Joe Ofahengaue is one of three Wests Tigers players named in an extended Mate Ma’a Tonga squad ahead of the upcoming World Cup in England.
The 2022 Kelly-Barnes Medallist is joined by club teammates Stefano Utoikamanu and Starford To’a for the showpiece event, which begins on October 15.
Ofahengaue is one of 13 survivors from the 2017 World Cup campaign, in which Tonga suffered a two-point loss to England in the semi-finals.
The 38-player squad, which will be trimmed to 24, includes the likes of Titans’ forward David Fifita, Cowboys lock Jason Taumalolo, Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake, Storm second-rower Felise Kaufusi and Sharks centre Siosifa Talakai.
Tonga is currently ranked No.2 in the IRL World Rankings after beating the Kangaroos in Australia's last Test appearance in 2019, and is pooled with PNG, Cook Islands and Wales in Group D for the 16-team tournament.
Winger Ken Maumalo is the only current Wests Tigers player named in New Zealand’s 34-man squad which is coached by Michael Maguire.
Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe has congratulated his players on gaining selection.
“It’s great to see some of our players recognised and rewarded with international selection," said Pascoe.
Gaining representative honours is something all players should be proud of."
Justin Pascoe
"Well done to Joe, Star, Stef and Ken.”
Mate Ma'a Tonga extended squad
Talatau Amone (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
David Fifita (Gold Coast Titans)
Addin Fonua Blake (Warriors)
Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans)
David Fusitu’a (Leeds Rhinos)
Siliva Havili (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
William Hopoate (St Helens Saints)
Konrad Hurrell (St Helens Saints)
Eliesa Katoa (Warriors)
Isaiya Katoa (Penrith Panthers)
Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks)
Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm)
Oregon Kaufusi (Parramatta Eels)
Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Toluta’u Koula (Manly Sea Eagles)
Tuimoala Lolohea (Huddersfield Giants)
Soni Luke (Penrith Panthers)
Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warriors)
Tesi Niu (Brisbane Broncos)
Joe Ofahengaue (Wests Tigers)
Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Sea Eagles)
Taniela Otukolo (Warriors)
Agnatius Paasi (St Helens Saints)
Tevita Pangai Jr (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Taniela Paseka (Manly Sea Eagles)
Will Penisini (Parramatta Eels)
Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane Broncos)
Daniel Suluka-Fifita (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Moses Suli (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Siosifa Talakai (Cronulla Sharks)
Tevita Tatola (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters)
Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
Starford To’a (Wests Tigers)
Christian Tu’ipulotu (Manly Sea Eagles)
Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers)
Official International Rugby League World Rankings
1 New Zealand
2 Tonga
3 England
4 Australia
5 Papua New Guinea
6 Fiji
7 Samoa
8 Serbia
9 France
10 Malta
The official International Rugby League (IRL) World Rankings are calculated on each nation’s performance over the current season and the three preceding seasons.
