Wests Tigers' winger Junior Tupou will make his debut for Tonga, who’ve made four changes ahead of the second Test against England at John Smith’s Stadium.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf announced that Starford To'a would miss the game with a groin injury and would be replaced by his club mate, an Auckland born former Junior Wallaby who learned his league in Canberra.
There are two changes to the starting pack and one on the bench – South Sydney’s Tevita Tatola and Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu come into the starting side for Keon Koloamatangi and Moeaki Fotuaika, who become interchanges, while Hame Sele has jersey 18, meaning Melbourne’s Eliesa Katoa is set to supplant him on the bench.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf said: “We were happy with our effort last week in the first Test but we are aiming to be better this week.
“It had been six or seven weeks since some of our players played, and we noticed the intensity from England and we think we can show some improvement in that area during this match.
“It was a tight contest against England and we think this game at Huddersfield will be no different.”
England v Mate Ma'a Tonga - Game 1
Following the loss of Morgan Knowles to a thumb injury, Warrington’s Ben Currie is the new man in coach Shaun Wane’s England squad for the second Test.
Another Warringtonian, Matty Ashton, replaces Tommy Makinson (wrist) on the wing for his second Test appearance and Liam Farrell has already been nominated by Wane as the man who will join the 17-man match-day squad for Knowles.
Last week’s First Test, won 22-18 by England, was not shown in New Zealand where many Tonga supporters live and where the tumultuous 2017 World Cup semi between these sides was played. An 11th-hour deal has been done to telecast the remaining two Tests against England in New Zealand, with fans able to stream the remaining two internationals at recast.tv/rugbyleague.
Match: England v Mate Ma'a Tonga
Round 3 -
home Team
England
away Team
Mate Ma'a Tonga
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for England is number 1 Jack WelsbyFullback for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 1 Will Hopoate
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Winger for England is number 2 Matty AshtonWinger for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 2 Junior Tupou
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Centre for England is number 3 Harry NewmanCentre for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 3 Will Penisini
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Centre for England is number 4 Toby KingCentre for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 4 Mosese Suli
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Winger for England is number 5 Tom JohnstoneWinger for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 5 Tolutau Koula
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Five-Eighth for England is number 6 Mikey LewisFive-Eighth for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 6 Tuimoala Lolohea
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Halfback for England is number 7 Harry SmithHalfback for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 7 Isaiya Katoa
Forwards
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Prop for England is number 8 Thomas BurgessProp for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Hooker for England is number 9 Daryl ClarkHooker for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 9 Siliva Havili
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Prop for England is number 10 Matty LeesProp for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 10 Tevita Tatola
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2nd Row for England is number 11 John Bateman2nd Row for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 11 Tyson Frizell
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2nd Row for England is number 12 Elliott Whitehead2nd Row for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 12 Haumole Olakau'atu
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Lock for England is number 13 Victor RadleyLock for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 13 Felise Kaufusi
Interchange
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Interchange for England is number 14 Danny WalkerInterchange for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 14 Dion Teaupa
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Interchange for England is number 15 Liam FarrellInterchange for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 15 Moeaki Fotuaika
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Interchange for England is number 16 Chris HillInterchange for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 16 Keaon Koloamatangi
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Interchange for England is number 17 Mike McMeekenInterchange for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 17 Eliesa Katoa
Reserves
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Replacement for England is number 18 Ben CurrieReplacement for Mate Ma'a Tonga is number 18 Hame Sele
Last updated:
ENGLAND (alphabetical order): Matty Ashton (Warrington), John Bateman (Wests Tigers), Tom Burgess (Rabbitohs), Daryl Clark (Warrington), Ben Currie (Warrington), Liam Farrell (Wigan), Chris Hill (Huddersfield), Tom Johnstone (Catalans), Toby King (Wigan), Matty Lees (St Helens), Mikey Lewis (Hull KR), Mike McMeeken (Catalans), Robbie Mulhern (Leigh), Harry Newman (Leeds), Victor Radley (Roosters), Harry Smith (Wigan), Danny Walker (Warrington), Jack Welsby (St Helens), Elliott Whitehead (Raiders).
TONGA: Will Hopoate (St Helens), Junior Tupou (Wests Tigers), Will Penisini (Eels), Moses Suli (Dragons), Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles), Tuimoala Lolohea (Huddersfield), Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), Siliva Havili (Rabbitohs), Tevita Tatola (Raiders), Tyson Frizell (Knights), Haumole Olakau’atu (Sea Eagles), Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Dion Teaupa (Rabbitohs), Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs), Tevita Tatola (Rabbitohs), Hame Sele (Rabbitohs), Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Konrad Hurrell (St Helens).
