“There’s just something about representing where you come from, representing your parents and grandparents and just knowing how proud they are of you, is the best feeling about playing for Tonga” – Isaiya Katoa.
As coach Kristian Woolf and his Tonga XIII team prepare to battle it out against the Kangaroos this weekend, he is not forgetting the fans and community supporting them through it all.
The team were in New Zealand last weekend to play the Kiwis and book a place in the Pacific Championship final against Australia on Sunday.
And although it was a home game for the Kiwis, you couldn’t tell as Go Media stadium was packed out with a red sea of Tongan fans and flags.
“I’ve certainly gotten used to it,” Woolf says.
“But when I say I have gotten used to it, you know we really respect it as well. And I said before, we love coming over here and we love that support that we do get.
“So it’s great to see so many Tongans today.”
The New Zealand Rugby League hosted a fan-day mid-week with the Kiwis and Tonga, but it was the fans in red who showed up in force..
“Look, we love coming to New Zealand, and we haven’t been here for a couple of years now and we played during covid and all sorts of those things.” Woolf added.
“We always feel like it’s a bit of a homecoming, you know there’s a lot of fans and family, and Tongan people come out to support their team and these blokes are national heroes.”
After a flying start in their match against the Kiwis on Saturday, Tonga were forced to take the game to the wire thanks to a valiant comeback from the home side.
It took a field goal from young playmaker Isaiya Katoa in the 75th minute to ice out the 25-24 win for Tonga much to the delight of its fans who were again in full voice.
Katoa, who was born in Wellington New Zealand, was stoked to be back home and to play in front of his family and friends.
“Yeah I think it’s just something about representing where you come from, representing your parents and grandparents and just knowing how proud they are of you, is the best feeling about playing for Tonga” Katoa says.
“You know we come from very humble beginnings and we’re just very grateful to be part of this camp and be part of this team.”
Woolf echoed Katoa’s thoughts and also commended the sacrifices by the leaders in his side.
“It’s been well documented that a number of years ago, a number of guys like Jason Taumalolo made a lot of sacrifices to play for Tonga over other nations, and bigger nations.
“They did that because of the people they represent and the kingdom they represent,” Woolf says.
Katoa added, “Guys like Jason, Andrew Fifita, those guys set the benchmark a couple of years ago, and paved the way for us little kids to want to represent our little country, and want to sacrifice playing for Australia and the Kiwis to come back to the community. the Tongan community.”
The final between Kangaroos and Tonga kicks off on Sunday at 6:05pm NZ Time. Tonga have made no changes from the side that beat New Zealand last weekend.
