Star Rugby League players Jason Taumalolo, Andrew Fifita, Joe Ofahengaue and Tevita Pangai jnr, have been named in Tonga’s squad for the upcoming World Cup Nines to be held at Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, Australia, on 18 and 19 October.

The NRL [2] reports a host of emerging players such as John Asiata, Peter Hola, Tevita Funa, Tuipulotu Katoa, and Fantesi Niu, have also been named in the team, as Tonga looks to prepare for the future.

Other upcoming players include Jamil Hopoate, (brother of Canterbury’s Will Hopoate), Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (brother of Bulldogs Dallin Watene-Zelezniak), Canterbury's Sione Katoa and his name sake from Cronulla, and Warriors under 20s William Fakatoumafi.

Tonga coach Kristian Woolf said there were a couple of young guys coming through and some of our big names, so it is a bit of a mixed bag.

"There are some guys there with a lot of excitement in them too."

The team will be coached by David Tangata-Toa, who was handed the role by Woolf.

"David has been an assistant with us [Tonga] since 2014 and has progressed from coaching Penrith under 20s up to the Queensland Cup into now being an NRL assistant coach so I think it is really good for his progression and a job that he is certainly ready for at this stage of his career," Woolf said.

Ofahengaue and Pangai will miss the October 26 test match against Great Britain Lions in Hamilton due to serving suspension time incurred while playing for the Broncos but they are eligible for the Nines tournament.

Both players are also eligible to play in the Oceania Cup against Australia at Eden Park, Auckland, on 2 November.

The countries taking part in the World Cup Nines include Tonga, Australia, New Zealand, England, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, France, Lebanon, USA, and Wales.

Tonga World Cup Nines squad:

• John Asiata (North Queensland Cowboys)
• William Fakatoumafi (NZ Warriors)
• Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
• Tevita Funa (Manly Sea Eagles)
• Delouise Hoeter (Wynnum-Manly Seagulls)
• Peter Hola (North Queensland Cowboys)
• Jamil Hopoate (Brisbane Broncos)
• Robert Jennings (Wests Tigers)
• Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks)
• Sione Katoa (Penrith Panthers)
• Tuipulotu Katoa (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• Fanitesi Niu (Brisbane Broncos)
• Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane Broncos)
• Tevita Pangai jnr (Brisbane Broncos)
• Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
• Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (Penrith Panthers)