Tonga have announced a mid-season international game against New Zealand in June, will Woolf be coaching them for that. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything regarding what happens in this eventuality.
Tonga have announced a mid-season international game against New Zealand in June, will Woolf be coaching them for that. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything regarding what happens in this eventuality.
St Helens Rugby League Football Club
Just looked, we play Leeds on the Thursday and Tonga play on the Saturday. Doesn't give him much time to get over there and prepare for the game. Assume Wellens will take charge for the Leeds game.
NEVER WRITE OFF THE SAINTS
Woolfe will surely want to go to prep with his team ahead of the World Cup, which is fair enough. He was Tonga coach before he signed for Saints so we will have known that this was a possibility. Presumably Hurrell, Passi and Hopoate might be involved too?
Yes but we pay his wages ... We should make him a deal. He can go if he signs a 2 year extension
I think for a one off league game he should be allowed to go, let Wello take the reigns for a game, I'm sure it'll be fine
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Let him go and prep his team and his staff will prep us for one game.
No biggie
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Seems a bit childish to block it just because the NRL would do the same. There's probably more to be gained for the club longer term showing good will to players who value playing for their country - which the Tongan lads definitely do.
I'd have though Woolf going will be easy enough given he was already coaching Tonga before us. Would be a good opportunity for Wello to take the reigns for a week.
Just a shame our international calendar is such a disorganised mess that we haven't got northern and southern hemispheres in sync.
Yet they’ve actually put together a proper international weekend while we have the fallacy of one dressed up as an international when it’s really an exhibition game that they can’t give tickets away for. We’re as much to blame as anyone for the state of the game internationally.
St Helens Rugby League Football Club
I hope Saints let Woolf go with their blessing and hopefully gain some brownie points in helping him consider where his future lies for the next couple of years.
Didn't Tonga have a friendy fixture during KW's tenure already? He didn't leave the country then.
For what he has done in making us a great side I think Woolf deserves to make his own decision when he wants to go and hence rest him from our coaching duties for a week.
There may be clauses in his contract that clear all this up anyways as he was Tonga coach before he signed with us. Letting him go for a week/10 days is fine by me. If he wants to take Paasi, Hurrell and Hopoate with him I’m not sure I’d be too keen on that though.
Forwards win games. The backs decide by how much.
Has anything been said on this?
We've got Catalan away the week after in what looks like a huge game in the race for 1st (and we could do with 1st this year without Dodd).
Don't like the idea of the coach not being there for a few days of that build up etc given we play Leeds on the Thursday, we'd have 9 days pre Catalan. Never mind any players.
Woolf confirms he won't be going and says a number of Super League players will be missing
https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post...a-new-zealand/
NSW Blues players Daniel Tupou & Kotoni Staggs have both been named, which will have ramifications for the Blues, unless they withdraw from the Test.
Extended bench:
18: Moeaki Fotuaika
19. Will Penisini
20. Isaiya Katoa
21. Andrew Fifita
22. Joe Ofahengaue
23. Starford To’A
24. Christian Tuipulotu
25. Eliesa Katoa
From Super League there’s potentially Hopoate, Paasi and Hurrell to add to the mix plus you’ve got Fonua, Feki, Langi, Lolohea, Satae, Ma’u, Vete, Fusitua, Akauala, Tupou, Fifita, Sene-Lefao, Hingano, Asiata. Tonga are starting to add some strength in depth. They just still look too light in the pivots.
Forwards win games. The backs decide by how much.
Looks a more exciting squad than the England one to be fair.
I think they could go all the way in the World Cup.