Tongan league side confident of match vs world champions

Transcript

KRISTIAN WOOLF: A game that we want to see as a regular fixture, and I think it makes sense to everybody, is Tonga versus New Zealand. The [World Cup] semi-final where we played England, the response that we got from our fans and the response that we got from New Zealand in general; it wasn't just Tongans supporting Tonga for that game, it was Samoans and all Pacific island people. That was absolutely outstanding to be a part of. I think it's a logical game that needs to happen going forward. My understanding is that the New Zealand / England fixture was in the pipeline well before the world cup and there's obviously some people behind that game that would certainly want to financially make that game happen and I can understand that as well. We've had some conversations with New Zealand Rugby League about the possibility of trying to make sure that Tonga / New Zealand is on the calendar for 2019 and going forward. I have made my point really clear that I think it is must have game and I think the general public feel exactly the same way and we will certainly do everything that we can to make it happen. We are disappointed that it can't happen this year because I think it is something that the game misses out on. We are in the position now where in the past Tonga just hasn't been included in an international calendar, only Australia, New Zealand and England have been. So we are really pushing hard and I think we are in a really good position now to change that.

KORO VAKA'UTA:  People have talked about Australia / Tonga in places like Hawai'i, is that a reality or a fantasy at this stage?

KW:  It is very much a reality actually. I'd be surprised if that game doesn't go ahead, I really would. I think there is too much interest from us, from Australia, from a lot of parties to make it happen. I know that in terms of the International Rugby League Federation and the NRL there is certainly support there. It's just a mater of where we play that game. Where it's obviously an event, so that it's really appealing for the Australian players in particular because Australia do have the luxury of always having games available whereas we need to entice Australia to play Tonga a little bit . So a venue is really important there and also making it a financially viable event as well so where it's played is a very important part of that. It needs to be a financially viable event and it needs to be able to sustain itself. As I said I would be very sure, I would be very confident at the moment that it's a real possibility of going ahead somewhere.