan squad were born in New Zealand and Australia, lived all their lives there and many of them have played for them as well.

Take Jason Taumalolo for example, born in New Zealand, played in Australia, represented Tonga, then defected to New Zealand and now he’s a proud Tongan again? By all means be proud of your heritage, but if we’re going to complain about Austin, Hastings and Coote lets call out the others doing it as well.