The World Rugby League Nines tournament will kick-off tomorrow 18 October with a “Tonga Invitational” team scheduled to face the Cook Islands at Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, at 9:35pm.

The 16-man Tonga Invitational team will feature prime players from Mate Ma’a Tonga such as Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita. Most of the team are prospects who have not represented Tonga or who have only played one game. 

Notable prospects include Cronulla Sharks winger Sione Katoa, West Tigers back Robert Jennings, North Queensland prop John Asiata, and Penrith Panthers winger Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, 

The head coach of the team is David Tangata-Toa, current assistant coach of the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Premiership.

Tonga Invitational team list 

1. William Fakatoumafi (New Zealand Warriors)
2. Sione Katoa (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
3. Delouise Hoeter (Wynnum Manly Seagulls)
4. Robert Jennings (West Tigers)
5. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (Penrith Panthers)
6. Fanitesi Niu (Brisbane Broncos)
7. John Asiata (North Queensland Cowboys)
8. Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane Broncos)
9. John Utia-Katoa (Penrith Panthers)
10. Andrew Fifita (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
11. Tevita Pangai Junior (Brisbane Broncos)
12. Peter Hola (North Queensland Cowboys)
13. Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
14. Jamil Hopoate (Brisbane Broncos)
15. Tevita Funa (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
16. Tuipulotu Katoa (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)