Tonga may not boast a particuarly impressive record on the international scene but this Pacific island has produced more than it's fair share of top class talent over the years and hopes are high that the Mate Ma'a are ready to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with later this year.

The Tongan rugby union team enjoyed a successful World Cup in 2007 however levels of participation in rugby league are expected to hit an all time high in 2008 and an impressive showing at this years World Cup would be a huge boost to the sports development.

Currently the fourth ranked team in the world by the RLIF, the Tongans will be able to call on a host of players who regularly feature in the Super League and NRL including the likes of South Sydney duo Fetuli Talanoa and Manase Manuokafoa.

The Mate Ma'a have a reputation as a fearsome physical outfit but in Feleti Mateo they posess one of the most exciting players in the NRL today and their uncomprimisng version of the Haka, the Sipi Tau, is sure to impress plenty of neutrals.

Road to the World Cup

Tonga were eventually reliant on points difference for qualification despite topping a competitive Pacific qualifying group. An impressive 56-14 defeat of the Cook Islands was followed with a surprise 30-28 loss against Fiji, meaning Tonga needed to overcome bitter rivals Samoa in their final game. The Mate Ma'a eventually dispatched the Samoans 18-10 in front of over 5,000 people in Leeds to seal their place in the 2008 World Cup.

Tonga will once again face Samoa in Group C, where they also come up against Andy Kelly's Ireland. The winner of the pool will come up against the winner of Group B to determine who takes their place in the semi-final's.

World Cup history

Tonga made their World Cup debut in the 1995 tournament saw Tonga produce one of their most famous ever performances as they pushed New Zealand all the way before narrowly losing out 25-24 in Warrington. A 28-28 draw with Papua New Guinea in Hull saw the Tongans finish in second spot in Group 2; a creditable showing but ultimately not enough to qualify for the next stage.

The 2000 tournament saw Mate Ma'a pick up their first ever World Cup win courtesy of 66-18 hammering of South Africa but they once again failed to reach the latter stages thanks to a 28-8 loss against France and a 30-22 reverse against the Kumuls of Papua New Guinea. The 2000 World Cup proved equally disappointing off the field when it was revealed that the TNRL had suffered massive financial losses during the tournament.

Head Coach

Tonga will be coached by former Australian international Jim Dymock, who will be familiar to many followers of Super League following a successful spell with London Broncos. Dymock, currently employed as an assistant coach by the Cronulla Sharks, was part of the Australian squad that triumphed in the 1995 World Cup. The former
Canterbury Bulldogs and Parramatta Eels loose forward was appointed as the Tongan head coach in 2006 and has been able to fashion a powerful and talented team who won’t be lacking any motivation to succeed when the World Cup gets underway.

Players to watch

Jim Dymock will be hoping that Parramatta Eels exciting stand off Feleti Mateo will spurn any attempt to lure him into donning a New South Wales jersey in this years State of Origin series, a move that would scupper his hopes of representing Tonga at the 2008 World Cup. The 23 year old has been a revelation since breaking into the Eels first grade squad in 2007. A former Australian Schoolboys representative, Mateo actually made his senior debut back in 2004 but failed to progress as expected and spent the 2005 season with the London Broncos. A strong runner with excellent handling skills, Mateo is also capable of playing in the pack and will be a key part of Dymock’s plans come the start of the tournament.

Former Castleford Tigers forward Richard Fa’aoso will be familiar to Super League followers after enjoying a successful spell at The Jungle in 2006. The strong running second rower joined the Newcastle Knights during the close season after a hugely disappointing twelve months with fellow NRL outfit the Parramatta Eels. Fa’aoso has made a promising start to his career with the Knights and looks to be finding the kind of form that made him such a favourite with the Castleford supporters during his time in Yorkshire.