Tonga qualifies for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup after beating a tough Cook Island side, 28-8 at Campbelltown Stadium, Leumeah, New South Wales, Australia on Saturday night, October 17.

Fullback, Solomone Kata’s 16 points helped seal Tonga’s place.

Tries to Jorge Taufua and Mahe Fonua saw Tonga narrowly lead the first half at 12-8.

The second half saw Tonga dig deep to eventually extend their lead with two tries to Kata and one to prop, Peni Terepo, coming away with the win 28-8.

Tonga head into their fifth World Cup with coach, Kristian Woolf, to focus on continuing to build team culture and gain sponsors.

The World Cup will be held across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in 2017.

Tonga 28 (Tries: Solomone Kata 2, Jorge Taufua, Mahe Fonua, Peni Terepo, Goals: Solomone Kata).

Cook Islands 8 (Tries: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Anthony Gelling).

Mate Ma’a Tonga Team

1. Solomone Kata (New Zealand Warriors)
2. Jorge Taufua (Manly Sea Eagles)
3. Mahe Fonua (Melbourne Storm)
4. Mosese Pangai (Townsville Blackhawks)
5. Delouise Hoeter (Wests Tigers)
6. Pat Politoni (Cronulla Sharks)
7. Daniel Forster (Penrith Panthers)
8. Albert Vete (New Zealand Warriors)
9. Joel Luani (Wests Tigers)
10. Peni Terepo (Parramatta Eels)
11. Sika Manu (Penrith Panthers)
12. Manu Ma’u (Parramatta Eels)
13. Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane Broncos)

14. Nafe Seluini (Burleigh Bears)
15. Ukuma Ta’ai (Huddersfield Giants)
16. Ben Murdoch-Masila (Penrith Panthers)
17. Leilani Latu (Penrith Panthers)
18. David Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)