Mate Ma'a Tonga (file image) Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Mate Ma'a Tonga rugby league coach Kristian Woolf says the team is excited to be able to meet the Kangaroos in Australia for the first time this year.
Tonga will meet the World Cup champions in the opening match of the tournament at Suncorp Stadium on 18 October before travelling to New Zealand to face last year's Pacific Cup winners at Go Media Stadium on 2 November.
Woolf told NRL News it is exciting and his players will have to write their own stories.
"If we go back only a few years ago, we were always crying out for more opportunities and more meaningful games and the opportunity to play against the bigger nations as well," Woolf said.
"We've only played Australia twice - in New Zealand in 2018 and 2019, and 2018 was the first time ever.
"There's a couple of real firsts there, being able to play Australia on Australian soil; we haven't played a Test in Brisbane in my time involved.
"I just know that it's a big game and to be able to open the tournament, those things make it really exciting for the players.
"There is no bigger challenge and there's no more exciting challenge for the players than to play the world champions, it's a great way to start."
Woolf has just been re-appointed MMT coach for the 11th season.
He and the MMT will now work with the International Rugby League recognised Tonga Rugby League XIII.
The TRLXIII, led by chairman Lord Fakafanua, the Speaker of Tonga's Parliament, will now oversee the team and the women's team as well.
While his coaching tenure has seen some highs along the way, especially around the 2017 to 2020 period, the same can not be said of recent results.
In 2019 the Jason Taumalolo-led side claimed a 16-12 victory at Eden Park.
Back then he had players like Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita leading the charge.
But Woolf said that was history and the new players will have to work hard to create their own piece of history.
"It a massive achievement for that group of players at the time and it was just such a big achievement in so many ways - what they did on the field, the way they went about their work," Woolf said.
"I have great memories of the reception of the players and staff when we went back to Tonga, it was an amazing experience and an amazing thing to be a part of.
"That was in 2019, it's a long time ago now. We have transitioned a fair bit as a team and a lot of those guys who were at the forefront of that are no longer playing in the NRL and are no longer playing for Tonga.
"But this group who are going to represent Tonga this time are going to get opportunity to write their own story and make their own memories.
(file image) Photo: Photosport Ltd 2019
"I have no doubt Australia will probably reflect on that [loss] and that will add a little bit to the occasion, but it's going to be two very different teams to what it was in 2019, but the challenge from their point of view is certainly going to be the same."
Tonga then travel to meet the Kiwis at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland on November 2.
Woolf said it is a top schedule that will demand his team is at its best.
"We haven't had too many opportunities since 2019 to play in front of all the Tonga fans and the Tonga people who are around in Australia and New Zealand," Woolf said.
"I am sure there will be a really big and boisterous crowd at the game in Brisbane as there are a lot of Tongans around the south-east corner and we can't wait to get back over to Auckland with the sea of red and all the fans.
"I think there will be a big following in Brisbane and there will be plenty of supporters there for both teams … but looking forward to the red."
A big challenge for the side this year will be winning their matches so that they can retain their spot in the Pacific Cup, instead of being demoted to the Pacific Bowls, as a new promotion relegation series is being implemented this year.
That will see the third placed team from the Cup face the top team from the Bowls competition in Sydney on November 10.
Cup competition teams are Australia, New Zealand and Tonga while in the Bowls the battle will be between Cook Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Kristian Wolf (file image) Photo: Screenshot
Pride a motivation
Meanwhile, Woolf said the pride shown by Tongan players has been a motivation for him personally to continue as coach, since he accepted the job in 2014.
"I remember my first involvement, one of the things that made me want to continue being involved was the excitement of what you are seeing, the pride the players had in playing for Tonga and pulling on the Tonga jersey," he said.
"I guess what made it exciting was the potential you were seeing there as well that just wasn't being harnessed. It's great to see what it has become and it's great to see.
"The fact that all the best Tongan players now want to be part of Tonga above other nations, that is something to be really proud of."
New coach for women's team
The Tongan women's rugby league team are also been given a boost with NRLW premiership winning coach John Strange named to coach the side.
Strange, who coaches Sydney Roosters, guided the club to their inaugural NRLW premiership in the deferred 2021 season and the 2022 minor premiership later that year.
The NRL said Strange, a member of the Māori All Stars coaching staff for the past two seasons, has a passion for international rugby league.
He will now be aiming to steer the Tonga women to RLWC2026 being staged in Australia and Papua Guinea.
The Tongan women's team will kick off their campaign for a spot at the world cup when they tackle Samoa in Fiji on October 19.
They will also be fighting to win the right to challenge for promotion into the Pacific Cup competition through the new promotion and relegation system.
Women's teams who will be battling in the Bowls competition this year are Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and the Cook Islands.
The Cup competition will feature Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.